This A-2 Flight Jacket is complete with the ornate insignia of the famous 23rd Fighter Group. The 23rd Fighter Group was formed in July 1942 as part of the China Air Task Force (CATF), marking the first such activation of a fighter group on a field of battle in WWII. The 23rd was comprised of three fighter squadrons: 74th, 75th and 76th.  Previously, some of the pilots of the 23^rd had served in that small volunteer unit known as The American Volunteer Group (AVG - also known as the FLYING TIGERS), the personnel of which had been hired by the Chinese government in their war against the Japanese.  Commanded by the tenacious Brigadier General Claire Lee Chennault, the AVG had gained notoriety as a force to be taken seriously.

After the USA entered the war, the AVG was amalgamated into the 23rd Ftr. Grp. and the tradition of marking the unit’s P-40 fighter planes with the distinctive-and-fearsome shark mouth carried on, along with the use of their mascot - the Flying Tiger. The combat record of the 23rd goes down in history as being one of the most illustrious in the US Army Force, creating notable aces such as the great Don Lopez and David 'Tex' Hill.

Before returning to the United States in December 1945, the 23rd had flown 24,000 combat sorties requiring more than 53,000 flying hours, and at a cost of 110 aircraft lost in aerial combat, with 90 shot down by surface defenses, and 28 bombed while on the ground.  The 23^rd was credited with destroying many more than their number lost: - 621 enemy planes destroyed in air combat - 320 enemy planes destroyed on the ground - sinking more than 131,000 tons of enemy shipping and damaging 250,000 tons more - enemy troop losses of more than 20,000.

This representation of a 23rd Ftr. Grp. A-2 Jacket is based upon our Rough Wear Clothing Company 1401-P A-2 Flying Jacket. The RW 1401 is a suitable candidate for this unit, having been produced in the last quarter of 1941, thus being available from when the 23rd was first activated.  For more information and details of authenticity about this A-2 model, please refer to this specific product found among Eastman’s Original-Maker A-2 Jackets.

This A-2 Jacket has been embellished with the appropriate insignia and markings of the unit in exquisitely hand-made, layered-leather patches to include the following: - 23rd Ftr. Grp. insignia applied to left breast - CBI shield to left shoulder - AAF roundel to right shoulder - 23rd Ftr. Grp. stencil to lining We cannot emphasize enough the degree of detailing and quality in these jaw-dropping patches. Each piece is hand-cut and then sewn using minute-but-accurate stitching - the 23rd insignia alone comprises no less than 40 pieces of leather in its construction! Finally, it's given Eastman’s TimeWorn® process with even greater detailing than that of their regular finish, which renders the garment with a stunning vintage patina that is unbelievably uncontrived in appearance, making for a first-rate vintage look directly out of the box. The final product is delivered to you in a custom-made, metal-edge, hard-card box to treasure forever, and eventually hand-down to your next generation - just like a vintage A-2 Jacket heirloom.  

This A-2 Jacket is custom order only.  Sizes available: 36-48 regular. Long and extra-long fittings available at no additional cost on special order only.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.   Imported from England

This A-2 Flight Jacket represents and example from the famous 303rd Bombardment Group.  The 303rd Bombardment Group was formed on 28 January 1942 and the official unit motto was “Might in Flight.”  Their wartime exploits would go down in history, relegating the 303rd as one of the most famous heavy bombardment units of WWII, where they achieved legendary status as the “Hell's Angels” group.

Arriving at Molesworth, England on 9 September 1942, the 303rd was assigned to the 8th Air Force, being one of the very first American heavy bombardment groups to arrive in England to join the British in the bombing campaign against Germany. The 303rd went on to fly more combat missions than any other bombardment group in the USAAF, 364 missions in total, and taking part in some of the bloodiest sorties of the war; targets that included:  The ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt, shipbuilding yards at Bremen, synthetic-rubber plant at Huls, the aircraft engine factories of Hamburg, the industrial quarter of Frankfurt, and the marshaling yards at Le Mans.  These infamous names were among the destinations where they flew to hell and back, and which earned them a well-deserved Distinguished Unit Citation.

Proud of their group's reputation, some airmen had their jackets painted on the back with various motifs and slogans; in the case of the 303rd, if it wasn’t the plane’s name you flew on, chances are it was “Hell's Angels” that adorned the back of your A-2 Jacket.  Quite often the painting of “Hell’s Angels” would be accompanied by a series of bombs which depicted the number of missions flown.

We are extremely proud to offer an incredible recreation of an original “Hell's Angels” back-painted A-2 Jacket of the famous 303rd Bombardment Group. 1st Lt Constantine J. Duros was a Bombardier in the 360th Bombardment Squadron who completed a tour, flying 29 missions in total, and he had his Rough Wear Clothing Co. contract 27752 A-2 Jacket painted in such a way that typified many of the back-painted A-2 Jackets from the 303rd Group.

Utilizing their reproduction of this very same Rough Wear Clo. Co. 27752 A-2 Jacket (for more information and details of authenticity about this A-2 model, please refer to Rough Wear 27752 A-2 found among Eastman’s Original-Maker A-2 Jackets), Eastman has recreated an exact replica of the Duros A-2 Jacket.  As you will see from the images in the photo gallery, the back painting is superbly executed, and it has been hand worked in order to capture the essence of a time-aged original. To the front left breast is sewn a superb hand-embroidered “Hell's Angels” insignia (360th B.Sqdn.), which is a perfect recreation of a theatre-made original example.

This A-2 Jacket is finally given Eastman’s TimeWorn® process with even greater detailing than that of their regular finish, which renders the garment with a stunning vintage patina that is unbelievably uncontrived in appearance, making for a first-rate vintage look directly out of the box.  And both the painting and the patch meld into the leather as though they have been seated there for decades, giving you the ultimate in a recreation of a true vintage icon.

Attached to the right collar clasp is a perfect reproduction of an Acme Thunderer Air Ministry whistle - a detail which is often found on original USAAF flight jackets which were used by airmen who were based in England.  These whistles are made of nickel-plated solid brass and then also TimeWorn® to convincingly match the patina of the jacket.

This product is delivered to you in a custom-made, metal-edge, hard-card box to treasure forever, and eventually hand-down to your next generation - just like a vintage A-2 Jacket heirloom.

This A-2 Jacket is custom order only.  Due to the extremely specialist nature of this product only a very few pieces can be made on a yearly basis, so we ask for your kind understanding if delivery times are particularly extended when ordering this item.

Disclaimer:  “Hells Angels” is a registered trademark of the “Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.”  The use of the term “Hell's Angels” with regard to the product advertised here is used purely and entirely in historical context to describe that which it is a reproduction of - a jacket of the 303rd Bombardment Group known and historically documented as “Hell's Angels” of the U. S. Army Air Forces of World War II.  This product is not affiliated with or endorsed by the “Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.”

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

Imported from England

This A-2 Flight Jacket comes complete with authentic back art copied from a vintage example that saw action with the Mighty 8th Air Force.  During WWII it was very common for bomber crews of the USAAF to nickname their aircraft and adorn the plane’s fuselage with a painting of the name. Other graphics, such as cartoon characters, pin-up girls, and bombs for missions flown, were also sometimes added to further embellish their plane with an identity.

One such aircraft was a B-24 Liberator bomber known as “UMBRIAGO” of the 489th Bombardment Group. “Umbriago” was a word of the early 1940s, having been made famous by comedian/entertainer Jimmy Durante, who had a hit song of the same name; Umbriago was Jimmy's jovial, fictitious side-kick.  It was from this good-luck character that inspiration was taken for the naming of this aircraft.

Assigned to the 8th Air Force in the Spring of 1944 and stationed at RAF Halesworth, England, the 489th arrived at the very height of the air offensive against Germany, and the “UMBRIAGO” was right there in the thick of it.

Taking part in a multitude of bombing missions throughout most of 1944 (which included several just prior to and during D-Day, and with one crewman collecting a Medal of Honor on the way), the 489th was finally relieved of assignment on the 29th of November 1944.  However, the “UMBRIAGO” was re-assigned to the 446th Bombardment Group, where she continued to deliver her payloads to the enemy until the 27th December 1944.  Misfortune befell her at this point when she crashed in fog while taking off at Bungay-Flixton airfield, bringing her remarkable wartime career to an end, which unfortunately included the pilot; fortuitously, the rest of the crew survived.

Just prior to leaving the 489th, the entire crew of the “UMBRIAGO” did what many crews of the USAAF did when completing a tour - they had the backs of their A-2 Flying Jackets decorated with a painting of the name of their aircraft to celebrate their achievement.  In this case, the design incorporated a yellow '8' (for 8th Air Force) centered within the U. S. white star that, in turn, is mounted upon a blue disc.  One bomb for each mission flown was painted in white and fanned around the disc in a symmetrical fashion with the word “UMBRIAGO” above.  That was nearly 70 years ago - incredibly, one of those eight jackets, that of Navigator Lt. Milton R. Johnson, has survived.  Johnson’s original Star Sportswear, back-painted A-2 Jacket has made it through the years to still tell the tale of the famous “UMBRIAGO.”

It is Lt. Johnson's back-painted A-2 Jacket that is illustrated and recreated here as part of the Elite Units series.  Utilizing Eastman’s original-maker Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket (the same maker as Johnson’s A-2 Jacket), the “UMBRIAGO” artwork is meticulously hand painted matching the dimensions, colors, and texture of the original artwork to absolute perfection.  This A-2 Jacket, in turn, has been hand worked to capture the essence of a time-aged original jacket, offering one of the most striking back-painted A-2s of that era. The painted Navigator wings, which were also a feature of Johnson’s   A-2 Jacket, are accurately depicted on the front left breast.

For more information and details of authenticity about this Star Sportswear A-2 model, please refer to this specific product found among Eastman’s Original-Maker A-2 Jackets.

This A-2 Jacket is finally given Eastman’s TimeWorn® process with even greater detailing than that of their regular finish, which renders the garment with a stunning vintage patina that is unbelievably uncontrived in appearance, making for a first-rate vintage look directly out of the box.

Attached to the right collar clasp is a perfect reproduction of an Acme Thunderer Air Ministry whistle - a detail which is often found on original USAAF flight jackets which were used by airmen who were based in England.  These whistles are made of nickel-plated solid brass and then also TimeWorn® to convincingly match the patina of the jacket.

This product is delivered to you in a custom-made, metal-edge, hard-card box to treasure forever, and eventually hand-down to your next generation - just like a vintage A-2 Jacket heirloom.

This A-2 Jacket is custom order only.  Due to the extremely specialist nature of this product only a very few pieces can be made on a yearly basis, so we ask for your kind understanding if delivery times are particularly extended when ordering this item.

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

Imported from England

This A-2 Flight Jacket was derived as an outgrowth of our work on a major cinematic film production.  We were the official screen-credited suppliers of the flight jackets (and other associated apparel) to the 2001 blockbuster movie Pearl Harbor, and we are proud to offer this special-edition “Time Worn” Pearl Harbor A-2 Flight Jacket.

“Time Wear” is an authentic-looking, aged finish applied by hand, and it was during production of the film jackets that we developed this special process. We refer to this model A-2 as the “Pearl Harbor,” because it was precisely this specification A-2 that we supplied for the film: A standard-edition A-2 with the pre-war collar and an “aged” appearance – “Time Worn.”

The film company didn’t have the time and manpower to generate “aged” jackets quickly enough in the quantity they purchased from us, so they asked if we could do this work as part of the volume of jackets they purchased. “Time Wear” is a process that has been honed over the years, where now we can produce an extremely authentic-looking aged garment.

Made from high-quality, vegetable-tanned horse hide, this model A-2 is available in a choice of two shades of brown: American Walnut and the slightly lighter Havana Brown. It comes delivered to you with a rugged, broken-grain, vintage appearance – the type appreciated on so many of those original A-2s we so dearly love. Take note of these authentic features:

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

• All-cotton dark medium-brown thread construction as found on many A-2 flying jackets originally produced in the 1940s

• Correct USAAF spec. 3-ounce weight, vegetable-tanned horse hide outer shell dyed in the aniline process and hand aged

• Single-piece back construction

• Collar assembly with leather stand, exactly as found on the pre-1942 A-2s

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton, inner-lining fabric to precisely match 1940s USAAF specs. and dyed in the rust-brown shade found on the majority of original vintage A-2s

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

• Custom manufacture of the typical ball-and-socket-style press studs located on pockets and collar ends, exactly duplicating the smaller (collar-size) and larger (pocket-size) found on the majority of original vintage A-2s

• Shoulder straps typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on original vintage A-2s

• Two snap-down exterior pockets with stitching and pocket flap configuration typifying the style found on many original vintage A-2s

• Snap-down collar typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on many original A-2s made in the 1940s

• Exact copy of the 1940s spring-loaded 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 1940s zippers

• USAAF authentic inspector’s ink stamping on cotton lining

• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, all-wool cuffs and waist skirt in medium brown, with cuffs correctly graduating from a wider weave into a more narrow weave, exactly matching those found on original vintage A-2s

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

• White cotton label located in pocket, exactly matching those found on most original vintage A-2s

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.

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

Imported from England

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

The A-2 Flight Jacket was standardized by the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1931, being the direct descendant of the A-1 Jacket from 1927. The A-2 Jacket experienced several spec. changes during its small production quantities of the pre-war years before culminating in the final variant that was the subject of the largest production runs during the 1942-44 period of WWII. Immediate popularity followed the A-2, becoming as much a cherished icon of the U. S. Army aviator as his silver wings.

We have reproduced the A-2 Flying Jacket in exacting detail. The Standard- Edition A-2 represents the wartime A-2 in its most typical form without copying any specific contractor or contract. Features such as pocket contour, knit or lining color and epaulet style, while authentic, have been homogenized from various original jacket contracts.  All hides are vegetable tanned, a process you'll find on original A-2s and ours, giving them that full-bodied, sumptuous feel. In every way, simply the best you'll find - an heirloom for sure!

Our total use of custom-made components throughout every garment’s production and design to precisely match 1940’s specs. is not to be confused with the vastly cheaper and inaccurate use of stock components employed by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAAF flying jackets. In fact, the only other leather flying jackets in the world today assembled with components like those found on an Eastman are the original vintage examples of the USAAF from the 1940’s. This A-2 Flying Jacket is a Standard Edition, correctly capturing all the nuances that typify A-2s produced during the 1942-44 years, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAAF. Take note of these authentic features:

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

• All-cotton dark medium-brown thread construction as found on many A-2 flying jackets originally produced in the 1940s

• Correct USAAF spec. 3-ounce weight, vegetable-tanned horsehide outer shell dyed in the semi-aniline process

• Single-piece back construction

• 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

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton, inner-lining fabric to precisely match 1940’s USAAF specs. and dyed in the rust-brown shade found on the majority of original vintage A-2s

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

• Custom manufacture of the typical ball-and-socket-style press studs located on pockets and collar ends, exactly duplicating the smaller (collar-size) and larger (pocket-size) found on the majority of original vintage A-2s

• Shoulder straps typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on original vintage A-2s

• Two snap-down exterior pockets with stitching and pocket flap configuration typifying the style found on many original vintage A-2s

• Snap-down collar typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on many original A-2s made in the 1940s

• Exact copy of the 1940’s spring-loaded 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, worsted-wool knit cuffs and waist skirt in medium brown, with cuffs correctly graduating from a wider weave into a more narrow weave, exactly matching those found on original vintage A-2s

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

• Cotton label (with printed text indicating size and lot number) located in pocket, exactly matching those found on most original vintage A-2s

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

The A-2 Flight Jacket was standardized by the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1931, being the direct descendant of the A-1 Jacket from 1927. The A-2 Jacket experienced several spec. changes during its small production quantities of the pre-war years before culminating in the final variant that was the subject of the largest production runs during the 1942-44 period of WWII. Immediate popularity followed the A-2, becoming as much a cherished icon of the U. S. Army aviator as his silver wings.

We have reproduced the A-2 Flying Jacket in exacting detail. This Standard- Edition A-2 represents the wartime A-2 in its most typical form without copying any specific contractor or contract. Features such as pocket contour, knit or lining color and epaulet style, while authentic, have been homogenized from various original jacket contracts. We offer a choice of two original leathers: horsehide or goatskin, dyed in two shades of brown: Havana or Seal. All hides are vegetable tanned, a process you'll find on original A-2s and ours, giving them that full-bodied, sumptuous feel. In every way, simply the best you'll find - an heirloom for sure!

Our total use of custom-made components throughout every garment’s production and design to precisely match 1940s specs. is not to be confused with the vastly cheaper and inaccurate use of stock components employed by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAAF flying jackets. In fact, the only other leather flying jackets in the world today assembled with components like those found on an Eastman are the original vintage examples of the USAAF from the 1940s. This A-2 Flying Jacket is a Standard Edition, correctly capturing all the nuances that typify A-2s produced during the 1942-44 years, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAAF. Take note of these authentic features:

• Copy of original-style contract label produced on a vintage shuttle loom

• All-cotton dark medium-brown thread construction as found on many A-2 flying jackets originally produced in the 1940s

• Correct USAAF spec. 3-ounce weight, vegetable-tanned horsehide outer shell dyed in the semi-aniline process

• Single-piece back construction

• 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

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton, inner-lining fabric to precisely match 1940s USAAF specs. and dyed in the rust-brown shade found on the majority of original vintage A-2s

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

• Custom manufacture of the typical ball-and-socket-style press studs located on pockets and collar ends, exactly duplicating the smaller (collar-size) and larger (pocket-size) found on the majority of original vintage A-2s

• Shoulder straps typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on original vintage A-2s

• Two snap-down exterior pockets with stitching and pocket flap configuration typifying the style found on many original vintage A-2s

• Snap-down collar typifying the shape, size and stitch style found on many original A-2s made in the 1940s

• Exact copy of the 1940’s spring-loaded 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 1940s zippers

• USAAF authentic inspector’s ink stamping on cotton lining

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply, all-wool knit cuffs and waist skirt in medium brown, with cuffs correctly graduating from a wider weave into a more narrow weave, exactly matching those found on original vintage A-2s

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

• Cotton label (with printed text indicating size and lot number) located in pocket, exactly matching those found on most original vintage A-2s

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

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

Imported from England

Standardized on May 29th 1931 as the regulation Army Air Corps summer flight jacket, the Type A-2 Jacket was produced up until the middle of 1944 and saw service until the end of the war and beyond.

Throughout its 13 years of production a multitude of companies were involved in its manufacture. Although having the same specifications to work from, each manufacturer had their own house style, and thus slight variations exist between them.

As a company that specializes in reproducing this particular style, one will notice we offer several different models of the A-2 in our range, each of them emulating, in some way or another, all the subtle differences that can be found on originals. Some are direct reproductions of actual makers (which can be found in our 'Original-Maker' category), and others, such as the model displayed here, are of our own branded design and produced to our own house style.

Cut and shape vary between originals jackets, offering slightly different fits, respectively. The model offered here is one that will appeal to those who prefer the slimmest of fits in this regard. The 'Eastman A-2 Slender' is slightly narrower in the trunk and sleeve circumference than any of our other models, providing a leaner-looking garment that lends itself very well to the contemporary silhouette while maintaining total authenticity in all other areas.

Made from a stunning, vegetable-tanned, supple horse hide, in a Seal-Brown shade with plenty of grain, it is produced exactly to all the official military specs expected from a high-end reproduction of this genre.

Available in sizes: 36 – 44. Long and extra-long fittings available at no additional cost on special order only.  Please note that this style is extremely trim and is best suited for lean, youthful builds; some individuals will not be able to comfortably wear this A-2 style at all.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

The Eastman A-2 Slender has made its debut appearance in the short-film music video 'TIME TO DANCE' by 'THE SHOES' starring Jake Gyllenhaal. See the official video on YouTube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt9wnawn7xQ

Flying at frigid high altitudes called for a special item of clothing to keep American airmen warm. The Army Air Corps designed the A-3 Flying Trousers, companion item to the B-3 Flying Jacket, with this exact purpose in mind. A-3 Flying Trousers were actually ordered by the Army Air Force with the B-3 Flight Jacket as a two-piece suit, not as a separate item; for every B-3 Flight Jacket that was made, there was a respective pair of A-3 Trousers. Constructed from the same materials as the jacket, they were designed to be worn with the B-3 Flight Jacket in extremely low temperatures.

Eastman Leather decided to recreate Army Air force history and make available, once again, the Type A-3 Winter Flying Trousers for the flying clothing enthusiast. Lovingly crafted with deft precision from high-quality North American sheepskin, these A-3s match the original item to the finest detail, including authentic zippers that run the entire length of the leg. Since these represent wartime A-3s, they are dyed dark brown on vegetable-tanned sheepskin, fully trimmed with Havana Brown Horsehide (Seal Brown Horsehide by request), authentic A-3 woven label, correct-width all-cotton webbing suspenders that have the authentic white underside, and reproduction 1942 nickel-plated Talon zippers, all of which make these another must for your flying-gear collection. Interestingly, A-3 Trousers actually require a greater square footage of sheepskin material to produce than a jacket, so they are priced accordingly, but we've endeavored to keep these as affordable as possible.

Available in sizes: 38 - 46.  Custom order only.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England