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 1969 was manufactured on a USAF contract and belonged to a pilot who flew reconnaissance, likely transferring from 1st Tactical Recon Squadron to the 10th Tactical Recon Wing in the late 1960s.
Condition
This is in used, but good shape. The cuffs look to have been period replaced, but otherwise its in lovely shape.
Size
- Tagged a size medium
- Pit to pit 24"
- Shoulder to shoulder 19"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 23"