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 L-2B 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 Fruhauf Flying Apparel 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 was 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 dated 1967 was made by Skyline. Its patched to a USAF Colonel called Otis Bonner. He graduated from Athens High School, Class of 1950, and from the University of Georgia with a degree in Accounting, receiving a ROTC commission as a second Lieutenant in the US Air Force in June, 1954. Otis also graduated from Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, and obtained a Master's Degree in Business at East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas.
Otis was a fighter pilot flying over 150 combat missions in the F-4D from Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, over North Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand during the Vietnam conflict. He also flew numerous maintenance test hops. His last assignment was Director of Plans at PACAF Headquarters in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, retiring at Patrick AF Base, Florida in 1980. He received many medals and awards: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster,Combat Readiness Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Campaign Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the UDC Cross of Military Service Medal.
This is one of the best and most complete L-2B jackets I've seen, especially with the history. Another outstanding flight jacket that's hard to better.
Condition
This is in used, but amazing shape. It's used but basically perfect bar a few light marks here and there
Size
- Tagged a size medium and fits true to size
- Pit to pit 23"
- Shoulder to shoulder 18"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 24"