Buzz Rickson U. S. Army 2nd-Model Tanker Jacket 1942
Officially designated on 26 March 1942 by the U. S. Army Quartermaster as JACKET, WINTER, COMBAT, P. Q. D. Spec. No. 26A, this jacket was destined to become one of the most popular articles of clothing used by the G. I. in World War II, and was to gain post-war Hollywood film fame when worn by actor Robert Di Niro in "Taxi Driver." It was originally configured under P. Q. D. Spec. No. 26 with open-top patch pockets and a double-faced cotton twill wind flap behind the zip closure. This revised Spec. No. 26A featured cotton-lined slash pockets and a wind flap backed with the same wool blanketing as used on the inner lining. The jacket formed part of a three-piece suit, including a matching helmet and bib-front trousers. This set was intended to be a winter suit for the Armored Forces of the U. S. Army, hence the jacket’s nickname that would make it famous – Tanker Jacket. Usage of the Tanker Jacket, however, far transcended the Armored Forces.
The inherent stylish good looks, comfort, practicality and warmth of the Tanker Jacket made it a favorite among all troops. Officers very commonly sought and wore the Tanker Jacket, with senior generals such as: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, Clark and Ridgeway all being photographed wearing it. Fighter pilots and infantrymen also had great affection for the Tanker Jacket.
The USAAF officially requisitioned the matching jacket and trousers for wear by pilots of P-38 “Lightnings” as the cramped cockpits and poor heat of the P-38’s put these aviators at a great clothing disadvantage when nothing but the bulky sheepskin flying clothing was available for use. Fighter pilots of other aircraft types also took a shine to the Tanker Jacket, finding it provided a better balance of warmth, comfort and flexibility than their leather A-2 Jackets.
Due to the unexpected stalemate in Italy during the harsh winter of 1943-44, standard winter clothing was in very short supply. It was the cold, wet, battle-weary G. I.s of the infantry and elite Airborne and Ranger units who have, perhaps, been most typically personified through the wearing of the Tanker Jacket and its matching trousers. Bill Mauldin, the famed STARS & STRIPES cartoonist, commonly depicted his “Willie & Joe” characters in soiled, patched-up and shredded Tanker Jackets and trousers. And Director John Huston’s award-winning documentary, "The Battle of San Pietro," chronicles combat activities of the 36th “Texas” Division, whose infantrymen slug their way up the rain-swept Italian hills wearing Tanker Jackets.
The basic jacket has been copied many times over in a variety of civilian jacket styles since its original issue to the U. S. Army in 1941 – a true testament to the timeless, classic styling and practicality of the original design. Today, a vintage Tanker Jacket from WWII in new condition will command a four-figure price in the collector market, and sizes large enough to wear are all but impossible to locate. This Buzz Rickson’s Tanker Jacket is the perfect solution for those seeking such a uniquely American historical garment to wear on a daily basis. The Buzz Rickson's Tanker Jacket superbly captures all of the features found on vintage original examples and is even used by museums for displays due to the extreme scarcity and high price of the original jackets from WWII. Take note of these authentic features masterfully crafted into every Buzz Rickson's Tanker Jacket - things you'll only find poorly imitated on lesser "knockoffs":
• Precise copy of original U. S. Army Quartermaster label design
• Custom manufacturing of the correct twelve-ounce, cotton-twill shell to precisely match 1941 US Army specs. and dyed a correct shade of Olive Drab #3
• Cotton-thread construction
• Custom manufacturing of the correct, Olive Drab, blanket-wool lining to precisely match 1941 US Army specs.
• Two slash pockets lined with all-cotton twill
• Vintage-style 1942 brass “Conmatic” zipper. YES, the zipper commonly found on original WWII Tanker Jackets - an amazing and valuable feature found on no other Tanker Jacket copies on the market today!
• Blanket wool-backed wind flap protector located behind zipper closure
• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, worsted wool-knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in Olive Drab
• Double-pleated bi-swing action back
Even-numbered sizes: 36-44 regular. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
Buzz Rickson U. S. Army 2nd-Model Tanker Jacket 1942
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: It is important to keep in mind that this jacket style does have a blanket-wool lining, thus the external chest measures listed here are just that – EXTERNAL measures – and don’t account for the slightly lesser amount of room on the inside of the jacket. If you plan to wear heavy layers under this jacket style, that application will further subtract from the room inside the jacket. However, this jacket style also features a double-pleated bi-swing back, which provides a great range of mobility. This is a very easy-wearing style that creates very few sizing issues for the overwhelming majority of individuals. Our customers unanimously prefer this style in a size 8” larger than their 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 8” of room in excess of your chest measure if you prefer a reasonably 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. 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. It is best advised for the vast majority of customers to order a size that directly equates to their chest measure: Chest measures 40”, order size 40. That size selection will maintain 8” of room between the jacket and the wearer.
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 over-sized.
Buzz Rickson U. S. Army 2nd-Model Tanker Jacket 1942
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 they are typically insignificant: 1/8” – ¼”. Normal fluctuations in sleeve and/or body length + /- a ½” are 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 | 46 | 48 |
| Chest width | 22" | 23" | 24" | 25" | 26" | 29" | |
| Shoulder width | 18" | 18.75" | 19" | 20" | 21" | 23" | |
| Arm length | 23.5" | 24" | 24.5" | 24.5" | 25.5" | 26.5" | |
| Back length | 22.5" | 23.5" | 24.5" | 24.5" | 25.5" | 28" |
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”, doubling this measure yields a 48” 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” chest width has a 48” external chest circumference and would provide 8” of external room in this scenario (chest measures 40”, external chest measure of jacket is 48”, thus 8” 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 19” and the arm length is 26”, adding 9.5” (half the shoulder width) to 26” (the arm length) will yield an overall sleeve length of 35.5” 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.
