USAF 1950s flight jackets

JohnB · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2022 1:50 pm

I posted this six months ago on the Re-enactors forum here without any answers...so I thought I'd try the main forim.

I'm restoring a 1955 M38A1 Jeep in my dad's unit markings of the period (62TCW, Larson AFB).

I thought I would wear an MA-1 flight jacket while driving it.
I'm not a re-enactor, just having some fun and I guess a way to honor and remember him and his colleagues from long ago.
We are talking C-124s here...most guys you talk to and mention the "old days" of MATS think you are referring to C-141 ops.

What I know...
The AAF Emblem (round star & circle emblem) was on the left shoulder (not a patch, usually printed on material).

What I don't know is the locations of:
Squadron patch (my guess right front)
Wing emblem patch
MATS or MAJCOM patch (my guess right shoulder).I
These are guesses based on memory and the photos I see.
I would certain appreciate an authoritative answer.

--------------------------------------------+-
Current (modern day) patch locations are (to the best of my knowledge)
Nametag left front
MAJCOM right front
US flag and Wing/Group left shoulder
Squadron right shoulder

In a slight concessions to modernity, I'll be wearing them on a CWP-36P jacket, the modern replacement for the MA-1.
Most of the MA-1 replicas look a bit cheesy to me, and I like having a proper collar which the MA-1s lack.
Also, I like having Nomex jacket when flying in the warbirds I hang around with.

Duggy009 · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:20 pm **Posts:** 304

You could try asking here on this very knowledgeable site.
LINK -- https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/

p51 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2022 4:00 pm

Duggy009 wrote:

You could try asking here on this very knowledgeable site.
LINK -- https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/

Funny, I was just going to suggest the same forum.
Those guys know flight wear even better than anyone here knows airplanes!

JohnB · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2022 5:08 pm

Thanks.
I'll make a look, but at first glance they look very A-2 (Leather) centric.

Seems like a lot of Europeans and Aussies trying to look American.
One guy has an MA-2 with the Air Force star and circle emblem on the shoulder...which is correct...but then covered with USMC patches...not so correct!

So, based on that , I don't have a lot of confidence in getting a good answer to a history question.
They likely wouldn't know the difference between a wing and squadron and would think 35-10 was a spray lubricant.

Doing a web search brings up photos of fashion models wearing reproduction "fashion accessories" while trying to look like they know how to fly...when likely they can't drive a stick shift.

I figured there must be some old time AF guys here.
A decent photo of AF pilots in Vietnam or SAC crews would likely answer my question,but none of my books have close-ups.

ffuries · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2022 12:00 am

Check out the US Militaria forum, there are some very knowledgeable people there. Post your questions there I'm sure you'll get some information, or PM me a detailed write-up of your question and I can post it there for you and post a link to the post here.

Link to main page:

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums ... omLogout=1

Link to flight clothing section (Covers flight jackets):

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums ... -clothing/

Link to MA-1 flight jacket discussions:

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums ... and_or=and

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2022 1:15 am

Mike
PM sent.
Thanks

Ken · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2022 8:15 am

The forum has some great images of an authentic 1957-dated L-2B with C-124 insignia. This is slightly different from the MA-1.

https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/t ... ion.28034/

There appears to be some valid discussion on the page if you're willing to dig:

https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/t ... a-1.21422/

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USAF 1950s flight jackets

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