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 is a great example. Whilst it's missing it's tag, the Conmar zipper puts this as a mid-late 60s manufacturing date. It's patched to a member of the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron, of the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing. Around this time, this squadron would have been flying F-4E Phantoms, based out of Torrejon Air Base in Spain, as part of the USAF contingent in Europe. I've included a few photos showing pilots wearing jackets/flight suits in the same configuration from the same squadron!
Condition
This is in good, but used condition. It arrived with me in a poor state with shredded cuffs and a very badly replaced waistband. Both have been replaced with correct period originals, and done in such a way that any old damage was hidden - a long and laborious process. The only visible scars are some stitch marks along the lining by the waist the show where the old waistband replacement was removed. There is a very pale brown mark on the back, but it's very light and large unnoticable unless viewed close-up.
Size
- To tag but fits a modern medium/large
- Pit to pit 25"
- Shoulder to shoulder 19"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 24