anton67 Posted January 16, 2020 Share #1 Posted January 16, 2020 My friend came across this flight jacket. He wants to know whether its authentic military and if so what era is it from. Any help is greatly appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted January 16, 2020 More Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted January 16, 2020 Last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted January 16, 2020 Share #4 Posted January 16, 2020 It's real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted January 16, 2020 What era is it from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted January 16, 2020 Share #6 Posted January 16, 2020 The label indicates a 1943 contract. The insignia for Army Air Forces indicates WWII or earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 16, 2020 Share #7 Posted January 16, 2020 Its real, but dont wear it around. Those B-3 jackets are fragile and tear easily. Dont put it on a hanger. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarheel1 Posted January 17, 2020 Share #8 Posted January 17, 2020 And probably one of the nicest ones I have seen in many years. TH1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted January 17, 2020 Share #9 Posted January 17, 2020 Great jacket, WWII AAF, but not a B-3 it is the AN-J-4...a jacket designed to replace the B3 and be used by both the AAF and USN..a hard jacket to find in this condition... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted January 17, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted January 17, 2020 Thank you all for the help. It is in such good shape I thought it may be a repro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Posted January 23, 2020 Share #11 Posted January 23, 2020 Yep, absolutely nice and original, one of the finest ever! Told to your friend to keep it lovingly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted January 23, 2020 Share #12 Posted January 23, 2020 Beautiful jacket, but Kurt is right. There's something about the way the leather in those jackets was treated that makes them tear very easily. Your friend should store it flat and avoid the temptation to wear it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted January 24, 2020 Share #13 Posted January 24, 2020 Nice. I have two and they both have tears. One, from a vet, was damaged when he tried it on for nostalgia. It would otherwise be excellent. That one looks like a great example of an ANj4! In a word, not a wearer! And please tell him to keep it off regular type hangars! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 24, 2020 Share #14 Posted January 24, 2020 And please tell him to keep it off regular type hangars! Dave They addressed that on Antiques Roadshow this week: guy brought in an A-2 leather flight jacket (with an Airborne unit patch). The advice was to store it flat. These big heavy bomber jackets need that even more than the lighter A-2's do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PQD Posted January 25, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 25, 2020 The label indicates a 1943 contract. The insignia for Army Air Forces indicates WWII or earlier. Correct on the contract being a 1943 award. The AAF decal, however, indicates application between 1944 and until the advent of the USAF in 1947. The decal transfers were approved in Oct. 1943, but none were available until early 1944, and some of the earliest decals were monotone types in silver or black due to production issues with full-color types. Decals were applied at any of the base air depots by personnel of Air Materiel Command. Prior to the noted dates, there were no decals used on AAF flying clothing and gear. This is very fine flying jacket, which is indeed more scare than the quintessential B-3 flying jacket, as production was well less than a year and for far fewer in number. Always a treat to see these in this condition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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