Flight jacket
A waist-length jacket developed for pilots, typically insulated and fitted with a close collar, cuffs, and hem to retain warmth.
Irvin flying jacket: A sheepskin flight jacket developed for British aircrews in the 1930s. Its fleece lining and leather shell addressed the cold of unheated, open-cockpit aircraft.
Sheepskin: The hide of a sheep with its wool still attached, used as a warm clothing material. Sheepskin combines an outer leather surface with an insulating fleece lining.
United States Army Air Forces: The U.S. Army’s aviation branch from 1941 until the creation of the independent Air Force in 1947. Its aircrew clothing programs produced several widely recognized flight-jacket designs.
Pea coat: A short, heavy wool coat traditionally associated with naval sailors. Both garments are warm military outerwear, but the pea coat is longer and woolen.
A-2 jacket: A U.S. Army Air Corps leather flight jacket standardized in 1931. It became a defining American pilot jacket before fabric designs displaced leather.
Nylon: A family of synthetic polyamides used in fibers, plastics, and other materials. Nylon enabled lighter, moisture-resistant flight jackets than traditional leather designs.
Bomber crew: Aircrew members who operate or support a bomber aircraft during a mission. High-altitude bomber crews needed substantial insulation in unheated aircraft.
Leather jacket: An outer garment made primarily from leather, often worn for protection or style. A leather jacket need not have the insulated, close-fitting construction associated with flight jackets.
B-3 flight jacket: A heavy sheepskin jacket issued to U.S. Army Air Forces crews during World War II. It exemplifies the insulation required by bomber crews flying at high altitude.
Rib knit: A knitted fabric structure with alternating raised and recessed columns that stretches readily. Rib-knit cuffs, collars, and hems help close gaps and keep the jacket fitted.