Original WWII AAF CBI B-15 Flight Jacket 4th Combat Cargo Squadron Lost Worlds Collection

class="auto-style27">Army Air Forces Original Flight Jackets WWII

class="auto-style27">Original A-2, A-1, G-1, B-3, B-2, ANJ-4 WWII Horsehide, Goatskin, Sheepskin Leather American Flight Jackets Lost Worlds

class="auto-style27">Original USMC, Army Air Forces WWII Squadron Patches

Orig. WWII B15-A Flight Jacket CBI Theater 4th Combat Cargo Squadron

LOST WORLDS
 FLIGHT JACKET COLLECTION

B-15 FLIGHT JACKET

4th Combat Cargo, 10th Air Force, CBI Theater

 

 


 



 


 


 


 

 

A. L Riggins Wearing Jacket (Prior to Insignia Installations)

One of the great joys for the genuine collector is the discovery of something hitherto unknown or unseen. At once it's elating and humbling, showing us that our knowledge and understanding are always incomplete. That the term "expert" is always limited and conditional.

Recently, due to the kindness of K. L. Riggins, we were fortunate to obtain his dad's B-15 Flight Jacket and comprehensive memorabilia. A.L. Riggins flew in the 4th Combat Cargo Squadron, later redesignated the 329th Troop Carrier Squadron (9/45), CBI Theater of Operations.

In addition to this grouping being thorough and beautiful, a great bonus to our knowledge was the fact that this B-15 is made out of Nylon! As such it is the earliest AAF Nylon flight jacket we've ever encountered. Note that it is not a B-15A and not a B-15B, rather the 1st generation B-15, always found in Cotton. The Nylon fabric differs from the B-15B specification in construction and hand. There might even be a Rayon component. The specification date is 1944. Contractor is Dann, a principal B-15 manufacturer.  For the Nylon historian and collector, this is an exciting find, predating by several years the earliest Air Force nylon flight jackets.

 

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