Question about flight jackets

[Renaud]

Hello

I was wondering why we can almost only see blue type flight jackets (electricaly heated if I don't mistake, those with fur) for sale, and almost never leather ones. The only I have ever seen was on german militaria, but is sold since a long time. However, on period photographs, we can see a lot of leather type, this wasn't a rare jacket !
I've got two hypothesis :

- the blue jackets are now faked or are often post-war and are sold as good ones ;
- collectors don't like them, prefering have the leather one.

Any thoughts ?

[CWP]

Leather jackets had a better chance of being worn out after the war than the more distinctive blue fur jackets, that may be part of the reason.

[Scott A. Hess]

I've heard from a credible source the electircally heated jackets/pants are being faked, however, there is so much construction and detail to them that ifyou know a good pair, you should know exactly what to look for. These were made out of a very distinctive blue fabric, lining, and colar, these in and of themselves would be very hard to replicate, not to mention the eletrical fittings, correct snaps zippers, etc etc.Unless you have never seen a good pair, I dont think anyone who has held a good pair of the blue ones would be fooled. So I dont think the fakes here are that exotic, could be wrong. I have two pairs, and had two others, upgraded the two into two unissued pairs. Im sure most luft fligtht gear collectors would agree, the good ones are easy to spot. Last point, there are the summer weight blue, white and tan flight jackets. These only came issued with an eagle. It would have been very easy post war to remove the eagle, and simply wear the jacket post war given the enormous clothihg shortages, and they are stylish light weight jackets, and surviving ones most likely ended up this way, at least a portionh of them. The material on the blue heated fight suits rips/tears very easily, and its much harder to take off the external leather tabs, etc, to convert them to civilian wear, but if one was cold, they could obviously wear it post war.

[Scott A. Hess]

Hello

I was wondering why we can almost only see blue type flight jackets (electricaly heated if I don't mistake, those with fur) for sale, and almost never leather ones. The only I have ever seen was on german militaria, but is sold since a long time. However, on period photographs, we can see a lot of leather type, this wasn't a rare jacket !
I've got two hypothesis :

- the blue jackets are now faked or are often post-war and are sold as good ones ;--they are being faked, seen a few, not convincing.
- collectors don't like them, prefering have the leather one.-- Luft flight Collectors really do like these suits, difficult to find in very good condition, they are sought after.

Any thoughts ?

Some thoughts

[frank savage]

Hi!

Leather jackets had a better chance of being worn out after the war than the more distinctive blue fur jackets, that may be part of the reason.

I agree with Chris. Most of dress lacking, due because they was wear after the war and use till its almost completely distruction. Think about the europe, when the war finshed. No money, no tailor factory ... you re-utilize all the things you can. Some civilian dress was re-sewn, modificated and painting, so lots of military clothes. Flying gear, without its awards and badge was the military thing with the better civilian-looking you can found! The blue gray items still reminded to its military origin due the colour. The leather ones, without the eagles, seems classical motorcycle jackets! Again, I think that the last one was product less than the others, from mid-44 to the end of the war, for a little part of elite flyiers... For all that reasons are more rare to find today!

Hope this help! Frank Savage

Cheers, Frank savage

[Renaud]

Thank you all ! These explanations are convincing. I would be curious to see one of the fake fur jackets.

[mjfur]

Here's a few repro's,

http://cgi.ebay.de/Pilotenjacke-LEDE...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.de/Pilotenjacke-FLIE...QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.smwholesale.com/0015.html

http://www.totls.com/LEATHER%20%20JA...RD%20REICH.htm

Regards,
Mike

[Renaud]

Ok thanks ! Pricey fakes...