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

Designed as a replacement for the USAAF B-3 Flight Jacket in 1942, the AN-J-4 Flight Jacket didn’t see production until late 1943. Based on the U. S. Navy’s M-445 Flight Jacket, the AN-J-4 Flight Jacket was further improved by Army standards, though acceptable for both branches, hence the designation “AN” (Army/Navy), with the letter “J” representing jacket and the numeral “4” indicating this as the fourth jacket type designated for use by both branches of service. During the wartime production, no less than three versions of this flight jacket were produced; after 25 years of making the final variant with snaps on the pockets, we now are offering the 2nd version noted for the following features: Buttons on the pocket flaps and throat-latch, raised zip with 'turn-away' triangular leather fob, pencil aperture on topside of left pocket flap, and raw-edge backing to pocket flaps.

The AN-J-4 Flight Jacket was the most durable and comfortable of sheepskin flight jackets, and no expense was spared in its construction, making this the omega of its type. Extensive horsehide reinforcements are everywhere, and each seam is double-stitched on top; both features providing added strength and durability to virtually any area wear might occur.

Crafted from the same color and weight sheepskin as our Eastman standard B-3 Flight Jacket, the collar is larger than on a B-3 Flight Jacket, with a wide, button-down throat latch for extra insulation. Other features include: wool wristlets inside the cuff to keep out drafts, rayon satin lining inside pockets and arm gussets, ventilated arm gussets, waist adjuster belts, seal brown horsehide reinforcements on collar back, cuffs, waist, arms, zipper, arm gussets and wind flap, button-down pocket flaps, authentic woven label, and one-piece back to ensure the minimum amount of stress in this area. The definitive copy of the most perfect sheepskin flying jacket in the AAF flying clothing inventory; you won’t wear this one out!

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

Imported from England

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

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

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

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

Imported from England  

This is classic USAAF high-altitude bomber crew jacket of WWII – the type B-3 Flight Jacket! Inspired by the RAF Aircrew Jacket designed by Leslie Irvin, the B-3 Flight Jacket was standardized in 1934 and originally produced from unfinished raw-white sheepskin (which has sometimes been erroneously and foolishly referenced as being produced for use in Alaska – dream on!). The B-3 Flight Jacket underwent a series of spec. changes over the years, culminating in the simplified pattern of late 1943. This Eastman Leather B-3 Flight Jacket example typifies the most commonly encountered wartime version made from 1942-43. Using the original North American breed of sheep to ensure authenticity, it’s constructed from the correct differing wool depths, not one depth of too-puffy wool as found on inferior knock-offs. Hides are vegetable tanned, then hand dyed with dark brown polyacrylate pigment and lacquered. The wool color is one of several that are correct, being an off-white, butter-like shade. All trim leather and arm reinforcements are made of horsehide, as per original spec. (some original jackets had goatskin or steerhide sleeve reinforcements and trim), and available in either Russet or Seal Brown color options, both of which are equally authentic.

This beautiful garment is the perfect natural insulator for cold weather. The soft sheep wool encases your body, ensuring maximum body warmth retention. Features include: two hefty collar and waist adjustment belts with ink authentic AAF inspector stamps, snaps on collar and jacket chest, one tool pocket (no hand-warmer pockets ever appeared on the original B-3 Flight Jackets), three-piece back, reproduction 1942 nickel-plated Talon zipper, and woven spec. label in neck with leather hanger. Original B-3 Flight Jackets are true collector items, with choice examples demanding premium prices.  Today, more than 75 years from conception, this classic look is still in high demand.

Please note:  The sleeve reinforcements, seam taping and pockets of this B-3 Jacket in the seal brown color are now crafted from Eastman's Vintage Warhorse horsehide, which is the same leather type and color employed in production of Eastman's standard A-2 Jacket in seal brown horsehide.  Due to the nature of the very thin, translucent aniline dyes used on this horsehide, this leather may vary in color by a greater margin than what may be depicted in these website photos.  You may rest assured that if you order seal brown as the color option, you will receive seal brown trim on your B-3 Jacket, but the color will not be a perfect color match to the jacket body color because the dyes employed for the sheepskin and horsehide are as different as the two leather types are themselves, which is EXACTLY how the vintage jackets from WWII were also produced.

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

Imported from England

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

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

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

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

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

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

Imported from England