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USN BUAER AL-1 Coverall (Bureau of Aeronautics) 1949


Salvage Sailor
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Salvage Sailor

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.

001_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Top Down view

002_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

BUAER Label

003_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

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.

004_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

The coverall has upper button flap pockets and a large pull down TALON zipper (a double-pull for pilot 'relief' )

005_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

The interior has a permanently sewn-in cross suspender system, which is very necessary as this suit is quite heavy.

006_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

The suspenders are a combination of leather, canvas and elastic.

015_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

Fully zippered view

007_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

The left breast pocket and also the left arm pocket have pen/pencil holders sewn in.

008_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

The sleeves have TALON zippers and elastic interiors to keep out the wind.

009_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

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.

010_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

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.

011_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

The AL-1 coverall is named, but good luck tracking down this sailor........

 

His name is JONES, F.H.

012_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

Full rear view

013_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

Back side of collar with buttons.

016_USN_AL_1_Coverall.jpg

 

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?

004 USN AL-1 Coverall.jpg

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  • 11 years later...

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.

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