This is no fashion-colored MA-1 Flight Jacket, but the genuine, real deal worn by Northrop Aviation test pilots in the 1950’s & ‘60’s (Northrop’s official color was red and this showed up in a variety of forms and items dating back to the 1940’s).

The MA-1 Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth and natural good looks made this style an instant success with aircrew at bases around the world, as well as with anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems, so it’s no wonder Northrop choose this style for their flight crews.

Northrop’s red MA-1 jackets were made to the basic USAF specs. of the era and by a USAF contractor in a limited commercial production, the result being a Blazing-Red MA-1 Jacket that made their elite test pilots stand out, as seen in our vintage photo of the crew of an F-89H “Scorpion.” This MA-1 is a true shade of red. It is not orange, or pink, or magenta, but Blazing Scarlett Red, outfitted with striking-looking black knit parts, making this not just a Northrop Aviation MA- 1, but also one suitable for alumni of Rutgers University and Haddonfield Memorial High School (go Scarlett Knights and Bulldogs!), as well as anyone looking for a rugged, slick-looking jacket in a brilliant color.

Buzz Rickson’s design team have made various MA-1 Jackets over the years, making this a style they have gained world fame for making exquisitely and for which novelist William Gibson even turned into a sub-character in his novel “Pattern Recognition.” The original MA-1 was intended for wear in climates between 25 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter, and this remains true for our offering.

Buzz Rickson’s heavy nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flight jackets.  Buzz Rickson's have recreated the original fabric of the 1950’s using vintage looms and following vintage specs. and tests to make their fabric without peer; in fact, the only other flying jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF!  And full assembly of the exterior is performed with contrasting black thread that looks superb on the red nylon; only the very finest sewing machine operators are up to this task because contrasting thread will blatantly stand out if sewn in crooked form. 

This Buzz Rickson’s MA-1 Flight Jacket correctly captures all the nuances found on MA-1 Flight Jackets once produced in extremely limited numbers for Northop Aviation.  Take note of these authentic features:

• Copy of a commercial-style label in the neck area
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave nylon twill to precisely match 1950’s USAF specs. and treated to repel water. Outer side dyed to precise shade of Nothrop Aviation’s red and the lining is colored in the earlier shade of silver-grey USAF sage green (this MA-1 is NOT reversible)
• Correct USAF-spec. batting of warm wool-and-cotton fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining
• Full assembly on the exterior with contrasting black thread.  Only the very finest sewing machine operators are up to this task because contrasting thread will blatantly stand out is sewn in crooked form.
• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1950’s USAF specs.
• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1950’s USAF specs.
• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1950’s Crown main zipper and pocket zipper with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
• Leather zipper pull tabs as found USAF MA-1s, designed for easy functioning with gloves
• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure with curved top to minimize contact with the chin
• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original 1950’s MA-1 jackets
• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in jet black
• Heavy-weight parachute harness nylon in black, correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip
• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots reinforced with heavy bar tacks and outfitted with two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

Sizes: XS – XXL.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan

Buzz Rickson brand gained fame from making the finest copies of the legendary USAF MA-1 Flying Jacket, beginning in 1994, and it was the obsessive perfection of this MA-1 that provided the impetus for acclaimed novelist William Gibson to make the Buzz Rickson MA-1 , albeit in incorrect black, a co-character in his groundbreaking novel "Pattern Recognition."  The serendipitous creation of a 10th anniversary black MA-1 from Buzz Rickson's coincided with the debut of "Pattern Recognition," and the success of the first black MA-1 for Buzz Rickson's gave way to the William Gibson Collection in 2007, and since then the black, Tailored-Cut MA-1 (available on this website) has become a top seller around the world.  Due to customer requests, we now bring you a similar Tailored-Cut MA-1 from the Buzz Rickson William Gibson Collection, but in the original USAF sage green with corresponding sage green lining, just as it was in the original spec. from the 1950's, but without the USAF decal on the shoulder sleeve.

Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.

This Tailored-Cut MA-1 is offered for those who prefer something slimmer and less bulky than the original MA-1 Flying Jacket design, whereby the armhole has been raised higher, the sleeves further tapered, and the body slimmed down vs. the full cut of the original MA-1 Flying Jacket design.    Other than the tailored fit, this MA-1 Flying Jacket is replete with all of the authenticity found in a vintage example of the late 1950's and which Buzz Rickson's is world renowned for making. 

Please note the following features and details found on this Buzz Rickson masterpiece:

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom, not a modern projectile loom.

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave sage green nylon outer shell and inner lining using vintage looms and precisely matching 1957 USAF specs. and treated to repel water.

• Modified tailored fit with higher armholes, narrowed shoulders, tailored body and tapered sleeves.

• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining.

•Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.

•Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy 100% cotton-twill fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.

• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1953 Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton.

• Leather pull tab designed for easy functioning with gloves

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure.

• Correct, USAF-spec. leather pull tab on sleeve pocket

• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in sage green

• Heavy, parachute-harness nylon in sage green correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip.

• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original 1957 MA-1's.

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass.

• Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Even sizes 34-44 Regular or 34 - 44.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan

Last ONE Left!!!

The U. S. Air Force MA-1 Intermediate Flight Jacket was introduced as the direct descendant of the “modified” B-15D Flight Jacket in 1957.  Flight Jacket models B-15A through B-15D had been “modified” in accordance with a USAF Materiel Command directive of 1954.  The directive called for all of the types of B-15 Flight Jacket on issue or in stock to have the factory-installed fur collar removed and a wool knit collar installed in its place; this modification was intended to reduce the flying jacket’s flammability that was considered greater with a fur collar in place.  These new “modified” flight jackets were considered to be a substantive improvement, thus the next garment in the evolution of the USAF Intermediate Flight Jacket would be produced at the factory without a fur collar but with a short wool knit collar in its place.  Thus began a flying-jacket legend!

The MA-1 Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems.  It was intended for wear in climates between 25 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter.  The MA-1 Flight Jacket would see combat life during the Cold War and Vietnam War, as well as in fashion life that, in many forms and colors, continues to this day. MA-1 Flight Jackets produced for the USAF in the 1960's declined in quality and warmth from those of the 1950s and featured a reversible orange lining.  But those early MA-1 Flight Jackets that were made from a grayish shade of sage green in heavy-weight nylon twill, warmly lined with woolen fiber filling sandwiched between the outer nylon shell and the sage green inner nylon lining were, and likely will remain, the nylon flight jacket of greatest desire by both aviators and collectors.  Although the orange-lined MA-1 Flight Jacket was superseded by the newer Nomex jackets in the 1980s, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing an MA-1 Flight Jacket for some years afterwards. 

Buzz Rickson brand takes extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.

The popularity of MA-1 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flight jacket in the history of the USAF. Buzz Rickson has reproduced the 1957 first-model MA-1 Flight Jacket in exacting detail.  Buzz Rickson’s heavy nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flight jackets.  In fact, the only other flying jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF!  This Buzz Rickson’s MA-1 Flight Jacket is a Special Edition, correctly capturing all the nuances found on MA-1 Flight Jackets once produced by the renowned Lion Uniform Company, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF.  Take note of these authentic features:  

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

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave nylon outer and inner lining shell to precisely match 1957 USAF specs. and treated to repel water

• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining

• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.

• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.

• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1953 Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• Heavy all-cotton zipper pull tab as found on Lion Uniform MA-1s, designed for easy functioning with gloves

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure

• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tab on sleeve pocket

• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in sage green

• Heavy-weight parachute harness nylon in sage green, correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip

• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original 1957 MA-1s

• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining, exactly as found on early MA-1s

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

  Sizes: XS – XXL.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.  

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan    

The L-2B Flight Jacket was an all-time favorite, renowned for comfort, light weight, and amazing warmth-to-weight ratio, and all of this remains true with this masterpiece copy.  

The USAF L-2B Flight Jacket was developed as a direct replacement for the blue L-2A Flight Jacket.  L-2A Flight Jackets were produced in blue circa 1950 as part of an effort by the then-new USAF service branch to stand apart from the old USAAF and its association with the U. S. Army.  This blue color proved unsatisfactory in combat conditions during the Korean War, where a downed airman needed a combat uniform color that would help conceal him from any nearby enemies, and the new USAF blue, unfortunately, only made downed aviators better targets and more easily found.  The result of this combat experience in the first two years of the Korean War resulted in the development of a new color that did better conceal downed airmen and, by mid-1952, the first of the combat flying clothing began to appear in this new color known as sage green.  The early sage green tended to have a distinctly more silver-grey cast to it than the later sage green shade employed in the 1960s, which is one distinguishing characteristic of the earlier L-2B Flight Jackets.

The L-2B Flight Jacket was intended for wear in climates between 42 degrees and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for spring, summer and fall. The essential differences between the L-2A Flight Jacket and L-2B Flight Jacket are:  Color changed from blue to sage green, size on labels changed from numerical (38, 40, 42, etc.) to textual increments (small, medium, large, etc.), the cut was made more generous and the outer nylon shell was changed from 1/3 twill to the heavier 2/2 twill, while the lining was changed from a wool-and-nylon blend to a wool-and-rayon blend.  The L-2B Flight Jacket had a long service life, with later versions that featured the orange linings that were first introduced in 1964 still being found in service use into the late 1970s.  This Buzz Rickson’s L-2B Flight Jacket is manufactured in the earlier silver-grey sage green and is a precise copy of an original example produced by the esteemed government contractor Skyline Clothing, Corp., circa 1958, being the 4th L-2B Flight Jacket variant (Spec. 7448C) in the evolution of the L-2B Flight Jacket series.

Buzz Rickson has reproduced the L-2B Flight Jacket (Spec. 7448C) in exacting detail.  Buzz Rickson’s heavy-weight nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flight jackets.  In fact, the only other flight jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF!  Please take note of these authentic features:

• Exact copy of the original maker’s label produced on a vintage shuttle loom

• Custom manufacturing of the correct 2/2 weave and weight in silver-grey color USAF Sage Green nylon twill outer shell to precisely match 1950's USAF specs., and treated to repel water

• Custom manufacturing of the correct 65% rayon 35% wool double-faced inner lining in silver-grey sage green, reflecting early L-2B manufacture

• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded 1950's Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric in a beautifully contrasting tannish color, not incorrect poly-cotton.  The leather zip pulls have been sewn in a circular pattern, exactly matching the stitch style found on L-2B Flying Jackets once produced by Skyline Clothing, Corp.

• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tabs on zippers

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in the USAF Sage Green

• Heavy, parachute harness nylon in USAF Sage Green correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip

• Snap-down pocket flaps and shoulder straps crafted to match the style found on L-2B Flying Jackets made by Skyline Clothing, Corp.

• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

Sizes:  XS  – XXXL.  The fit is generous.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

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

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan

The MA-1 Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems.  It was intended for wear in climates between 25 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter.  The MA-1 Flight Jacket would see combat life during the Cold War and Vietnam War, as well as in fashion life that, in many forms and colors, continues to this day. MA-1 Flight Jackets produced for the USAF in the 1960's declined in quality and warmth from those of the 1950's, and featured a reversible orange lining.  But those early MA-1 Flight Jackets that were made from a silver-gray shade of sage green in heavy-weight nylon twill, warmly lined with woolen fiber filling sandwiched between the outer nylon shell and the sage green inner nylon lining were, and likely will remain, the nylon flight jacket of greatest desire by both aviators and collectors.  Although the orange-lined MA-1 Flight Jacket was superseded by the newer Nomex jackets in the 1980's, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing an MA-1 Flight Jacket for some years afterwards. 

The popularity of MA-1 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flight jacket in the history of the USAF. Buzz Rickson has reproduced this first-model MA-1 Flight Jacket in exacting detail.  Buzz Rickson’s heavy nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flight jackets.  Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production:

The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production, but in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.

The only other flying jackets in the world today made to this level of authenticity are those vintage examples of the USAF!  This Buzz Rickson’s MA-1 Flight Jacket correctly captures all the nuances found on MA-1 Flight Jackets once produced by the Albert Turner Company, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF.  Take note of these authentic features:  

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom, nota modern, projectile loom.

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave nylon outer shell and inner lining to precisely match the originalUSAF specs. and treated to repel water.

• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining.

• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1950's USAF specs.

• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1950's USAF specs.

• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1953 Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric that is rolled and glued at the base, not incorrect poly-cotton that is heat sealed with plastics at the base.

• Leather zipper pull tab as found on Albert Turner MA-1's, designed for easy functioning with gloves.

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure.

• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tab on sleeve pocket.

• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in sage green.

• Heavy-weight parachute harness nylon in sage green, correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip.

• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original 1950's MA-1's.

• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining, exactly as found on early MA-1's.

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass.

  Sizes: XS – XXXL.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.  

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan    

The U. S. Air Force Type B-15C Intermediate Flight Jacket replaced the earlier Olive Drab B-15B Flight Jacket beginning in 1950.  The most easily recognized difference between the B-15C Flight Jacket and B-15B Flight Jacket is color.  By 1950, the USAF began changing the color of most of its flying clothing from Olive Drab to Air Force Blue as part of an overall plan to forge a separate identity from the other branches of service, especially the army.  The B-15C Flight Jacket was initially produced for a very short period from surplus Olive Drab nylon left over from the superseded B-15B Flight Jackets, but the overwhelming majority of B-15C Flight Jackets were manufactured in a gorgeous dark blue nylon.  Though a B-15C Flight Jacket is scarce, a B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket is truly a very special and rare garment.

The designation of “mod.” stands for modified, meaning the B-15 Flight Jacket has been “modified” by a USAF Materiel Command Depot in accordance with a USAF directive of 1954.  The directive called for all of the types of B-15 Flight Jackets on issue or in stock to be “modified”, whereupon the factory-installed fur collar was to be removed and a wool knit collar installed in its place.  This modification was intended to reduce the flying jacket’s flammability that was considered greater with a fur collar in place.  B-15 Flight Jackets so modified were to have a new label indicating this new “modified” status sewn either directly over the original factory label or located somewhere under the original label.  The label information could be printed, typed, hand written or applied with a stencil or ink stamp on any available fabric.  Since the modification was performed after the jacket was originally made, it is typical to find the thread color around the collar area not matching the thread that assembled the B-15 Flight Jacket, and it is also common to find the new knit collar color to be in a shade that doesn’t quite match the knit on the rest of the jacket.  In all other ways, the flight jacket remained a B-15 of whatever spec. it was originally - B-15A, B-15B, B-15C or B-15D.

Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.

The B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth, fabulous blue color and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems.  It was intended for wear in climates between 22 degrees and 52 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter.  The famous USAF MA-1 Flight Jacket was directly derived from the “modified” B-15s in 1957.  Although superseded by the MA-1, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing some of the B-15 series flying jackets in their “modified” configurations into the 1960s.  The popularity of B-15 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flying jacket in the history of the USAF.

Buzz Rickson has reproduced the B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket in exacting detail. Buzz Rickson’s heavy nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flying jackets.  In fact, the only other flying jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF!  

This Buzz Rickson’s B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket correctly captures all the nuances found on an original vintage B-15C (mod.), making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF.  Take note of these authentic features:

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

• Authentic typewritten label indicating the “modified” status sewn on top of factory label

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave Air Force Blue nylon outer and inner lining shells to precisely match 1950 USAF specs. and treated to repel water

• Correct USAF spec. inner lining of warm alpaca and wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell

• Collar area authentically sewn with thread that does not match the thread used to assemble the rest of the jacket, exactly as on a “modified” B-15

• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs.

• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy-weight, all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs.

• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded, late 1940s Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all- cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• Center-set frontal zip closure, exactly matching original B-15C specs.

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure

• Correct USAF spec. leather pull tabs on zipper

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in dark blue

• Heavy, parachute harness nylon in USAF Blue correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip

• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original vintage B-15Cs

• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

Sizes available:  36-44.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan

The U. S. Air Force Type B-15C Intermediate Flight Jacket replaced the earlier Olive Drab B-15B Flight Jacket beginning in 1950.  The early B-15C Flight Jackets were produced in the same Olive Drab of the B-15B Flight Jackets, while later-production B-15C Flight Jackets, which represented the majority of this spec., were produced in USAF Blue.  By 1950, the USAF began changing the color of most of its flying clothing from Olive Drab to Air Force Blue as part of an overall plan to forge a separate identity from the other branches of service, especially the army. Though all B-15C Flight Jackets are scarce, a Type B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket is truly a very special and rare garment, and a B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket in Olive Drab stands as the rarest of these two modified B-15C Flight Jacket styles.

The designation of “mod.” stands for modified, meaning the B-15 Flight Jacket has been “modified” by a USAF Materiel Command Depot in accordance with a USAF directive of 1954.  The directive called for all of the types of B-15 Flight Jackets on issue or in stock to be “modified," whereupon the factory-installed fur collar was to be removed and a wool knit collar installed in its place.  This modification was intended to reduce the flight jacket’s flammability that was considered greater with a fur collar in place.  B-15 Flight Jackets so modified were to have a new label indicating this new “modified” status sewn either directly over the original factory label or located somewhere under the original label.  The label information could be printed, typed, hand written or applied with a stencil or ink stamp on any available fabric.  Since the modification was performed after the jacket was originally made, it is typical to find the thread color around the collar area not matching the thread that assembled the B-15 Flight Jacket, and it is also common to find the new knit collar color to be in a shade that doesn’t quite match the knit on the rest of the jacket.  In all other ways, the flight jacket remained a B-15 Flight Jacket of whatever spec. it was originally - B-15A, B-15B, B-15C or B-15D.

Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.

The B-15C (mod.) Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth, fabulous blue color and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems.  It was intended for wear in climates between 22 degrees and 52 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter.  The famous USAF MA-1 Flight Jacket was directly derived from the “modified” B-15 Flight Jackets in 1957.  Although superseded by the MA-1 Flight Jacket, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing some of the B-15 series flight jackets in their “modified” configurations into the 1960s.  The popularity of B-15 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flight jacket in the history of the USAF.

Buzz Rickson has reproduced the B-15C (mod.) Flying Jacket in exacting detail. Buzz Rickson’s heavy-weight, nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flying jackets.  In fact, the only other flying jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF!  This Buzz Rickson’s B-15C (mod.) Flying Jacket correctly captures all the nuances found on an original vintage  B-15C (mod.), making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF.  Take note of these authentic features:

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

• Authentic typewritten label indicating the “modified” status sewn on top of factory label

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave Olive Drab nylon outer and inner lining shell to precisely match 1950 USAF specs. and treated to repel water

• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm alpaca and wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining

• Collar area authentically sewn with thread that does not match the thread used to assemble the rest of the jacket, exactly as on a “modified” B-15

• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy 100% cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs.

• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs.

• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded late 1940s Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• Center-set frontal zip closure, exactly matching original B-15C specs.

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure

• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tabs on zippers

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in olive drab, with the collar knit correctly not matching the color of the cuffs and waist skirt in keeping with the way an original “modified” jacket would appear

• Brown leather tab correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip

• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original vintage B-15Cs

• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

Sizes available:  36-44.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

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

Imported from Japan

The U. S. Air Force Type B-15C Intermediate Flight Jacket replaced the earlier Olive Drab B-15B Flight Jacket beginning in 1950.  The most easily recognized difference between the B-15C Flight Jacket and B-15B Flight Jacket is color.  By 1950, the USAF began changing the color of most of its flying clothing from Olive Drab to Air Force Blue as part of an overall plan to forge a separate identity from the other branches of service, especially the army.  The B-15C Flight Jacket was initially produced for a very short period from surplus Olive Drab nylon left over from the superseded B-15B Flight Jackets, but the overwhelming majority of B-15C Jackets were manufactured in a gorgeously dark blue nylon.

Both O. D. and blue B-15C Flight Jackets became icons of the Korean air war, and possibly the most famous of the B-15 Flight Jacket series, having been extensively photographed while being worn by film star Marilyn Monroe and her entourage while performing in a USO tour of air bases just after the Korean war.

The B-15C Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth, beautiful blue color and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems.  It was intended for wear in climates between 25 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter.  The lifespan of both the O. D. and blue B-15C Flight Jacket designations was, however, rather short, being superseded by the newer B-15D Flight Jacket specification (made in a grayish Sage Green) in 1952.  The realities of combat in Korea proved that a downed aviator had a far better chance of survival and evading capture wearing clothing in a color that camouflaged the wearer, thus the later blue flying clothing became nothing much more than a prestige symbol used in non-combat areas, while the earlier O. D. versions were seen as life-saving gear to a potential downed airman in enemy territory.  All of the non-modified B-15 Flight Jacket designations saw action in history’s first jet-on-jet air battles of the Korean War, and although the final variant, the B-15D Flight Jacket, entered service at the close of the Korean War and was itself later replaced by the MA-1 Flight Jacket in 1957, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing some of the B-15 series flight jackets in their “modified” configurations into the 1960s.  The popularity of B-15 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flight jacket in the history of the USAF.

Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.

Buzz Rickson has reproduced the Blue B-15C Flight Jacket in exacting detail.  Buzz Rickson’s heavy-weight nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flying jackets.  Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.  The only other flight jackets in the world today made to this level of authenticity are those original vintage examples of the USAF!

This Buzz Rickson’s Blue B-15C Flight Jacket correctly captures all the nuances found on original vintage Blue B-15C Flight Jackets, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF.  Take note of these authentic features:

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave Blue nylon outer and inner lining shell to precisely match 1950 USAF specs., including treating to repel water
• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm alpaca-and-wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining
• Gorgeous, plush, genuine mouton-fur collar with fur-padded button-tab closure dyed to 1950 USAF specs. of a rich, dark blue
• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs
• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs
• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded early 1950s Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all- cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
• Center-set frontal zip closure, exactly matching original B-15C specs
• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tabs on zippers
• Custom manufacturing of the correct, 100% worsted-wool knit cuffs and waist skirt in blue
• Heavy, parachute harness nylon in USAF Blue correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip
• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original vintage Blue B-15Cs
• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining
• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

Sizes:  34-44.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan

The U. S. Air Force Type B-15C Intermediate Flight Jacket replaced the earlier Olive Drab B-15B Flight Jacket beginning in 1950.  By 1950, the USAF began changing the color of most of its flying clothing from Olive Drab to Air Force Blue as part of an overall plan to forge a separate identity from the other branches of service, especially the army.  The B-15C Flight Jacket was initially produced for a very short period from Olive Drab nylon, but the overwhelming majority of  B-15C Flight Jackets were manufactured in a dark blue nylon.  Those early O. D. B-15C Flight Jackets, though not great in production numbers, were indeed produced in quantities that were substantial enough to make a very noticeable presence in the first two years of the Korean War, and thus are very typical of what the aircrews were outfitted with in 1950 and 1951 before the blue B-15C Flight Jackets began to show up in greater numbers. 

Because these early O. D. B-15C Flight Jackets were entirely issued to active aircrews during these early days of the war, extant examples today are extraordinarily rare due to high attrition, making the very rare blue B-15C Flight Jacket actually appear, by comparison, rather common.  The O. D. B-15C Flight Jackets share the same design of center-set frontal zipper closure as the blue version (this feature easily distinguishes the O. D. B-15C Flight Jacket from the O. D. B-15B Flight Jacket with its offset zipper), but the O. D. B-15C Flight Jacket is unique from the blue version in that the oxygen mask retainer tab on the left breast is still made of brown leather like the B-15B Flight Jacket, and not the heavy-weight, parachute harness nylon of the blue B-15C Flight Jacket.  Additionally, the shade of olive drab nylon shell fabric used to fabricate the B-15C Flight Jacket tends to be more green and often more shiny than the same fabric used in production of the B-15B Flight Jacket.  Both O. D. and blue B-15C Flight Jackets became icons of the Korean air war, and possibly the most famous of the B-15 flight jacket series, having been extensively photographed while being worn by film star Marilyn Monroe and her entourage while performing in a USO tour of air bases just after the Korean war.

The O. D. B-15C Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth, camouflaging green color and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems.  It was intended for wear in climates between 25 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter.  The lifespan of both the O. D. and blue B-15C Flight Jacket designations was, however, rather short, being superseded by the newer B-15D Flight Jacket specification (made in a grayish Sage Green) in 1952. 

The realities of combat in Korea proved that a downed aviator had a far better chance of survival and evading capture wearing clothing in a color that camouflaged the wearer, thus the later blue flying clothing became nothing much more than a prestige symbol used in non-combat areas, while the earlier O. D. versions were seen as life-saving gear to a potential downed airman in enemy territory.  All of the non-modified B-15 Flight Jacket designations saw action in history’s first jet-on-jet air battles of the Korean War, and although the final variant, the B-15D Flight Jacket, entered service at the close of the Korean War and was itself later replaced by the MA-1 Flight Jacket in 1957, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing some of the B-15 series flight jackets in their “modified” configurations into the 1960s.  The popularity of B-15 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flight jacket in the history of the USAF.

Buzz Rickson has reproduced the Olive Drab B-15C Flight Jacket in exacting detail.  Buzz Rickson’s heavy-weight nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flying jackets.  Buzz Rickson brand takes other extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production.  The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there.  The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer.  To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting.  Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.  The only other flight jackets in the world today made to this level of authenticity are those original vintage examples of the USAF! 

This Buzz Rickson’s Olive Drab B-15C Flight Jacket correctly captures all the nuances found on original vintage O. D. B-15C Flight Jackets, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF.  Take note of these authentic features:  

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave Olive Drab nylon outer and inner lining shell to precisely match 1950 USAF specs. and typify the early O. D. B-15C production, including treating to repel water
• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm alpaca-and-wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining
• Gorgeous, plush, genuine mouton-fur collar with fur-padded button-tab closure dyed to 1950 USAF specs. of a rich, deep-toned dark brown
• Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs
• Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1950 USAF specs
• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded early 1950s Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all- cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
• Center-set frontal zip closure, exactly matching original B-15C specs
• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tabs on zippers
• Custom manufacturing of the correct, 100% worsted-wool knit cuffs and waist skirt in Olive Drab
• Heavy, dark brown leather tab correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip
• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original vintage O. D. B-15Cs
• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining
• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

Sizes:  34-44.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.  

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan