Everyone who visits this site knows how much I love flight jackets, and you really can't get a more definitive pattern than the L-2B. Much lighter and (in my humble opinion) more wearable that it's MA-1 elder brother, the L2-B really is the archetypal jacket if you're into flight wear. And this is really the definitive version, when this jacket really came of age in the skies of Southeast Asia. So the story goes (and I may be wrong), in the late 50s the Land MFG Company (of Flite Wear fame) invented the rescue orange lining for its flight jackets. The Air Force had learnt hard lessons in Korea with the colours of jackets for downed pilots, and whilst green was great for not getting shot at, it also made it hard for rescuers to spot you. Earlier L2-B patterns had a green/brown silk lining, but in with this 1960 iteration the lining vwas changed to the now famous rescue orange, which could be flipped and reversed when the rescue chopper approached. A military classic was born, and a design feature that would go on to become a punk, and eventually, streetwear icon.
This particular example is honestly as good as they come. The patches tell a story of a pilot from the late 50s through 60s. On the left sleeve sits the classic F-102 patch, likely from late 50s, on the chest is an incredibly rare 48th Fighter Interceptor Squadron chenille made patch again from the late 50s. On the right sleeve is the F-106 aircraft type patch, and beneath this another incredibly rare 1000 hours tab. The pilots name is on the chest, and the gold oak leaves of a major encased in vinyl on the epaulettes. I've been hunting for flight jackets for a long time, and fully and correctly patched examples like this are very hard to find.
Condition
This is in good, but used condition. I have replaced a broken zip with a perfect Conmar matching example, kept the original pull, and stuck closely to the original lines of stitching. I've also replaced the clear vinyl cover over the name plate that had complete deteriorated and fallen off. The cuffs look to have been period replaced. It's worth noting that these small pieces of restoration make the jacket entirely wearable and are unnoticeable.
Size
- Tagged a size large
- Fits a modern large
- Pit to pit 24"
- Shoulder to shoulder 19"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 25"