Buzz Rickson USAF L-2A Flying Jacket Superior Togs
The U. S. Air Force Type L-2A Light Flying Jacket replaced the highly popular Type L-2 Light Flying Jacket in 1950. Like the L-2, the L-2A Flying Jacket was favored for it’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth and natural good looks. The L-2A Flying Jacket was intended for wear in climates between 42 degrees and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for spring, summer and fall. The essential difference between the L-2 Flying Jacket and L-2A was 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; however, this very attractive, distinctive blue color lasted in production but for a short while. 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 blue flying clothing became nothing much more than a prestige symbol used in non-combat areas by the end of the Korean War.
Buzz Rickson has reproduced the L-2A Flying 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 original vintage examples of the USAF!
This Buzz Rickson's L-2A Flying Jacket correctly captures all the nuances and features found on the vintage original L-2A's, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF. Take note of these authentic features:
• Exact copy of the original maker’s label produced on a vintage shuttle loom that includes the contractor name, Superior Togs
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight, weave and color USAF Blue nylon outer shell to precisely match 1950 USAF specs. and treated to repel water
• Custom manufacturing of the correct 65% nylon 35% wool double-faced inner lining
• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded late 1940’s Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
• 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 Blue
• Heavy parachute-harness nylon in USAF Blue 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-2A Flying Jackets
• USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve in full color, and under maker label in lining in off-white stencil form
• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of 1945-spec. USAF brass
Sizes 34-44. This style is light weight and fits generously; thus, a size 44 should, in most instances, comfortably fit a 46" chest measure.
Crown is a registered trademark in the USA of History Preservation Associates
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
Buzz Rickson USAF L-2A Flying Jacket Superior Togs
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: This is an extremely easy-wearing jacket style. It is important to keep in mind that this jacket style is very light in weight and not at all rigid or restrictive, thus the easy-wearing design does lend itself well to being worn more snugly than heavier jackets style such as the MA-1 or B-15C jackets.
About 80% of our customers prefer to wear this jacket style one size smaller than their chest measures, thus an individual with a chest circumference of 40” is inclined to prefer the size 38. By sizing the jacket down one full size from the wearer’s chest measure, the desired amount of room between the wearer’s chest measure and the jacket’s external chest measure is approximately 6” – 7”.
A small minority of individuals can comfortably wear this jacket style with as little as 4” of room in the jacket. This tiny minority is typically made up of individuals who desperately want to own this jacket style and who have chest measurements larger than our size range covers, such as those with 48” chest measures. Only the most tolerant and/or absolute leanest-of-lean individuals can be comfortably outfitted in this jacket style if there is less than 6” of room between the wearer’s chest measure and jacket’s exterior chest measure.
Tip 1: Follow the instructions entitled “How to Use Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit” listed under the PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS tab for this product. After finding no substantive conflicts with your body measures obtained from the tab entitled BODY MEASURING, order this garment with no less than 6” of room in excess of your chest measure if you prefer a trim fit in the chest and shoulders. If a roomier or longer fit is desired, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size. The best trim-yet-comfortable fit is achieved for most customers by ordering a size that is one size smaller than their chest measure: Chest measures 40”, order size 38. Those whose chest measure falls on an odd number, such as 41” or 43”, will have to determine if they want less room or more room when selecting a jacket size.
Tip 2: Please note that your chest circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another jacket you may own from a different maker or even the same maker, so please take the time to obtain your true chest circumference measure so as to compare to our chart of jacket measures; this will enable us to perform a better job getting you the right size and minimize your chances in having to deal with the hassle and cost of exchanges.
Please ask us for fitting advice if in doubt.
Tip 3: Individuals who prefer looser fits and/or those with a waist measure that is nearly equal to or greater than their chest circumference measure may jump up one size in this jacket for comfort and desired fit (when we refer to waist measure we do not mean your trouser size; we mean the actual circumference measure of your waistline at its widest point). If you are unsure of the size to order we will assist you; please contact us with the following information: Height, waist circumference measure, chest circumference measure, body weight, and type of clothing to be worn beneath the jacket most of the time, as well as the type of fit you prefer: Trim, roomy or oversized.
Buzz Rickson USAF L-2A Flying Jacket Superior Togs
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
The following table provides actual product measures. These measures are provided as an aid because, in conjunction with the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each product, they can sometimes be very useful when comparing the measurements from this garment to the measures of your body; however, acting as an armchair tailor should be done with caution, as well as with knowledge of other important areas of fit that are not displayed here. Armchair tailors frequently fail to take into account other significant elements that impact fit; following the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each garment on this web site is strongly suggested, which can be very useful in supplanting or supplementing the listed measures below.
Our measures were derived from averaging measurements taken from many garments of the same size from each specific size in the range of any given product, thus the measures provided are representative for each size but they may not be exactly what you will receive. Some fluctuation in size is normal and to be expected, especially in these garments that have been manufactured on the bench by hand. Size fluctuations are rarely encountered in the width measures and more typically encountered in length measures, and particularly with respect to leather jackets and jackets with knit cuffs and waistbands. Fluctuations in width measures are very rare, and when they are encountered, are typically insignificant: 1/8” – ¼”. Normal fluctuations of measure in sleeve and/or body length + /- a ½” is more common but still rare, and such fluctuations in that increment range are within spec. for jackets of the same size and style.
| Size | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
| Chest width | 22" | 23.5" | 24.5" | 25" | 26.5" |
| Shoulder width | 17" | 19" | 20" | 20.5" | 21" |
| Arm length | 24.5" | 25.5" | 25.5" | 25.5" | 27.5" |
| Back length | 23" | 24" | 25.5" | 25.5" | 26.5" |
How to Use the Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit:
1) Using the measurements listed for this product and information found under the tab entitled MEASURING GARMENTS to understand our measuring technique, please double the chest measure to obtain the total external chest circumference of this garment. For example: If the chest measure listed for size 40 is 24.5”, doubling this measure yields a 49” external chest circumference.
2) Measure your chest circumference as per the tab on this web site specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your chest measure to the chest measure of this product.
3) Many jackets are cut in such a way that the wearer requires no less than 4” of room in the jacket for a sleek fit that is also comfortable, while other jacket styles require the wearer to have more than 8” of room. If your chest circumference is 40”, a product with a 24.5” chest width has a 49” external chest circumference and would provide 9” of external room in this scenario (chest measures 40”, external chest measure of jacket is 49”, thus 9” of external room would be realized).
4) Again, using the measurements listed for this product and information under the MEASURING GARMENTS tab to understand our measuring technique, add half of the shoulder width to the arm length. For example: If the shoulder width is 20” and the arm length is 26”, adding 10” (half the shoulder width) to 26” (the arm length) will yield an overall sleeve length of 36” in this product.
5) Measure your overall sleeve length following the instructions on this web site under the tab specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your overall sleeve length to this product.
6) If desired, repeat the measuring comparisons for back length.
7) Compare your body measures to the listed garment measures and follow the advice found under the SIZING TIPS tab to obtain a good fit.
IMPORTANT: Because you need room in a garment for comfort, garments with a 44” chest circumference are NOT a size 44, nor are they intended for anyone with a 44” chest circumference. Tee shirts and thermal shirts tend to have the most body-hugging fits of our product offerings because these were originally intended to be undergarments, thus these can be ordered to stretch to fit if that is how you wish to wear such garments. Other shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. will all have some amount of room incorporated in their designs, thus these will all measure larger than your actual chest measure by varying degrees.
Sometimes-Problematic Way to Determine a Good Fit:
Due to differences in how even near-identical garments are cut by different manufacturers, it is not necessarily a good idea to compare the listed measures of this product to the measures of an existing, similar product in your wardrobe to determine the correct size to order in this product. Though such comparisons can indeed work some of the time, and maybe even most of the time, vast experience with and knowledge of the products we market has proven such practices will sometimes fail. This inaccurate measuring methodology doesn't factor in other key variables of fit relative to you and the garment that includes: Armhole opening, shoulder slope, high-point shoulder, high chest, width of sleeves at all points including the all-important elbow, waist measure, and the thickness, plumpness, and rigidity of the material the garment is made from, naming just some variables influencing fit that do not appear on any list of measurements for a garment or that a customer is likely to account for.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
A Good Fit:
This is highly subjective - what one person may think is too big, another may think fits perfectly. Some garments are cut quite generously and others are cut quite trimly. If comparing measurements of one of our products to another you may own, some individuals will surely find that none or maybe only one area of measure is commonly shared or remotely close to being the same. Ultimately, chest measure is the most important area to properly fit, then all other areas of measure will have to fall into place. And some individuals who are extremely tall may find that body and/or sleeve length are more important to accommodate than even chest measure.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
We strive to create a crisp fit between our products and the customer, and not a loose, sloppy look. If you prefer your clothing to fit more loosely, then we will do our best to work with you to that end, though, by the very nature of our product designs and fits it may not be possible to duplicate the slack looks found in many mainstream clothing brands even if you go up one or two sizes in our products.
