The .50 CAL A-2 Flight Jacket will appeal to those who are looking for that rugged-grain, tough, vintage look in an A-2 Flight Jacket while not being so out-of-the-box in appearance. The secret to this A-2 Jacket’s rugged, less-than-new look is the hide type employed and the special .50-CAL treatment.

The .50 CAL. A-2 Jacket is manufactured from vegetable-tanned, rugged-grain, horse hide in dark seal brown. Plus, they have had the .50-CAL treatment! The .50-CAL process is another of our specially developed treatments to give a new jacket a patina of initial wear.

Please click the link for larger, detailed images on this web site to see just how good this leather looks after the .50-CAL treatment. This process is performed entirely by hand and no two jackets will ever be exactly alike; as you can imagine, the .50-CAL treatment takes hours of labor and a keen master’s eye to achieve. Once the hide is broken-in using our special treatment, the jacket is placed on a body form where it rests to take its shape; after several hours drying time, it is then worked on to subtly burnish the high spots to a beautiful glazed glow. Please keep in mind - the jacket is still brand new and not in any way worn or damaged, but you get a new A-2 Jacket that has a vintage, mildly lived-in patina that will continue to look better the more you personalize the jacket through use. This A-2 just looks very cool the first time you step out your door, without the just-out-of-the-box look. It’s truly a unique A-2 Jacket that’s quite different from our other offerings under the Eastman A-2 flight jacket range.

The .50 CAL has all of the little, important details that help differentiate one original A-2 contractor from another – details synonymous with the pedigree of historical accuracy found in the goods we offer: The A-2 pattern, shoulder straps, pocket flaps, collar shape, stitching style, different-color trim parts for the cotton lining and wool knit, and the larger ring-style press studs and, last but not least, our 1942-model Crown zipper! The leather and trim color, collar configuration, pocket flaps, etc, are typical of 1942 manufacture from the largest wartime contractor of A-2 Jackets located in Beacon, New York.

It’s a tough-looking jacket with a tough name … the .50 CAL A-2 is ready for action!  Please note these authentic features:

• Copy of original-style maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom

• All-cotton thread construction as found on all A-2 Flying Jackets originally produced in the 1940s and dyed to a mid-brown shade matching many A-2s made in Beacon, NY

• Correct USAAF-spec. 3-ounce weight, vegetable-tanned and aniline-dyed horse hide leather outer shell, featuring a heavy full grain and burnished with just the right amount of vintage patina

• Single-piece back construction as found on all original A-2's used in WWII

• Collar assembly following the simplified style adopted for the mass production of 1942-44, exactly as found on the majority of vintage A-2s originally produced during WWII and correct for a Beacon-made A-2 of this era

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton, inner-lining fabric to precisely match 1940s USAAF specs. and dyed mustard brown to match most Beacon-made original vintage A-2's of 1942

• Metal collar clip custom manufactured to the original USAAF spec. and finished in correct semi-matte nickel plating

• Large ring-style press studs precisely matching those found on original Beacon-made A-2s of 1942

• Shoulder straps typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on original Beacon-made A-2s of 1942

• Two snap-down exterior pockets with stitching and pocket flap configuration typifying the style found on Beacon-made A-2s of 1942

• Snap-down collar typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on Beacon-made A-2's of 1942

• Exact copy of the super-desirable 1942 CROWN® zipper in matte nickel finish with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton, and tape ends rolled and glued at base exactly as found on the original 1940's zippers

• USAAF authentic inspector’s ink stamping on cotton lining

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply 100% worsted wool knit cuffs and waist skirt in berry-red color, with cuffs correctly graduating from a wider weave into a more narrow weave, exactly matching those found on original Beacon-made A-2's of 1942

• Heavy leather hanging loop correctly sewn directly through the jacket lining and outer leather shell using a box stitch

•Label (with printed text indicating size and lot number) located in pocket, exactly matching those found on original Beacon-made A-2's of 1942

Crown® is a registered trademark in the USA of History Preservation Associates

Sizes available: 36-48 regular.  Long and extra-long fittings on custom order at no extra cost.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England

.50 CAL is a small range of specialized garments that are offered only in the Time-Worn finish. They are unique in spec. to any of the other similar models we offer, so they are not simply Time-Worn versions of our regular range. The colors, materials and finishes are purposely selected to create a subdued and rugged-looking vintage garment that will appeal to those who appreciate the nostalgic charm of a true vintage garment:  The Time-Worn process is entirely hand done, which takes hours to achieve; the result is a garment that is still brand new, but you get something that has a vintage, lived-in, patina that you can continue to add to from the first time you put it on. The .50 CAL B-2 is made from authentic vegetable-tanned, North American sheepskin with a broken-grain character and hand-dyed finish.

This model of B-2 represents a spec. that saw the transition from the earlier 'Redskin' to the later dark Seal Brown versions. And the color of the fleece is typical of a transitional model - it has a distinct brownish tinge, compared to the much brighter, off-white shade of later models.

Remember - there's no waiting for this one to wear-in before you get it looking like a vintage original - .50 CAL B-2 is ready for action!  

Sizes available: 7, 7 1/8, 7 1/4, 7 3/8 & 7 1/2.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England  

This B-3 Flight Jacket will appeal to those who are looking for that rugged-grain, tough, vintage look in a jacket, that is not so out-of-the-box new in appearance. The secret to this B-3 Flight Jacket’s rugged, less-than-new look is the hide type employed and the special .50-CAL treatment. The .50 CAL B-3 Flight Jacket is manufactured from specially selected, old-fashioned, veg-tanned, broken-grain sheepskin in dark brown. Plus, they have had the .50-CAL treatment!

The .50-CAL process is another of our specially developed treatments to give a new jacket a patina of initial wear that combines breaking-in with light, subtle scuffing, creating a well-aged, well-worn look. Please click the link for larger, detailed images on this web site to see just how good this leather looks after the .50-CAL treatment. This process is performed entirely by hand and no two jackets will ever be exactly alike; as you can imagine, the .50-CAL treatment takes hours of labor and a keen master’s eye to achieve. Once the hide is broken-in using our special treatment, the jacket is placed on a body form where it rests to take its shape; after several hours drying time, it is then worked on to subtly burnish the high spots to a beautiful glazed glow.

Please keep in mind - the jacket is still brand new and not in any way worn or damaged, but you get a new B-3 Flight Jacket that has a vintage, mildly lived-in patina that will continue to look better the more you personalize the jacket through use. This B-3 Flight Jacket just looks very cool the first time you step out your door, without the just-out-of-the-box look. It’s truly a unique B-3 Flight Jacket that’s quite different from our other sheepskin flight jacket offerings.

The .50 CAL B-3 Flight Jacket still has all of the little important details that help make it a masterpiece of authenticity – details synonymous with the pedigree of historical accuracy found in the goods we offer: Our special broken-grain, vegetable-tanned, North American sheepskin that is hand dyed, and it is fitted with our famous reproduction of the 1941 model Crown zipper, which perfectly completes the circle of authenticity in this product. And the .50 CAL B-3 Flight Jacket represents a spec. that saw the transition from the earlier 'Redskin' jackets to the later dark brown types: The back-panel configuration is that of the pre-war design (similar to our Rough Wear Clo. Co. 17756 model), while the outer color and finish is a hand-dyed dark brown. The color of the fleece is also typical of a transitional model, in that it has a distinct brownish tinge compared to the much brighter buttermilk shade of the later models.

This is a tough-looking jacket with a tough name … the .50 CAL B-3 Flight Jacket is ready for action!  

Sizes available: 36-48 regular.  Long and extra-long fittings available at no additional cost on custom order only.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.  

Imported from England  

This B-6 Flight Jacket will appeal to those who are looking for that rugged-grain, tough, vintage look in a jacket, that is not so out-of-the-box new in appearance. The secret to this B-6 Flight Jacket’s rugged, less-than-new look is the hide type employed and the special .50-CAL treatment.

The .50 CAL B-6 Flight Jacket is manufactured from specially selected, old-fashioned, veg-tanned, broken-grain sheepskin in dark brown. Plus, they have had the .50-CAL treatment! The .50-CAL process is another of our specially developed treatments to give a new jacket a patina of initial wear that combines breaking-in with light, subtle scuffing, creating a well-aged, well-worn look. Please click the link for larger, detailed images on this web site to see just how good this leather looks after the .50-CAL treatment. This process is performed entirely by hand and no two jackets will ever be exactly alike; as you can imagine, the .50-CAL treatment takes hours of labor and a keen master’s eye to achieve. Once the hide is broken-in using our special treatment, the jacket is placed on a body form where it rests to take its shape; after several hours drying time, it is then worked on to subtly burnish the high spots to a beautiful glazed glow.

Please keep in mind - the jacket is still brand new and not in any way worn or damaged, but you get a new B-6 Flight Jacket that has a vintage, mildly lived-in patina that will continue to look better the more you personalize the jacket through use. This B-6 Flight Jacket just looks very cool the first time you step out your door, without the just-out-of-the-box look. It’s truly a unique B-6 Jacket that’s quite different from our other sheepskin flight jacket offerings. The .50 CAL B-6 Flight Jacket still has all of the little important details that help make it a masterpiece of authenticity – details synonymous with the pedigree of historical accuracy found in the goods we offer: Our special broken-grain, vegetable-tanned, North American sheepskin that is hand dyed, and it is fitted with our famous reproduction of the 1941 model Crown zipper, which perfectly completes the circle of authenticity in this product. And the .50 CAL B-6 Flight Jacket represents a spec. that saw the transition from the earlier 'Redskin' jackets to the later dark brown types: the outer color and finish is a hand-dyed dark brown. The color of the fleece is also typical of a transitional model, in that it has a distinct brownish tinge compared to the much brighter buttermilk shade of the later models.  

Sizes available: 36-48 regular.  Long and extra-long fittings available at no additional cost on custom order only.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.  

Imported from England    

.50 CAL is a small range of specialized flight jackets and related garments that are offered only in the Time-Worn finish. They are unique in spec. to any of the other similar models we offer, so they are not simply Time-Worn versions of our regular range. The colors, materials and finishes are purposely selected to create a subdued and rugged-looking vintage garment that will appeal to those who appreciate the nostalgic charm of a true vintage flight jacket.

The Time-Worn process is entirely hand done, which takes hours to achieve; the result is a jacket that is still brand new, but you get something that has a vintage, lived-in, patina that you can continue to add to from the first time you put it on.

Vintage A-1 Flight Jackets extant today are few and far between, but those that have survived are, generally, very well worn. Being made from Capeskin (sheep), the leather is softer than other hides, such as steer and horse, thus A-1 Flight Jackets sustain scuffing and grazing more easily than flight jackets made from tougher leathers. The .50 CAL A-1 Flight Jacket captures perfectly this vintage appeal.

Standardized on November 27, 1927 as a Summer flying jacket, the A-1 Flight Jacket was the very first U. S. flight jacket design with knitted waist and cuffs; this was a style that was to set the basic outline for flight jacket designs for decades to come. Synonymous with early aviation heroes such as Jimmy Doolittle, the A-1, although superseded by the A-2 in 1931, was still in limited use during WWII and was not declared obsolete until September 29, 1944.

Our .50 CAL A-1 Flight Jacket is made from a vegetable-tanned, broken-grain Capeskin, which is then put through our Time-Worn® process to develop the full character of a vintage original. Remember, there's no waiting for this one to wear-in before you get it looking like a vintage original – the .50 CAL A-1 Flight Jacket is ready for action!

Sizes available: 36-48 regular.  Long and extra-long fittings available at no additional cost on custom order only.

Imported from England