Salvage Sailor Posted February 19, 2008 Share #1 Posted February 19, 2008 Aloha Everyone, This is a USN AL-1 Navy coverall, used by Naval Aviators & also as cold weather gear (with the addition of a hood) for Arctic operations. (Operation DEWLINE, Operation DEEPFREEZE, etc) The coverall is tagged: BUAER - U.S. NAVY AL-1 COVERALL SPEC. 55S37 (AER) 40 CONTRACT NO. N-383S-41120 L.W. FOSTER SPORTSWEAR CO. INC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted February 19, 2008 Top Down view BUAER Label Close up of label: BUAER - U.S. NAVY AL-1 COVERALL SPEC. 55S37 (AER) 40 CONTRACT NO. N-383S-41120 L.W. FOSTER SPORTSWEAR CO. INC. The coverall has upper button flap pockets and a large pull down TALON zipper (a double-pull for pilot 'relief' ) The interior has a permanently sewn-in cross suspender system, which is very necessary as this suit is quite heavy. The suspenders are a combination of leather, canvas and elastic. Fully zippered view The left breast pocket and also the left arm pocket have pen/pencil holders sewn in. The sleeves have TALON zippers and elastic interiors to keep out the wind. The lower pockets are quite large. The right leg has a button flap pocket & the left leg has a slant zippered pocket with a TALON zipper. What is unusual are the bottom leg zippers - they are original and they are made by CONMAR, rather than TALON. Same type, just a different manufacturer. The AL-1 coverall is named, but good luck tracking down this sailor........ His name is JONES, F.H. Full rear view Back side of collar with buttons. BUAER - U.S. NAVY AL-1 COVERALL SPEC. 55S37 (AER) 40 CONTRACT NO. N-383S-41120 L.W. FOSTER SPORTSWEAR CO. INC. Probably a Korean War flight suit rather than WWII but that's only a guess. Anyone have a listing of BUAER contract numbers by year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted December 21, 2019 Share #3 Posted December 21, 2019 Yes it is 50s Navy contract not WW2. Cheers, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted December 21, 2019 Share #4 Posted December 21, 2019 Jerry is correct about the contract being post WWII but we can be a bit more specific on this particular suit. Suit, Flight, Coverall (AL-1) was standardized 1 April 1949. So it's not any newer than that and most definitely not a WWII pattern garment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted December 23, 2019 Share #5 Posted December 23, 2019 His WW2 till post war brother a M456b leather suit. Also produced with N288 (WW2) and (post WW2) N383 contracts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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