Pilot leather jacket

[hs132]

Jacket

[Luftm40]

Here is a photo which clearly shows at least three JG 26 pilots wearing these jackets w/ the collars removed and rank insignia added. I also firmly believe that some of these late war leather flight suits were manufactured without the electrical hook ups. I may be wrong...but I don't believe German single seat fighters even had the provision for electrical heating, so these connections would have been useless for a fighter pilot. If you own the book "Green Hearts, first in combat with the Dora 9" there are dozens of pics showing fighter pilots in these late war leather suits. Some certainly look like they never had electrical connections.

[WWIIBuff]

Pictures

Like they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and in our hobby, probably more. Great photographic evidence there LHR1 and Andy. Thanks you both for posting those for us to see.

Werner, a nice example you have there, it would look great on a mannequin. Does the eagle appear original?

[werner]

Thanks Andy for this really interesting picture.
We can clearly see an officer in the middle whit this type of modified jacket and channel trousers.

[Luftm40]

Here is another pic of the collarless jacket in wear, also from 7/JG26

[Luftm40]

Also a pic that seems to show a jacket w/ no electrical connections (NCO pilot on left). It also doesn't look like there are any patches or repairs to show that it had been removed. The officer pilot in the center's jacket clearly has the connections

[Luftm40]

Now, a pilot wearing leather trousers that seem to have never had electrical hook ups. Note that the flare pouch and front pockets have also been removed, hence the male snap connection visible on the leg...Pilot on right has the connections on his suit.

[hs132]

Hello, more great pics. Im in agreement on the Green Hearts Dora 9 book, excellent referance. The pilot in both pics #32,35 and 37 are of the same pilot, Lt Peter Andel. It shows him with a replaced pointed leather collar jacket then one without a collar. He really worked over his flight set. Best, Bill .

[juvatwad]

In the photo of the three pilots above, I do see evidence of a repair on the pilot at left. There is a trapezoidal patch or something on that sleeve where the electrical connection would have been. It's also hard to tell on the other photos. Even in the nice clear color photo Bill posted, the repair doesn't jump out at you. Translated to those grainy, blurry black and white photos, I belive a small repair on a dark brown leather jacket would be hard to see. Also, I think these photos support the field modification theory. It's common even today with the modern A-2 for one guy in the unit to modify his jacket, and others follow.

Ian

[Luftm40]

This is a photo of a photo. In the book example I truly see no repair evident. Just my opinion...

In the photo of the three pilots above, I do see evidence of a repair on the pilot at left. There is a trapezoidal patch or something on that sleeve where the electrical connection would have been. It's also hard to tell on the other photos. Even in the nice clear color photo Bill posted, the repair doesn't jump out at you. Translated to those grainy, blurry black and white photos, I belive a small repair on a dark brown leather jacket would be hard to see. Also, I think these photos support the field modification theory. It's common even today with the modern A-2 for one guy in the unit to modify his jacket, and others follow.

Ian

[Harry]

In my opinion, these leather jackets were also intended for 'casual' wear, i.e. not necessarily for wear in the cockpit, (perhaps to address the issue of pilots wearing non-issue private purchase jackets) and were deliberately not fitted with electrical heating elements for this reason. Many photos exist of them in wear on the airfield, worn over standard wool trousers, ie they were not intended to be worn as part of a two piece leather flight suit - prob why you don't see non-elec. heated matching trousers. I have a mint example, no heating elements, no stitching marks where any would have been.....

[Theodor]

Yes, this one is wired