AAF Type A-9 flying suit pants, intermediate.

 

In excellent condition, these A-9 flying suit pants show very little use, only very light marking from storage, with all zips and buttons in good working order and the OD cotton fabric still showing great colour. Designed for wear with the B-9 jacket, these were also frequently worn with the B-10 and B-15 jacket. This pair has a great label, and an unusual and uncommon manufacturer: The Paul Reed Company. Size 38. 

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$135 / £110 / €125   email to secure this item

Scarce original AAF Type C-2 sweater.

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One of those very hard to find uniform/flying kit accessory items that was so useful, most were kept and worn after the war until they fell apart! OD wool medium weight sweater which fit perfectly under the A-2 jacket. Full length zipped front and small pocket just above the waist. Knitted cuffs and waistband. Marked as size 40 and made by Goodwear Knitting Mills, it is on the small size and definitely for display . This has survived in quite remarkable condition. It has a few minor snags and pulls, the worst of which appears to be in the upper left sleeve, but even this doesn't really show. A few thin spots on the back, between the shoulder blades, but again, you have to look hard to find them. Zip is maker marked Waldes Kover Zip with a serial number. Only about the second or third example of one of these I have ever seen and by far the nicest. Original examples are extremely difficult to find.

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$275 / £225 / €255  email to secure this item

Very nice RAF Suits, Aircrew blouse in a good large size with 1943 dated label.

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When first issued, these RAF "battledress" suits were exclusively for aircrews (hence the name) and only to be worn while on operations - they were in effect a flying suit.  Later the battledress was simplified and made available to all branches of the RAF for everyday wear and renamed "War Service Dress." Good examples of these early "Suits, Aircrew" are quite difficult to find, especially in larger sizes. This example shows light to moderate use, with some wear to the inside, and 2 or 3 very tiny holes, but no damage (one fastening hook at the neck appears to have pulled through, but seems to be present). All buttons and good buckle in place. Rank lace of F/O and a correct period flat silk pilot wing which is probably Canadian made (many pilots completed their training in Canada and were awarded their wings there).  Size 11 which is a decent size, keeping in mind these were intended to be worn over a shirt, sweater, underwear and other layers - and were sized accordingly.

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$390 / £315 / €350  email to secure this item

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AAF A-9 leather gauntlets for Air Gunners .

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Lovely pair of A-9 gauntlets with separate trigger finger as worn by air gunners i B-17, B-24 etc. to combat the cold weather.  High quality leather mittens with thick shearling fleece lining, showing some use but no abuse or damage.  Very good condition. These gloves have no spec. labels, just a small tag indicating size Medium and maker of Hansen. It's possble these were sold commercially or that the issue spec. tags were either removed or became detached, but there is no sign of them ever having been fitted. The gloves do however correspond to the issue pattern in every way and are of exceptionally good quality.

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$75 / £62 / €68  email to secure this item

Luftwaffe Channel trousers in blue suede, complete and in very good condition, 1943 dated.

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Lovely pair of Luftwaffe Channel trousers in blue suede leather with heavy cotton fabric reinforced areas and large bellows pockets for carrying survival equipment when flying over water (hence the name). Overall condition is used but very good. I can find one very tiny hole in the suede, just below the satin waistband (barely shows although I tried to show it in the photos). There is some wear to the cotton on the inside of the pockets but only on one of the multiple layers of cotton fabric. All zips are metal and in very god working order with leather tabs still attached; all buttons present although one of the buttons on the waist is a period field replacement. Leather loops for securing flares and smoke canisters present; flag pocket on leg present, built in holster for flare pistol is good. So often these pockets are removed inner tabs are missing - these are complete. Great label with RB number and issue date of 1943.

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$875 / £670 / €775  email to secure this item

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RAF 1941 pattern  gauntlets. 

 

A good pair of RAF 1941 pattern flying gauntlets. As is often the case, not a perfect match - but very close in appearance. One is marked size 9 and the other size 10 - though in fact there is no discernable difference and without doubt they were issued and worn as a pair. They show use but the leather is very good and soft, if somewhat grubby. There is a very neat period repair to the index fingertip on the right hand, but you have to look hard to find it. I would say these belonged to a gunner, because the right hand shows slightly more wear than the left, and is a little dirtier, especially around the trigger finger. Both zips work perfectly. Overall a vey good, used example, both nicely marked.

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$250 / £200 / €225  

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WWII US Army issue general purpose OD wool and leather gloves size 8.

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Heavy wool gloves with leather palms. General purpose issue for drivers, mechanics, etc. and undoubtedly also worn by aircrews especially gunners and those in exposed or prone positions. Exellent condition with good woven spec. labels in  both gloves indicating contract no. and size. No damage, light use.

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$50 / £39 / €45   email to secure this item

Very good used pair of WW2 AAF B-3A flying gloves.

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Nice pair of B-3A flying gloves in a good size 9. Well marked with faint AAF logo to outside and nice clear white ink stamping inside both gloves. Leather is soft and pliable with light wear and no damage. A very decent pair. Getting harder to find all the time these days. 

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$75 / £58 / €68  

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WWI RFC privately-purchased fur-backed heavy gauntlet mittens.

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A good example of the type of handwear worn early in the war by airmen subject to extreme cold at altitude. These mittens have long, heavy gauntlets covered with thick, dense and fairly coarse fur, with leather palms and linen linings. The gauntlets are not only long, but also wide enough to fit over the heavy leather coats worn by aviators. Though the fur has a few worn spots and some splits to the skin, it is not shedding, and is still remarkably strong. These gauntlets display very well with the classic long chestnut brown leather flying coat. There are no markings that I can see, but in the early days of war, airmen, who were mostly officers, were expected to provide their own flying clothing and equipment, and bought from leading department stores and clothiers.

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$150 / £120 / €140  email to secure this item

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Korean War USAF Type A-1 / E-1 series flight suit shirt and trousers made of 100% wool. 

 

4-pocket A-1B flight suit "shirt, mens, coat style" in sage wool, size medium and matching E-1B "trousers, flying, inner" size 34 waist with knit cuffs. Jacket has some moth trails (visible in photographs) but no holes except at the edge of the left shirt cuff. Trousers seem to be pretty much moth free, so overall the suit is very good and quite displayable condition. Like a lot of flying clothing from this era, these suits were produced in OD, blue and sage, this being the later version in sage green dating to circa 1953. Generally worn under heavier outer flying clothing such as the B-15 jacket. A nice set.

 

$75 / £58 / €68  email to secure this item