One of the most iconic pieces of WW2 clothing, famous as much for it's long march across Europe as it is for a certain taxi driver! What many people might not know, is that the name Tanker was only really applied post war, these were officially known as Jacket Winter, Combat. This is an example of the second pattern, and it was one of the most well liked and widely used jackets of the war. Issued to tank crews certainly, but these were worn by everyone from the navy shore parties through to USAAF fighter pilots. And it's obvious to see why, these are a beautifully crafted piece with a great fit, and perfect for providing warmth in winter.
Condition
This is in great shape. The original Talon zip works perfectly. The waistband and collar are pretty much perfect, the cuffs have a few repairs and issues, but not enough to warrant replacing them. There are a few marks to the shell and one tiny repair, but otherwise a really nice example. This is named to a R Van Osdel, who I'm pretty sure is Richard L Van Osdel, an Oregon native who served as in Staff Sergeant in the Field Artillery. There is a record linked here
Size
- No tag, but fits a modern medium/large
- Pit to pit 25"
- Shoulder to shoulder 20"
- Shoulder to cuff 23"
- Collar to hem 24"