Vietnam War Leather Addison Side Zipper Flight Boots

[militbuff]

I recently picked up these leather Addison flight boots from a vet who flew Cobras in Vietnam.  They’re Addisons and have a Conmar side zipper rather than a front lace zipper.  I can’t locate any other examples of Addison boots with the side zipper, only front lace zippers.  Does anyone know if the side zippers were a special order?
 

 

[militbuff]

I think I just answered my own question by luck.   When I started plugging in just “boots” in both Ebay and Worthpoint, I came up with a lot of similar boots.  Interestingly, these boots are referred to as jump boots rather than flight boots despite being used by aviators.  It seems like a lot of Army paratroopers wore these private purchase boots in the 1950s and 60s.  I imagine it was more for style rather than utility.  It looks like aviators used them as well due to the quick on zippers.  

[USMC_COLLECTOR]

This is an interesting find. I personally haven't seen these boots before, the only ones that come to mind is with the speedlace zipper on the front of the boot.

[dmar836]

An old friend in the 90s had a pair of WWII brown jump boots with that mod. The only pair I have seen like that. Very cool.