C.G. Posted February 11, 2022 Share #1 Posted February 11, 2022 Found this B9 in a Allentown PA thrift store while up here for company training. Is it legitimate? If so ideas as to date of manufacture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 11, 2022 Share #2 Posted February 11, 2022 I'd say "yes". Under the War Supply Contracts list, Reed Products, Inc. of Milwaukee Wisconsin made them from November 1943 - February 1944, shown as "Flying Clothes". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.G. Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted February 11, 2022 Thank you very much for the detailed information!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted February 11, 2022 Share #4 Posted February 11, 2022 There has been confusion about the quilted linings being civilian and I guess I have never really figured it out as solid. The labels tend to be the issue on civi versions where they can't get the mfg or spec number correct. That may have been an intentional thing to prevent them from appearing to be competing with contractors but I'm not sure if that was even an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 11, 2022 Share #5 Posted February 11, 2022 15 minutes ago, dmar836 said: There has been confusion about the quilted linings being civilian and I guess I have never really figured it out as solid. The labels tend to be the issue on civi versions where they can't get the mfg or spec number correct. That may have been an intentional thing to prevent them from appearing to be competing with contractors but I'm not sure if that was even an issue. Can you clarify what you mean by "confusion about the quilted linings"? The type designation sheet for the B-9 jacket specifically says "quilted casing filed with feathers". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted February 11, 2022 Share #6 Posted February 11, 2022 Agreed. It's just something I have seen said when these are posted. I have one or two with quilted linings. I could never wrap my head around the assumption. Perhaps they are not recognizing the difference between the B-11, 9, etc. and assume all should be alpaca? I'd be happy if I was the only one who has ever remembered hearing this but there was a lot of that on VLJ back in the day. As I mentioned, the label is where I have seen issues with cloth flight clothing so either post-war contracts not matching the WWII labels or civi clones. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted February 11, 2022 Share #7 Posted February 11, 2022 I actually have one in the same contract as this but without the hood so likely modified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted February 11, 2022 Share #8 Posted February 11, 2022 Great jacket, and a nice size to boot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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