Mustang Fighter Pilot Jacket

Nearly 90 years ago, in the early 1930s, the A2 jacket became the official U.S. Air Corps flying jacket. It was designed as a summer flying jacket, and the successor to the A1 jacket that had been used from the 20s.

New technology of the day included the development of zippers and snaps. Adding these in the place of buttons was one of main upgrades from the A1 to the A2. Another was adding a leather collar in place of a knitted “turtleneck”.

A2 flying jackets became highly sought-after and many were embellished by “nose-art” graphics painted on the back. Betty rides the Bomber … and so on.

Production needs were so great that the A2 was produced by many different leather jacket makers from a wide variety of leather types. Goatskin, cowhide and horsehide were all used depending on availability of suitable hides.

Back in 1940 the average soldier was 5' 8” tall, weighed 144 lbs, and wore a 36 Regular jacket. Today the average is 6', 189 lbs and is a size 44 jacket.

What this means is that the basic fit and pattern from the 1930s has had to be completely reworked to accommodate the changes in the size of Americans. This has also meant that some goatskins are not big enough to cut the larger sizes of these new patterns, but that is another story...

So it is with pleasure we bring to you a jacket with as important a heritage as the A2 Flying Jacket.