Unknown USN Liner, Flight Jacket/Suit? A-1 Extreme Cold Weather Jacket

[Sully]

I picked this up at a yard sale over the summer and haven't been able to find out exactly what it is. The only thing I've been told is that it could be a flight jacket or flight suit liner.

 

It is made of nylon with snaps going around the collar and chest.

 

Navy Department Contract NO: N 140-62236s-38763B

[Sully]

Closeup of the label.

[Sully]

Anyone?

[Salvage Sailor]

Not a flight jacket, we used these for watchstanders in the Arctic and Antarctic (polar seas, Bearing, North Sea, etc)

 

That's the snap-in liner for the USN Jacket, Insulated, Extreme Cold Weather (A-1) (w/removable liner).

I still have mine in my seabag which I just pulled out. Your tag looks a little funky to me (i.e. repro) but perhaps it's older than mine.

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Sully,

 

I pulled out my A-1 which has been in my seabag since 1980

 

 

 

This shot is with the flash which shows it's true dark green color

 

Inside liner label and jacket label - I believe yours is older, Dewline period or Antarctic ops in the 1950's

 

 

USN A-1 Jacket label 1968

 

USN A-1 Liner label 1968

[doyler]

Not a repro.

 

Is there any real flotation protection with the liners?

 

I think in one I had years ago it mentioned flotation capability.

[Sully]

Salvage Sailor. Thank you for the help on this one. Seeing that you live in Hawaii I can understand you having no need of your jacket for 35 years.

 

I found the liner in the upper level of a barn sale over the summer along with a few other military items dating from WW2 to the 1950's.

[MAG357]

Hi,  Any idea why there is a thick tube like seam going down the shoulders and arms?   thanks.   

Otherwise this jacket feels like some serious stuff.  I got one used and it feels like I'm a spaceman when wearing it!   I tried general searches on google, but seems this jacket is not as common and therefore could not find anything on an initial search for the jacket, but it brought me here which was nice.  

 

Thank you

[navy]

5 hours ago, MAG357 said:

Hi,  Any idea why there is a thick tube like seam going down the shoulders and arms?   thanks.   

Otherwise this jacket feels like some serious stuff.  I got one used and it feels like I'm a spaceman when wearing it!   I tried general searches on google, but seems this jacket is not as common and therefore could not find anything on an initial search for the jacket, but it brought me here which was nice.  

 

Thank you

 

It won't let me post a screenshot, but to answer the last post from a Jan 1955 Office of Naval Research "Research Reviews" article it says ... 

 

In the garments, "three-dimensional" design was achieved by the use of heavy ridged seams on the arms and sides of the jacket and the use of side panels. Thus the garment follows the contours of the body with the weight supported by various parts of the body instead of the shoulders carrying most of the burden. This allows greater freedom of movement, less constriction, and added insulation since more air space is created. The design also reduced "clothing fatigue" felt by the wearer, and in the case of cold weather operations, this is an important factor.

 

And the Jan 1955 "Research Reviews"  also states that development of this extreme cold weather gear was initiated in 1946 and adopted for service in early 1951 (an example is shown in post #5).

 

From the second post picture the "N140" prefix shows it was procured by the Navy Purchasing Office, N.Y., NY, but the label gives a contract number and doesn't describe what the item actually is (as did many early USN labels). The specific contract information would need to be pulled to precisely identify what it is (looks like a jacket liner, but an A-1?, perhaps not).

 

[MAG357]

Thank you for sharing the knowledge and your time posting.  That description of the design makes sense as when I put on the jacket it seemed to 'float' and not as heavy as it looks and it kept it's shape.  It is my size but it wears a bit large on me (air space for warmth).  Clearly built for a serious purpose and not being fashionable while running around town.  Otherwise a great looking jacket, it would be nice if there was a reproduction of it without the heavy ridged seams so it wore easier for us daily civilian life wearing as I do like the overall look and naval history.        

 

 I was a warmer seas sailor, so never wore cold weather gear.  And a submarine sailor at that, so very little contact with the weather.