Brian Keith Posted April 8, 2021 Share #1 Posted April 8, 2021 Here is an interesting shirt I’ve had for a while. As you can see, it is labeled, “Shirt, Flying Heavy Type A-1”. In the Sweeting book, Combat Flying Clothing, it is briefly addressed on page 66, really not much info. Apparently not worn/issued much. It is slightly heavier than an army blanket and is unlined. Thanks for looking. Comments welcome! BKW Again! The dang picture posts upside down, It wasn't saved that way! Sorry! No idea why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted April 8, 2021 Share #2 Posted April 8, 2021 I have always wondered about these. It is a WW2 issue item? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted April 8, 2021 Share #3 Posted April 8, 2021 Here are pics in correct position ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted April 8, 2021 Thanks jerry_k for fixing the photo's. Yes, P-59A, Sweeting does say it is WW II issue. Thanks for your comments! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted April 8, 2021 Share #5 Posted April 8, 2021 Despite what Sweating wrote I have always believed these to be used in the transitional era with an AF number again rather than AN. I haven't seen one with the standard USAAF nomenclature on the label. I also have not seen one in period photos. Much higher order numbers existed earlier in the war and the spec number puts it before even the parkas and B-15. Maybe someone knows how the numbering of orders and specs ran - chronologically or otherwise. Maybe they were wartime but there sure were a lot of them on the surplus market and in the 90s it was commonly said they were post war. Would be a great jacket but I'd hate to wear it. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted April 8, 2021 Share #6 Posted April 8, 2021 would be a nice fall hunting jacket.. the USAAF and later USAF uniforms/flight gear of late war and post war are a flurry of designs and changes, trying to adapt to the jet age... I would agree with late war contract and transitional limited use...post war and pressurized cabins saw little need for heavy flight gear here is one with a US Air Forces stamp vs a Army Air Force, suggesting post 1947 and the D-1 cap, later the D1 would go from brown wool to USAF blue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted April 8, 2021 Share #7 Posted April 8, 2021 The D-1 actually came to mind as well. It seamed to have the same unexplained history and use. As did the A-1 visor thought I've seen at least a version of those in wartime images, just not the -47- one. I might have a 45 dated one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted April 9, 2021 Great additions to this thread! Thanks everybody! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellcat_vintage Posted April 11, 2021 Share #9 Posted April 11, 2021 Hi, I’m new to the forum (will do a proper intro post) and came across this post as I collect early US Air Force flight clothing. As others have said I believe these shirts date from just after the war, when the Air Force adopted the B-15B, N-2 & N-3 as cold weather clothing. As with everything from that period there is the A-1 shirt in olive that you have, then an A-1A in blue and finally the A-1B in a sage green colour. There is also a matching pair of E-1 trousers (again with later E-1A & E-1B versions). I’ve just acquired a pair of E-1 trousers, so am actually on the hunt now for an A-1 shirt (already have an A-1A, E-1A & E-1B). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted April 11, 2021 Share #10 Posted April 11, 2021 Yep. I've passed on a few of those as they too were post war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted April 12, 2021 Share #11 Posted April 12, 2021 13 hours ago, hellcat_vintage said: Hi, I’m new to the forum (will do a proper intro post) and came across this post as I collect early US Air Force flight clothing. As others have said I believe these shirts date from just after the war, when the Air Force adopted the B-15B, N-2 & N-3 as cold weather clothing. As with everything from that period there is the A-1 shirt in olive that you have, then an A-1A in blue and finally the A-1B in a sage green colour. There is also a matching pair of E-1 trousers (again with later E-1A & E-1B versions). I’ve just acquired a pair of E-1 trousers, so am actually on the hunt now for an A-1 shirt (already have an A-1A, E-1A & E-1B). Hello Hellcat! Cherrs, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted August 5, 2022 Share #12 Posted August 5, 2022 from 2007 with more info to muddy the waters, kind of like In Search Of....more questions than answers...Dustin had/has(?) a theory that it might have been a Escape and Evasion garment...plausible based on the style...and would explain the civilian style cut and the D-1 cap that had the same civilian style to it...but the one thing that most can agree on, it never really caught on or became obsolete overnight with the end of the war ... then why the next model, the A-1A with the big star on the chest.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted February 25, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted February 25, 2023 That is an interesting twist to this garment. Thanks for adding that theory. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bushido Posted September 27, 2023 Share #14 Posted September 27, 2023 I think I was able to find a photo of a pilot wearing this A-1 shirt. It is posted on the home page below. I've looked for a photo like this several times in the past, but I couldn't find it. But today, I discovered this completely by accident!! This photo may be famous, but I'm posting it because there may be members who are in the same situation as me. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1056487/m1/1/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted September 27, 2023 Share #15 Posted September 27, 2023 > I wonder if it was ever made in dark blue... and, can think of a few times on 60s cargo hops in a Provider when I'd have been very grateful for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bushido Posted September 27, 2023 Share #16 Posted September 27, 2023 2 hours ago, Bluehawk said: > I wonder if it was ever made in dark blue... and, can think of a few times on 60s cargo hops in a Provider when I'd have been very grateful for it. Thank you for your correction. It looked brown on my computer. However, when viewed with another device, it appeared dark blue. Sorry, it seems I was mistaken. By the way, is the shirt posted on the homepage below also AF blue? The photo is near the bottom center with the words "(The 4th Fighter Wing in the Korean War - Larry Davis)" written on it. The third LT from the left is wearing the shirt. http://yocumusa.com/sweetrose/images/1950-53fr336/1951rocketeers.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted September 27, 2023 Share #17 Posted September 27, 2023 "Sorry, it seems I was mistaken." > Not at all necessary, everything we wore on a flight line was army green except for flight suits, but I was just wondering if that shirt ever appeared in AF blue. At various times after 1948 Air Force supply put out, for example, AF blue blankets, duffel bags and the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted September 27, 2023 Share #18 Posted September 27, 2023 7 hours ago, Bluehawk said: "Sorry, it seems I was mistaken." > Not at all necessary, everything we wore on a flight line was army green except for flight suits, but I was just wondering if that shirt ever appeared in AF blue. At various times after 1948 Air Force supply put out, for example, AF blue blankets, duffel bags and the like. The shirts were made in blue and sage green. Also trousers and the caps. I have had them over the years. Blue shirt with A-1A designation (photos from on line) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted September 27, 2023 Share #19 Posted September 27, 2023 Sage Green/Grey A-1B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bushido Posted September 29, 2023 Share #20 Posted September 29, 2023 Is the jacket in the fourth photo from the top also AF blue? The fading of the jacket confuses me, whether it's because of the UV rays…… http://yocumusa.com/sweetrose/images/1950-53fr336/1953walterfellman/1953walterfellman.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWW Posted September 29, 2023 Share #21 Posted September 29, 2023 fourth photo from the top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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