Informations below need to be completed, as unfortunately I did not get a lot of details about this type of jacket. All I'm writing is coming from personal observations of some jackets I can have had in my hands and of course, some USN crews pictures.

 

Mil spéc-S-18342 JSFW were issued at the late 1950s. It was the upper part of a cold weather flying suit. But it was rapidly used more like a "simple" jacket rather than the complete two-parts suit. Although this high-waisted jacket is not very easy to wear with a good size, it's pleasant to see worn. I would add that it's light enough despite of his warm garnish.

 

I never got nor seen a 18342A model but there is one displayed in the "Suit Up! The flight Jacket" Kesaharu Imai's book.

 

The B version also was issued before 1959 as some are still "(AER)" labeled. As we know, Bureau of Naval Weapons (WEP) replaced Bureau of Aeronautic (AER) at this year.

 

Last 18342C was issued about 1967/68, I guess. This version was retired from service at the beginning of the 1970s when moderner flight jackets were issued to USN squadrons. However, some former pilots were keeping their old and loved "WEP". We can see such jackets with velcroed tape name and patches, from time to time . This usage ended some years later...

We could notice that only the C version has a white canvas label while the older types have a black. All zippers seem to be Conmar or Scovill.

 

Manufacturers that I could listed are:

- Aviators Clothing Co. (only for first and A versions?)

- Aviators Equipment Corp. (only for B version?)

- Center Mfg. Co.

- King Points Mfg.

- Satellite Outerwear Corp.

- TS Lankford & Sons Inc.

- Land Manufacturing inc.

- ...

 

Franck

 

Mil-S-18342. Note the mention "(AER)" instead of "(WEP)".

 

 

 

Two 18342B versions.

 

The first was modified by riggers by adding two pockets over the originals. It is a 18342B (AER).

 

 

 

The second has a contract of FY 1963. It was belonging to a VF-41 and VF-84 Phantom RIO.

 

 

Three 18342C versions. On some of these, note that knit cuffs are pointed.

 

This one is from a A-7 Corsair driver (1972):

 

 

 

Another C from a VP-47 pilot (1969):

 

 

 

And a third from a VF-96 Phantom RIO (1969):

 

(Adding more pics that I could not do in the first post due to forum limits)

 

 

 

 

Hi Franck,

 

Mil-S-18342C is older, it is from 15 september 1964.

 

Best

Hi Yves,

 

Thank you for this very good information. I did not believe that the Mil-S-18342C spéc was so old.

 

Franck

We called these things "WEPs" for "Bureau of Weapons". They were issued between the late 1950s and early 1970s. They were no longer stocked or being issued while I was in the USN and USNR (1979 - 2000) but there were quite a few of them around, at least in the patrol squadrons. A lot of the old timers were still wearing them in the reserve units as late as the mid 1990s at least. Many of these had been S-2 or P-2 guys in the 1960s and 1970s. A lot of the old carrier guys seemed to have them too. My regular navigator was an older commander who had been an F-4 RIO and became a reserve P-3 navigator. He had one. I managed to acquire a WEP for myself during the early 1990s that I put an older NAS South Weymouth base patch on and wore around the hangar from time to time when I was with VP-92. I never wore it on the aircraft though. You can see it on the topic "A Few Navy Flight Jackets".

Thank you to have shared these interesting informations and stories with us.

Franck

Franck,

 

Yet again, amazing pieces !!!

 

The VF-41 and VF-84 jacket is simply stunning.... Thank you for sharing

 

Best regards,

Paul

Great photos too!

 

I'd love to get a nice 'WEP' jacket, not many here in Norway though!

 

cheers and thanks for shareing,

 

-John

Here's the back of the VF-96 RIO's jacket. This one was belonging to Lt J.R. Ellis who made two SEA cruises in 1969 and 1970 with USS Enteprise and America.

 

Franck

 

This just gets better........

Hi,

 

For our Norway member !

This WEP is from Lcdr Rober W Squires former C130 NFO with VX6

 

 

 

Best, Croc

Hi Croc,

 

this is a very belated thanks for showing the VX-6 WEP jacket and citation, I only bumped into this topic again because a friend has a very nice WEP jacket for me and I was sifting through anything to do with WEP jackets............ again, thanks!!

 

cheers and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all on this great site!

 

-John

Your welcome John, Happy new year, best Croc