50 Mission™ WWII Sheepskin A-2 Jacket

Limited Edition A-2! 50 Mission™ WWII Sheepskin A-2 Jacket Made from supple and grainy aged New Zealand sheepskin leather, which gives this jacket the rugged & battle-worn look of a A-2 from WWII. Looks like a hand-me-down from a WWII veteran, but this jacket has the fit & functionality of a modern A-2. Includes side-entry hand warmer pockets and an interior pocket, which were not included on WWII-era A-2s. A limited edition jacket that we can only produce while our supply of this specially aged New Zealand sheepskin leather lasts, so be sure to order yours today. This is one of the finest A-2s we’ve ever offered and we can’t recommend it highly enough!  Imported Our 50 Mission™ WWII Sheepskin A-2 features: Aged New Zealand Sheepskin Leather 2 Side entry hand warmer pockets 2 Interior Pockets Snap-down collar One piece back Antiqued brass zipper Brown lining Underarm gussets Color: Vintage Brown Sizes: Regular and Long Fit: Normal Protect your jacket with our new jacket care products. These products are all natural and hand made in the USA. It will help preserve your new jacket or add years back to your old one. Exposure to the elements and regular wear will dry out and fade your jacket. Replenish your jacket now!   The US Wings 50 Mission™ collections are inspired by the heritage of World War II USAAF aviators. It features historically influenced designs and flight-jacket styling that honor the authentic legacy of the crews who flew these legendary missions. Blends authentic military-inspired styling with historically rooted details that pay tribute to the courage, craftsmanship, and spirit of America. Includes some special details like an Escape Map or B-17® Flying Fortress lining History of Cooper: Founded in 1922, Cooper manufactured raincoats for the US Army in 1917-1918 as well as field jackets from 1941-1945. On January 5 1942, Cooper was awarded the contract to produce A-2 jackets for the USAAF during WWII. In 1988, they were awarded a contract to produce A-2s for the USAF; the jackets were created using patterns from an original A-2 but were made in a fuller cut to accommodate modern physiques. In 1996, they were awarded a contract from the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) to re-design the A-2 into what would become the current military-issue version. Fit & functionality upgrades were made to this venerable Air Force flight jacket, including side-entry hand-warmer pockets and an interior pocket (which had previously only been available on civilian A-2 versions, not on military-issue A-2s), underarm gussets, and a more roomy fit. Their contribution to the civilian market was no less significant. Cooper produced a range of A-2s, G-1s, Indy jackets and more to customers around the world. US Wings partnered with Cooper in 1986 and ending when Cooper ceased production in the late 1990s. US Wings is the official home of the Cooper name and we’re proud to continue the tradition of excellence. This line consists of classic Cooper jackets as well as a number of “new classics” that are sure to appeal to any leather jacket enthusiast. Rest assured that we’ve retained Cooper’s commitment to quality, putting only the finest materials and the highest level of craftsmanship into the jackets that bear the Cooper Original name. This ensures that our jackets will be of the same high quality as the original Cooper jackets worn by your father, grandfather or even great-grandfather. The Modern A-2: The A-2 leather flight jacket is an American military flight jacket. Originally invented and developed for the World War II U.S. Army Air Forces pilots. After a brief period of not issuing jackets to pilots, the modern A-2 was developed and issued. The popular film, “Top Gun” may have influenced the new A-2. First Air Force A-2 contract was awarded to Avirex, but all subsequent contracts from 1988 to 1998 were awarded to Neil Cooper USA, now U.S. Wings of Ohio. The modern design differs from the original design in several ways. With a looser fit, made from goatskin in seal brown, side entry pockets, and an inside wallet pockets.