A variety of earlier flight gear.

[kiaiokalewa]

I pulled these out the other day, took some pics, and now posting them here.  The long leather coat had the gloves clothes clipped to the cuff.  It appears to be a reversible type with the interior being an o.d. cotton material.  It's delicate and don't want to flip it inside out for a photo opportunity.  

[kiaiokalewa]

This is a much heavier coat than the first and its interior almost appears to be like a burlap kind of material.  Its construction consist of a number of leather segiments sewn together.  I've attached a number of detail pics for review.

 

 

[kiaiokalewa]

I think these leather pants go together with the heavy leather coat shown above.  Pockets and construction look similar.

 

[kiaiokalewa]

It might be a stretch but purhaps these were also worn together with the above heavier leather coat and pants.

[kiaiokalewa]

The next several images are a variety of flight gloves that were collected by my buddy.  He did have a fixation with them and are here to be look at.  

Btw:  I'm not familiar with any of this stuff but pretty certain they are all Army Air Service or Corps period flight gear.  If anyone knows what they are please let me know.  

[kiaiokalewa]

Some more stuff

[dmar836]

Great stuff! Your period guess appears correct to me. Some of the gloves - the A-9s and some of the other split finger mittens(not the convertible ones - those appear civi) were worn into the war(second) as were the B-7 goggles. Not sure how much detail you have or want. The second jacket appears to be a cut down B-7 suit but I could be incorrect. The pieces are actually just quilting through to and including the inner lining. The legs of the one-piece B-7 suit had the same "quilted" squares. In fact I'm inclined to think those trousers also started as a B-7 suit.

Can you see a label on the boots? I know the USN high altitude boots were laced in the back but not too sure about the earliest air corps boots. Once the AAC boots had the rubber soles they were zipped. The predecessors to the A-6, the A-5, didn't look like that nor have that type of sole. 

With all respect might I suggest these jackets not be stored on hangars? The early coat has signs of red rot and, as you mentioned, is fragile. A hangar of about any type, even padded, is at this stage asking to find it on the floor one day soon. Flat, in a box - maybe under a bed is likely best. I do that only when there is no room as I display mine in a dedicated room. If you want it displayed, and not flat, a mannequin or similarly shaped bust would be about as supportive as you can otherwise get. 

There are guys who specialize in interwar gear but I don't know any personally. Really great pre and early war stuff you have there.

Dave

[kiaiokalewa]

Many thanks Dave for the valuable insights on everything.  My best friend passed away last year and I've inherited his entire estate.  Our collecting interest intersected with interwar insignia and army uniforms but this is so out of my wheelhouse.  My intentions is to find these collectables a new home where they will be appreciated and more importantly taken care of as you so correctly point out.  

I can only think that this will drawl out those collectors that are interested.  

 

Many thanks and Mahalo.

 

John Patton 

 

[trenchbuff]

Always look forward to your posts John.  Some really interesting stuff!

[jerry_k]

Boots are standard WW2 US NAVY M380 winter flying boots. 

[dmar836]

Hoping to hear from others here about this period of gear. Could the first jacket be WWI Air Service? JMO, but at minimum it would have be inter-war Airmail Service.

 

The B-7 suit-made ensemble has a nice early Talon riveted zip installed. For a rare zip of that era it appears to be in perfect shape. 

 

The gloves are quite varied - certainly some military.

 

Militariazone shows the microphone mask as WWI though I think it might be post WWI. Info is sparse but the tech of the time leads me to assume interwar as well. Rare, I'm assuming so please school me.

 

Anyone know anyone into the interwar aviation stuff? Please inform us!

 

Dave  

 

[Usa1918]

On 11/20/2025 at 6:59 PM, dmar836 said:

Hoping to hear from others here about this period of gear. Could the first jacket be WWI Air Service? JMO, but at minimum it would have be inter-war Airmail Service.

 

The B-7 suit-made ensemble has a nice early Talon riveted zip installed. For a rare zip of that era it appears to be in perfect shape. 

 

The gloves are quite varied - certainly some military.

 

Militariazone shows the microphone mask as WWI though I think it might be post WWI. Info is sparse but the tech of the time leads me to assume interwar as well. Rare, I'm assuming so please school me.

 

Anyone know anyone into the interwar aviation stuff? Please inform us!

 

Dave  

 

The first jacket is a WW1 flying jacket. I had the twin impressed with KELLY FIELD on the inside flap, that I sold 10 years ago. But they were used postwar by the USPS ( who were primarily ex military pilots)

[dmar836]

Excellent! Any insight on the gloves or goggles? 

Dave 

[Usa1918]

The first set of goggles is interwar thru early WW2. The others are WW1 thru the interwar years..

Bay State has the gloves and mitts as a mixture of Brit and US , mostly WW2 

Keith

[dmar836]

Great info. Thanks!

Dave