A-2 Jacket – Historical Mark 31

The rarest and most beautiful original A-2 jackets were made from russet brown goatskin.  While the Air Corps specified horsehide before World War II, contractors made a few A-2s from goatskin.  Most are now in museums, but occasionally a collector brings us one to repair.  Amazingly, these original, 90-year-old A-2s usually need only minor repairs because the leather is still in excellent condition with a warm, rich patina.

The Gibson & Barnes Mark 31 is a tribute to this rare, historical A-2.  It is made from large, grade-A, vegetable tanned goatskin that has been drum dyed and lightly pigmented the original Air Corps russet brown color.  It is then lightly glazed.  Goatskin is incredibly comfortable and light weight, but also, strong and tear resistant.  A-2s made from these hides have the same rich, warm look as the original goatskin jackets.

Even though the Air Corp’s original A-2 specification required a spun silk lining, almost all A-2s were lined with cotton to reduce expense.  Gibson & Barnes has meticulously reproduced the russet brown, plain weave, cotton lining for the Mark 31 A-2 jacket.  It feels exceptionally soft, smooth, and luxurious when you slip it on.

The Mark 31 A-2 also has the other features of the original goatskin A-2s issued in the early 1930s, including a one-piece back, box-stitched shoulder straps, 13/s inch wide storm flap, gracefully curved pocket flaps, and collar stand.

The pockets and collar are secured with size 4 black oxide nipple snaps and the neck with a nickel hook-and-eye.  Under the storm flap, the jacket zips up with the required “interlocking fastening device~ now commonly known as a zipper.

The knit cuffs and waistband are comfortable & durable, made from pure worsted wool.  Gibson & Barnes has even reproduced the original A-2 label design, complete with Air Corps contract number and has marked the lining with the Air Corps insignia and authentic inspection stamp.

Use this form to place an order or request a quote.  Please call us if you need more information.

Jacket Color Jacket Color

History

The Type A-2 jacket is the most famous military flight jacket ever made.  The Army Air Corps issued it from 1931 to the end of World War II.  Thousands of courageous young Americans fought in the skies of Europe and the Pacific, proudly wearing their A-2 jackets.

As a testament to its extraordinary design, the A-2 was popular among all ranks as well as with non-aviators, too.  General Claire Chennault wore his as the Flying Tigers dominated the air war in Burma and China.  Colonel Jimmy Doolittle wore his when he took off from Hornet to raid Tokyo.  General Douglas

MacArthur, though not an aviator, wore his when the 8th Army stormed ashore at Inchon.

Military uniform guidelines called for an Air Corps patch on the left shoulder with a squadron patch and embossed leather nametag sewn above the left chest pocket.  Officers sometimes added rank insignia on the shoulder straps.

Aircrews often painted a reproduction of their aircraft’s nose art, a pinup girl, or a patriotic scene on the back of their jackets. Many added bombs for each mission they flew or enemy flags for each aircraft or ship they destroyed. In some theatres, local craftsmen made squadron patches and other insignia to personalize their A-2 jackets.

A-2s personalized with squadron patches and nose art made splendid souvenirs at the end of the war, especially when their owners had worn them on dangerous combat missions.  Today, collectors search for original jackets at yard sales, thrift stores, auctions, and gun shows, paying high prices when they are in good condition.

At least 14 companies made A-2 jackets for the Air Corps between 1931 and 1943.  While these companies followed the basic pattern, they used their own manufacturing practices, sourced their own materials.  and often slightly adjusted the pattern.  Some jackets had long pointed collars, some had narrow sleeves, and some had straight pocket flaps.  There were dozens of other variations in color, lining, knit, and zippers.  Gibson & Barnes has selected the most popular and authentic features for its historical A-2 jackets.

Size

Leather Color

Gibson & Barnes uses grade A and B leather even though it can cost twice as much as lower grades.  Your jacket will be more beautiful and will last longer because high quality hides need only a light coat of pigment.

We also use large hides so we can make your jacket with fewer pieces.  Many of our jackets have one-piece backs, and our sleeves are cut from only two pieces of leather.  We also throw away our scrap leather and don’t try to hide it under the collar or under a pocket flap.  Your jacket will look better, feel better, and last longer.

Goatskin is perfect jacket leather because it is durable as well as supple, soft to the touch, and very comfortable to wear.  Goatskin jackets last so long they are passed down from generation to generation.  We’ve seen goatskin jackets at look even better after 50 years of wear man they did when new.  Both the Navy and Air Force use goatskin for their G-1 and A-2 flight jackets.

Historical Mark 31 Color – Russet Goatskin

Leather Terminology

Chrome Tanned – Leather preserved with chromium compounds and other mineral agents to produce supple leather for garments, shoes, and gloves.

Vegetable Tanned – Leather preserved with tannins from ‘bark, seeds, and wood to produce strong and slightly stiff leather for luggage and belting.

Drum Dyed – Leather dyed in a rotating drum so that the dye completely penetrates the leather.

Aniline Dyed – Leather dyed with transparent aniline dyes to produce a beautiful transparent finish and suppleness.  No pigment is used, but a light finish may be applied to color or protect the leather.

Semi-Aniline – Aniline dyed leather topped with a very light coat of pigment and finish to even out the color and increase durability.

Pigmented – Leather coated with resin containing pigment.  Pigment gives leather a uniform color and shade.  Low-grade leather needs thick coats of pigment to cover up cuts and scars.

Thickness – Leather thickness is measured in millimeters or ounces per square foot.  One-ounce equals about 1/54 inch or 0.40 millimeters thickness.  Jacket leather is usually between two and four ounces.

Top Grain – Leather from which only the hair and under flesh have been removed.  It is a higher quality leather.

Split Grain – The lower-quality bottom layer of a skin that has been split into a top and bottom layer.   The bottom layer can be made into suede or highly pigmented to give it the appearance of top grain.

Grade – Leather grades range from A to D depending on the type and number of flaws.  Grade A hides are clean with no flaws.  Grade B has a few slight imperfections.  Grade C has healed cuts.  Grade D has unhealed cuts.  The higher the grade, the less pigment needed to finish the leather and the

more beautiful the finished jacket.

Shearling – Sheepskin with the wool attached.  The wool can be straightened or left naturally curly.

Mouton – Sheepskin with the wool attached that has been sheared and dyed to resemble beaver or seal.

Leather Tanning

Leather Tanning Steps
1.
Raw skins are soaked in a vat of salt brine to temporarily preserve them.
2. Preserved skins are soaked for several days in a solution of lime sodium sulfate to remove hair and fat.
3. Clean skins are treated in a bating vat with an enzyme and sulfate chloride to remove the lime.
4. Hides are placed in a tanning drum with chromium compounds vegetable tannin.
5. Tanned hides are placed in a fat liquoring drum with oils and greases to increase pliability.
6. Hides are dyed with chemical or vegetable dyes in a rotating drum.
7. Dyed hides are milled in a rotating drum to soften them.
8. Milled leather is rolled, stretched, and dried to make it strong and uniform.
9. Leather is finished with pigment, wax, oil, or glaze.
10. Finished leather may be buffed or polished.

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Measurement Form – Jackets and Shirts

Size Chart – Jackets and Shirts