Air Comfort 1950s Commercial Bomber Jacket – CLEARANCE!!!
Last FEW left priced for clearance liquidation to make room for new items. This is new, unworn, and complete with factory warranty. Clearance pricing applies ONLY to sizes and colors in stock at our New Jersey facility: $800.00 off regular retail price of $1, 750.00!!! No refunds will be given on clearance items, but returns are allowed for exchange credit toward any items and/or services we offer with no expiration date on credit.
Unlike most of Eastman’s other flight jacket styles, this is not a true military-spec. flight jacket, but we’re sure it would have been if the flyboys of WWII had ever dreamed such a design could have been adopted.
In the post-war years of the late 1940's and early 1950's, American clothing manufacturers were not slow to take advantage of the glamorous flyboy image; the war was won, and images of the returning heroes of the armed forces gave the nation a feeling of pride and optimism. The U. S. Army Air Corps pilot, clad in his leather A-2 Flight Jacket, projected the quintessential image of the romanticized American war hero, and so the fashion industry rose to the occasion by emulating this jacket style that every man, young or old, would be proud to wear. Unlike the WWII issue A-2 Flight Jacket that is still, of course, an unbeatable classic even in its simple design, these new commercial offerings were designed with certain additional features and “improvements.” These improved details included such features as a fur collar, warmer lining, inside pockets (a feature the original WWII design desperately needed), and even outside hand-warmer pockets were incorporated to various degrees into these new, hybrid flying jackets. This type of garment very quickly and aptly became generically referred to as a “Bomber Jacket," a term which most people are familiar with to this very day.
Big manufacturer names from the 1940's and 1950's come to mind when reminiscing about these vintage “Bomber Jackets,” such as: Sears & Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, The Goodgal Clothing Co., and even some of the original wartime companies that officially contracted to make flying jackets for the Army Air Force went on to make their own commercial versions of the “Bomber Jacket.” Today, the Eastman offering of this classic genre is “The Air Comfort.” They have spared no expense in the manufacture of this superb garment, incorporating many of the best features that can be found on the original commercial examples from the good old days of those golden postwar years.
“The Air Comfort” captures the classic post-war “Bomber Jacket” appearance that is so appealing to all those who appreciate a good-looking vintage leather jacket. Hang one of these in your wardrobe and you wont be sorry you did! Take note of these authentic and practical features:
• Copy of vintage-style maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom
• All-cotton, seal brown-thread construction as found on flying jackets originally produced in the 1940s and 1950s
• Dark seal brown, aniline-dyed, 3-ounce weight, vegetable-tanned (WarHorse®) horsehide leather outer shell that will burnish and age to look like a true vintage original with wear
• Single-piece back • Genuine mouton fur collar with reinforced trapunto stitching on the reverse side to maintain collar shape and help keep collar up when the need arises
• Mouton fur-covered throat latch enables the sumptuous collar to be securely fastened when turned up, holding the genuine fur close to the wearer's neck and sealing out any cold drafts that threaten to chill • Fully lined throughout with an extremely high-quality quilted lining made from Ruby-Red Satin Rayon Acetate, and quilted using a tight (3/4”) diamond pattern fabric to precisely match that found on the majority of vintage commercial “Bomber Jackets”
• Two hand-warmer exterior pockets lined with high-quality, brushed-cotton moleskin for warmth and comfort
• Two side-entry inside pockets for ample and secure stowage for all your personal items
• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply, worsted-wool 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 vintage commercial “Bomber Jackets” of the era.
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
Gift Certificates Available
*Price includes
U. S. customs duty,
processing fees, currency-
conversion fees and
shipping & insurance from
the manufacturer to the USA.
Click for Information and Photos
Buzz Rickson 1930’s CCC Mackinaw Coat
Last FEW Left!
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a work-relief program developed as part of FDR’s “New Deal,” and established in 1933 under the Emergency Conservation Work Act. The CCC was largely responsible for working on government outdoor projects, such as creating and maintaining national parks; many of the sites and trails we enjoy in the USA to this day in our national parks are directly attributed to the workers of the CCC. Although a civilian organization, CCC clothing was under direct responsibility of the U. S. Army Quartermaster Corps, hence all contracts for clothing were procured and developed via the U. S. Army QMC.
Original coats of this style were typically produced in U. S. Army Olive Drab wool, but a rare few were produced in navy blue, and so Buzz Rickson’s has elected to offer the rarest color on an extremely rare design. This coat's design was one of noted popularity at the time, often called a double-Mackinaw due to the double layers of wool that cover the front chest and rear yoke and back, making this extra warm and extra durable in these areas. Quality lives on in re-creating this gem from the days of extreme hardship and challenge in American history, and Buzz Rickson’s deftly recreated a beefy, 36-ounce melton-wool fabric using vintage machinery to both loom and assemble this fabulous work coat.
Warm and durable enough for most fall and winter outdoor activities, and uniquely styled from the “good old days,” this Buzz Rickson’s masterpiece is sure to serve you as well as it did those poor-yet-hardworking men of the CCC. Please note these authentic features found only on a Buzz Rickson’s coat of this pedigree:
- Button-front closure
- Unlined interior with cotton-twill binding tape on all exposed seams
- Custom manufacturing of vintage-style black urea buttons, not cheap plastic
- Custom manufacturing of the correct 36-ounce melton-wool fabric using vintage machinery, not modern projectile looms
- Coat assembly using vintage sewing machinery
- Exact copy of the original-style label found on the vintage coat now retained in the archives of Buzz Rickson’s. The label is woven with nomenclature printed in typical U. S. Army fashion. The contract is dated 1938, and clearly indicates the fact that the CCC was outfitted via the U. S. Army, as evidenced by the contract number beginning with “W-669-QM” (War Dept. Phila. Quartermaster)
- DRY CLEAN ONLY
Even sizes 36-44 Regular. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan
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Buzz Rickson Duffel Coat, Camel
Last FEW Left!
The iconic Duffel Coat is rooted in the history of the British Royal Navy in WWII. The Royal Navy fought much of WWII in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic, and it was the Duffel Coat that kept them warm, though it was British Army Field Marshall Bernard L. Montgomery, the subject of frequent photo ops wearing a camel-colored Duffel Coat in 1944-45, who launched this style to iconic proportions in WWII. After the war, surplus coats were cheap and available, making them popular with students in the 1950's and 1960's, but thanks to "Monty," the popularity of the style outpaced surplus stocks and several civilian manufacturers began producing similar versions of Duffel Coats, often with plaid linings, and sometimes in shorter lengths. A commercial copy of the Duffel Coat was even worn in the early 1960's by the charismatic American president John F. Kennedy, but it is genuine, Royal Navy-issue Duffel Coats that can be seen worn by movie stars in some classic films that include Bernard Lee in Dunkirk, Anthony Steel in The Sea Shall Not Have Them, and Gregory Peck and David Niven in The Guns of Navarone, naming just a few.
Buzz Rickson brand has resurrected a WWII Royal Navy version of the Duffel Coat in its original, full length, made from 34-ounce Melton Wool and correctly unlined, replete with the double-thickness reinforced shoulders and original closure of three toggle ropes. The design is very simple, yet it is its functional simplicity that makes it so appealing. Intended for winter conditions with no thought to fashion, these coats continue to amaze us in their original form, being made in both camel and navy blue colors, but camel was more widely produced and, of course, more iconic because camel is what was worn by Monty and JFK. The design is full and roomy, which allows for layering to suit one's needs and climates.
The Duffel Coat never goes out of style, especially when the original version that started the look is copied to a tee, and it looks fantastic when worn with a roll-neck RAF sweater (available on this website) or fisherman-style sweater. Please note these details and features found on this Buzz Rickson's masterpiece:
- Rope-with-wooden-toggle-button closure
- Custom manufacturing of genuine urea buttons, not cheap plastic
- Custom manufacturing of the correct 34-ounce Melton wool using vintage machinery
- Unlined interior
- Assembly using vintage sewing machines
- Double-thickness reinforcing to shoulders
- Double-thickness overlapping frontal closure
- Integral hood with throat latch and buttons
- Adjustment tabs on wrists to keep out chilling winds
- Herringbone-twill cotton stays on coat bottom sides for securing the coat to one's legs in harsh weather
- Two open-top exterior pockets
- Vintage-style labeling
- DRY CLEAN ONLY
Even sizes 36-42 Regular. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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Buzz Rickson M-1943 Field Jacket, Frog-Skin Camouflage Civilian Model – Clearance!
Clearance - Now $150.00 off retail price of $450.00 - get one while they last!!! Special pricing applies only to sizes in stock. These are first quality with full manufacturer's warranty and may be returned for exchange for any item we offer or to have the credit value applied as non-expiring store credit, but no refunds will be provided on this clearance item.
The U. S. M-1943 Field Jacket is an iconic U. S. Army garment from WWII. Immediately after the war, many, many items of military issue were available as surplus and HBT (herringbone twill) camouflage fabric was one such item, as it had been withdrawn from use by the U. S. Army before the war ended. While deemed of limited benefit for combat use, the camouflage fabric was welcomed by hunters who, up until that time, had nothing of its kind widely available. Various items of civilian hunting attire were made from the surplus camouflage fabric and copies of U. S. Army jackets, trousers, shirts, and one-piece suits were among these offerings, not the least being the M-1943 Field Jacket.
Utilizing their incredible HBT frog-skin camouflage fabric, Buzz Rickson's brand has created this special offering of an M-1943 Field Jacket following the classic 370C Spec. of 1943. The camouflage HBT fabric is custom made following the original spec. on vintage shuttle looms in the super-desirable, early shade with a distinctly yellowish cast to the background coloring. All buttons are genuine urea, not cheap plastic, exactly as would be correct for the era, pockets are lined in heavy twill, adjusting drawstring at waist, double-button throat closure, and assembly performed with all-cotton thread. Once completed, the jackets are given a light, vintage wash for a subdued finish to the colors, as if the jacket had survived in someone's attic in perfect condition since the 1950's.
We can comfortably fit up to 46" chest measures in this style. Please see SIZING TIPS for guidance in ordering the correct size.
Buzz Rickson's products are imported from Japan
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Buzz Rickson M-65 Field Jacket, Golden Tiger Stripe, Civilian Model
Last Few Left!!!
Buzz Rickson brand has made a world-class, U. S. Army 2nd-Model M-65 Field Jacket for many, many years, which is available for sale on this website; this style is one of their top performers, and is considered by many aficionados as the only M-65 Field Jacket to own, if your priority is owning one that looks, fits, and will endure hard use as well as the originals that served in the 1960's did. Now, due to popular request, Buzz Rickson's has made this same M-65 Field Jacket in their amazing ARVN Golden Tiger-Stripe fabric.
Original, U. S. Army-issue M-65 Field Jackets were never made in Tiger-Stripe fabric, but due to the undisputed coolness and attractiveness of this camouflage pattern, especially the "golden" variants, we offer such an M-65 Field Jacket for the first time, which has been designed as if it were a commercial model made to military specs. back in the 1960's. Every detail of this example matches the Buzz Rickson U. S. Army-issue copy they have made for years, except this commercial model is offered in one of the variants of Golden Tiger Stripe, has a commercial label, and the sizing is numerical instead of Large, Extra-Large, etc., though the fit is unchanged, as is the use of meticulous copy of a period-correct copy of the famous CROWN zipper.
Though M-65 Field Jackets have been made previously in Tiger-Stripe fabric, none have been made in this newer version of Buzz Rickson's Golden Tiger Stripe. This Buzz Rickson’s M-65 Field Jacket in Golden Tiger Stripe is a real head-turner that will set you apart from any pretenders. Scorn the cookie-cutter look of “mall” jackets and grab a piece of 20th century American history that combines style with durability and utility. Buzz Rickson’s M-65 Field Jacket in Golden Tiger Stripe offers all of the following original features and more:
• Vintage-Style commercial label in the lining
• Custom manufacturing of the correct, heavyweight cotton outer shell produced on vintage shuttle looms, in one of the coveted variants of ARVN Golden Tiger Stripe
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton lining to precisely match 1965 U. S. military specs.
• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1960's Crown zipper for the frontal closure, with cotton pull tab and the #5 size for the hood compartment, both of which have zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
• All-cotton drawstring at waist in lining and on bottom hem of jacket to seal out wind
• Bi-swing double-pleated action back for greater range of motion without binding
• Snap-closure wind flap in front of zipper to seal out wind
• Adjustable Velcro closures on throat latch and gusted, two-position, extendable sleeve cuff
• Button-down shoulder epaulets as found on genuine M-65's
• Two pleated, generously expandable chest pockets with snap-down flaps
• Two large “grenade” pockets with snap-down flaps located on hip/thigh region
• Flip-up stand collar with zippered rear compartment that houses stowaway hood with drawstring
Please note: This style is compatible with a Buzz Rickson's removable M-65 Field Jacket liner of the same size.
Sizes 36-44 Regular in even-numbered sizes. The fit is generous, as found on the original jackets, thus size 44 comfortably fits up to a 46" chest measure. 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
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
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Buzz Rickson U. S. Army Camouflage M-65 Field Jacket Removable Liner – Clearance!
Clearance - Now $150.00 off retail price of $350.00 - get one while they last!!! Special pricing applies only to sizes in stock. These are first quality with full manufacturer's warranty and may be returned for exchange for any item we offer or to have the credit value applied as non-expiring store credit, but no refunds will be provided on this clearance item.
The designers at Buzz Rickson have added the famous removable liner to their offerings, thus enabling their masterpiece M-65 Field Jacket to be enjoyed with all the versatility the vintage jacket made famous. The Buzz Rickson removable liner is complete with all of the features found on the vintage liners, including the inner batting made of 100% polyester for cold weather and the button holes that allow the liner to be married to the buttons on the inside of the M-65 Field Jacket. But this Buzz Rickson liner goes even further, being made in genuine U. S. Army camouflage and adding a few features sometimes added on an individual basis by the wearer to make the liner even more versatile, such as a frontal zipper with snap-down closure, an interior pocket, and two exterior pockets; these additional features allow the liner to be worn as a jacket on its own!
The liner outer shell is crafted from high-quality, 100% cotton in camouflage, which was not a feature found on the vintage liners but the Buzz Rickson design team thought this would look awesome when worn either as a liner or as an outer jacket.
Whether worn in conjunction with a Buzz Rickson M-65 Field Jacket as part of the military’s time-proven layering system or on its own, this Buzz Rickson M-65 Removable Liner is sure to please on many levels. Please note the following features found on this Buzz Rickson masterpiece:
- Precision copy of a vintage label design (though the label states that the liner should not be dry cleaned, Buzz Rickson only endorses dry cleaning of their liner, thus the label text is reproduced purely for authenticity)
- Custom manufacturing of the all-cotton fabric using vintage looms, and screen printing of the original U. S. Army camouflage pattern
- Two open-top pockets on liner exterior
- One interior pocket
- Exact copy of a vintage CONMATIC zipper in brass with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric and not incorrect poly-cotton. The HBT fabric is light olive drab, creating an attractive contrast against the camouflage outer shell.
- Blackened-brass press studs on the liner closure to secure the wind flap over the zipper
- All attachment tabs and buttonholes to provide for securing the liner correctly to the M-65 Field Jacket
- Assembly using vintage sewing machines
Even sizes XS-XXL Regular. The fit is generous, thus a 46” chest measure can be comfortably accommodated in size XXL. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan
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Buzz Rickson U. S. Navy Aviation Ground Crew Winter Jacket, Alpaca Lined
Last Few Left!!!
The U. S. Navy developed a zippered deck jacket exclusively for cold-weather use among aviation ground crews in 1941. The style was very similar in outward appearance to the wool-lined version for use by all personnel, but the fit, measures, and other features belie any comparisons of similarity. This version for ground crews was lined with a 50-50 blend of alpaca-and-wool pile and the patch pockets were different in design, being more D-shaped, and the fit, especially in the arms and armholes was much more narrow. Also, unlike the similar-looking standard-issue zippered deck jacket that was produced in the millions, every example of the ground-crew version we have ever seen contains a label denoting production by the Naval Aircraft Factory (N. A. F.), which strongly supports our belief that the version for ground crews was made exclusively by the Naval Aircraft Factory and not produced by any civilian contractors: N. A. F production would correspond with significantly smaller production numbers and be consistent with the smaller number of personnel serving in aviation vs. the entirety of the U. S. Navy.
This jacket style for ground crews, along with the general-issue deck jackets, received a "U. S. NAVY" stencil in silver-gray lettering across the upper back in 1942, but the early-production jackets had no such stencil and this Buzz Rickson's version has been made EXCLUSIVELY for us with an unmarked, plain back panel, which is 100% authentic for jackets produced prior to spring 1942. All of these deck jackets utilize the same period-correct, heavyweight, corded-cotton fabric found on the Buzz Rickson heavyweight N-1 jacket. Though the zippered deck jacket for general issue was superseded in 1943 by a hook-front version, this alpaca-lined version for ground crews did not experience any significant design changes, though the color was changed from dark blue to Olive Drab 3, commonly but erroneously called khaki, beginning with productions in early 1944.
Buzz Rickson’s philosophy is always to reproduce an item as authentically as humanly possible, which means utilizing the original machinery of the era and making the item so it doesn’t just look the part, but producing the item so it can actually function in the same way the original item was intended, thus Buzz Rickson’s is never engaged in making costumes; they are engaged in recreating rugged, functional history: heavy, military bar tacks are sewn at every key stress points specified and found on the original jackets, thus pocket corners and the storm flap are constructed to function and endure in the same adverse, challenging conditions of combat as the jackets that won WWII.
Please take note of all of these historically accurate features found on this Buzz Rickson’s masterpiece copy of the Alpaca-Lined, Navy Aviation Ground Crew Winter Jacket:
- Exact copy of an original Naval Aircraft Factory (N. A. F.) label design woven on vintage shuttle looms, not modern, projectile looms
- Custom manufacturing of the correct, heavyweight, corded-cotton outer shell to precisely match USN specs. and correctly dyed in navy blue
- Cotton-thread construction
- Custom manufacturing of the correct double-faced, brown-and-grey hued alpaca fur-and-wool lining to precisely match 1940's USN specs, which is the same heavyweight pile found on the Buzz Rickson Heavyweight N-1 Khaki Deck Jacket. We cannot say too much good about the use of the original, double-faced alpaca, which is what provides the warmth associated with the vintage jackets and requires vintage machinery found in Japan; at best, single-faced alpaca is present on cheaper look-alike costume-grade jackets and Buzz Rickson's does not make costumes.
- Two external “D-style” hand-warmer patch pockets
- Precise copy of a wartime, nickel-plated Talon zipper on correct, all-cotton HBT tape, not incorrect poly-cotton
- Heavyweight, corded-cotton exterior, exactly as per the original design
- Sewn bar tacks on all major stress points as per the original specs., including pocket corners and placket front
- Large wind flap protector located behind zipper closure to keep cold air gusts out
- Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply 100% worsted-wool knit cuffs, collar and waist band
Sizes available: 36-44 Regular in even-numbered sizes. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
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Buzz Rickson USAF 1957 MA-1 Flying Jacket, Lion Uniform Co.
Last ONE Left!!!
The U. S. Air Force MA-1 Intermediate Flight Jacket was introduced as the direct descendant of the “modified” B-15D Flight Jacket in 1957. Flight Jacket models B-15A through B-15D had been “modified” in accordance with a USAF Materiel Command directive of 1954. The directive called for all of the types of B-15 Flight Jacket on issue or in stock to have the factory-installed fur collar removed and a wool knit collar installed in its place; this modification was intended to reduce the flying jacket’s flammability that was considered greater with a fur collar in place. These new “modified” flight jackets were considered to be a substantive improvement, thus the next garment in the evolution of the USAF Intermediate Flight Jacket would be produced at the factory without a fur collar but with a short wool knit collar in its place. Thus began a flying-jacket legend!
The MA-1 Flight Jacket’s lightweight construction, comfortable non-bulky warmth and natural good looks made this style an instant success with jet jockeys at bases around the world, as well as anyone who could beg, borrow or steal one of these coveted gems. It was intended for wear in climates between 25 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall and winter. The MA-1 Flight Jacket would see combat life during the Cold War and Vietnam War, as well as in fashion life that, in many forms and colors, continues to this day. MA-1 Flight Jackets produced for the USAF in the 1960's declined in quality and warmth from those of the 1950s and featured a reversible orange lining. But those early MA-1 Flight Jackets that were made from a grayish shade of sage green in heavy-weight nylon twill, warmly lined with woolen fiber filling sandwiched between the outer nylon shell and the sage green inner nylon lining were, and likely will remain, the nylon flight jacket of greatest desire by both aviators and collectors. Although the orange-lined MA-1 Flight Jacket was superseded by the newer Nomex jackets in the 1980s, it was not uncommon to find an old veteran still wearing an MA-1 Flight Jacket for some years afterwards.
Buzz Rickson brand takes extraordinary steps to recreate this classic jacket style in the exact, same manner of original production. The nylon twill used in the lining of the original garments is a lighter type from that used on the exterior (because the USAF reasoned that the lining would be subject to less wear and tear), and indeed Buzz Rickson has recreated both weights of nylon twill for their reproduction, but supreme, museum-grade authenticity does not stop there. The original nylon twill, being produced in large runs by various manufacturers, would also reflect slight color shifts in each dye lot produced - nothing outlandish, mind you, but noticeable enough when you hold one roll of fabric against another from a different dye lot or different manufacturer. To counter this unavoidable color deviation, the USAF specs. stipulated that a jacket had to me made from fabric that was entirely from the same dye lot, except for small pieces of the jacket such as the interior pocket welting. Astute observers of the original garments are aware of this detail, and so are the jacket masters at Buzz Rickson, thus Buzz Rickson brand goes the extraordinary extra mile and expense and has two purposely different shades of nylon twill produced (albeit subtly different shades), so that the interior pocket welting does indeed appear to be subtly different in shade from the rest of the jacket lining, exactly duplicating a normal result of true, mass production in a reproduction garment that has nothing in common with mass production and is crafted in small batches with love.
The popularity of MA-1 Flight Jacket series produced one of the longest continued service careers of any flight jacket in the history of the USAF. Buzz Rickson has reproduced the 1957 first-model MA-1 Flight Jacket in exacting detail. Buzz Rickson’s heavy nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flight jackets. In fact, the only other flying jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF! This Buzz Rickson’s MA-1 Flight Jacket is a Special Edition, correctly capturing all the nuances found on MA-1 Flight Jackets once produced by the renowned Lion Uniform Company, making this product virtually indistinguishable from an original vintage example of the USAF. Take note of these authentic features:
- Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom
- Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave nylon outer and inner lining shell to precisely match 1957 USAF specs. and treated to repel water
- Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining
- Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.
- Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy all-cotton twill fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.
- Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1953 Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
- Heavy all-cotton zipper pull tab as found on Lion Uniform MA-1s, designed for easy functioning with gloves
- Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure
- Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tab on sleeve pocket
- Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in sage green
- Heavy-weight parachute harness nylon in sage green, correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip
- Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original 1957 MA-1s
- USAF insignia transfer on left sleeve and under maker label in lining, exactly as found on early MA-1s
- Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass
Sizes: XS – XXL. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
Gift Certificates Available
*Price includes
U. S. customs duty,
processing fees, currency-
conversion fees and
shipping & insurance from
the manufacturer to the USA.
Click for Information and Photos
Buzz Rickson USAF MA-1 Flying Jacket E-Type
Last One Left!!!
The USAF MA-1 Flying Jacket had a long service life and went through numerous changes to the original spec. 8279 before it was retired from service some 25 years after its introduction, but the 8279E spec. was the most outwardly different from the original 8279 spec. of 1957. The most notable new feature of the 8279E spec. was the addition of pocket flaps to the two front pockets, a feature previously attributed mostly to the USAF L-2B Flying Jackets prior to 7448H spec. Additionally, these later MA-1 designs were crafted from a darker, more green-grey shade of sage green, as opposed to the distinctly more silver-grey shade found on earlier MA-1 styles of the 1950's and early 1960's; Buzz Rickson brand has deftly recreated this darker sage green with a distinctly more green-grey cast.
The MA-1 was intended for wear in climates between 35 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, thus ideally suited for early spring, late fall, and winter. The warmth-to-weight ratio, comfort, and overall good looks made this design extremely popular with all of those who could get their hands on one, and it was not uncommon for jackets to go "missing" and to be found on the backs of service personnel not authorized for issuance of the MA-1.
Buzz Rickson has reproduced the MA-1 Flying Jacket (Spec. 8279E) in exacting detail. Buzz Rickson’s heavy-weight nylon twill fabric is never to be confused with the cheap, flimsy flight satin used by lesser manufacturers to produce so-called vintage reproduction USAF flight jackets. In fact, the only other flight jackets in the world today made from this nylon are those vintage examples of the USAF! Please take note of these authentic features:
• Exact copy of the printed contractor label in the left pocket
• Custom manufacturing of the correct 2/2 weave and weight USAF Sage Green nylon twill outer shell to precisely match USAF specs. and treated to repel water.
• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm 58% wool and 42% cotton pile sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining
• High-visibility orange lining; jacket is reversible from sage green to orange
• Exact copy of a two-way Coats & Clark main zipper with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric in a contrasting tan shade
• Correct USAF-spec. leather pull tab on frontal-closure zipper
• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in the USAF Sage Green
• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two puncture-proof pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass
• Two snap-down exterior pockets that pass through to two snap-down interior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching USAF specs.
• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure
Sizes: XS – XXL. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos