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People Talking A-2This is where you can read and write about the A-2. We welcome all discussions and hope it will help you discover more about this wonderful era and the story behind the leather flight jacket.
By Marc Frattasio I received your catalog in the mail a few days ago. I'm quite impressed by what you offer. The attention to detail looks very good and the prices are excellent. I have a few suggestions to offer.You might want to consider adding a silk screened or iron-on color Army Air Forces emblem to the left shoulder of your A2 jackets as an option. Many of the original jackets had a water decal of this emblem in this position and most of the high quality reproduction A2 jacket makers like Eastman and McCoy Sportswear offer this feature as an option. It would also be nice if you could offer customized proper style leather name tags for your A2 (Army style thin brown leather strip with embossed name) jacket and G1 (Navy style rectangular brown leather with foil embossed wings and name) jacket. Any chance you could add an authentic B3 sheepskin jacket to your product line at a good price? When I say authentic, I mean with the proper single patch pocket and all the other proper details with none of the extra 'frills' (extra pockets and things) that other US made (like Avirex) B3s have. How about adding a B1 cap to your line? To the best of my knowledge, nobody in the USA offers a B1 cap. I have seen them advertised in Japanese magazines but never over here. The B1 cap is similar in design to the B2 cap that you offer except that it was made out of cotton fabric. It was the Army Air Forces standard summer flying cap. Nobody over here in the USA offers accurate reproductions of the WW2 vintage B15 and B10 aviators jackets. These were made of a cotton fabric shell with an 'alpaca' (artificial fiber that resembled alpaca wool) lining. How about it? Once again, I have seen these things advertised in Japanese magazines (like Combat magazine) at very reasonable prices but nobody over here carries them. The last thing on my list are boots. Nobody makes a decent sheepskin lined flying boot. Since many US aviators wore the English 1936 or 1941 pattern shearling flying boot, these would be nice to see. It would also be nice to see replicas of the US A6 type though the British boots would probably be easier to manufacture and more stylish to wear.
I recently purchased an A-2 flight jacket from US Authentic Mfg. and I have only great things to say about the company. I had purchased an A-2 from Sporty's, but was not satisfied with the color. With so many choices in sizing, color, and material, I was unsure of exactly what I wanted without seeing, in person, several different A-2 jackets. US Authentic found time to schedule me for a visit to their New York office and see for myself the different types of A-2 jackets available. I was able to select the material, color and try on different size A-2's for a proper fit. They went out of their way to help me in every aspect of the selection and purchasing of the jacket. I even had a custom made "non-standard" name tag sent directly to their company, where they applied it to my jacket, so that it would be guaranteed to be done correctly. The people at US Authentic are truly professionals and care about both their products and their customers. By Scott Salley My new Horsehide A-2 came a few days ago and it is fantastic. I have had two other jackets in the past from different manufacturers (Sporty's) and they don't even come close to the quality of this new one. If you shop around you'll find many manufacturers with jackets in the $300 range, but if you look closely at the details, there will be a cost cutting measure going on somewhere. Everything on mine seems to be first rate. I even paid an extra $100 to have some custom sizing done. I also had the epaulettes narrowed to 1-1/2" wide. The result is a jacket that fits like a glove and looks great. Only two minor flaws that I can see are: 1) A small but noticeable indentation in the leather on the front quarter. This could be a natural flaw but could also be the result of improper handling, 2) One of the epaulets uses thicker leather than the other. The result is that even after a few wearings, the thinner one is wrinkled while the thicker one remains flat. Overall though, this remains a great jacket for the price and I would definitely recommend it to those who are shopping. By J.W. I have spent most of my life in one type of flight jacket on another. I started a company so that I could get better products and give the public the benefit of my years of searching for the perfect A2. I have owned cheap ones, expensive ones (Eastman), and many in between (McCoy). During this time I found that it wasn't the 8 to 11 stitches per inch or the five piece cut of the leather that was important. I think what mattered to me the most was the leather itself. Having worked on many of the original A2's repairing and restoring them I found that the texture and feel of the leather was not being duplicated in the newer copies of the originals. When I first read your ad I though here we go again! It is probably a spin-off of Clymans AVIREX or another of the good but not perfect copies. Well I was wrong. When the jacket arrived I found the quality and workmanship to be excellent. The leather is the most outstanding part of the jacket...You have actually captured the feel of the W.W.II jackets. The color and texture of the smooth horsehide is almost perfect. When I hold your jacket next to an original it is possible to see what the jacket may have looked like new! So from the owner of many A2's thank you for making a superb jacket and I fully plan to wear hell out of it. By GLEN NAKATA I received my Russet Horsehide A-2 jacket last week and I have to tell you I am very pleased with it. The quality is first rate and the look is true to the original. I just have 2 comments: 1) The epaulets are a bit wide versus original A-2's. The original A-2's I have seen have epaulets that are 1 1/2 inches wide. The ones on my jacket are 2 inches wide. (please note that current epaulets size is 1 7/8" wide at the sleeve side tapering down to 1 5/8" at the neck side.. us authentic) 2) The AN stamp inside the jacket is in red ink. Original A-2's had the AN stamp done in black ink. Also the "A" and "N" should be part of the circle, not enclosed in it. If you'd like, I'd be more than happy to fax you a picture of an original stamp for your files. These are very minor issues with what I would call a first class reproduction of the A-2. I've already convinced a few of my friends to order jackets from you. Your company offers an amazing jacket for the price. I will doing everything I can to let people know about your company and its products. Thanks!!!!Glen Nakata By Jeffrey Hunt In a research for the placement of the name tag I found that its 7 1/2" above the pocket and 1 1/2" from the Zipper top stitch. A-2 Jacket by Jon Sheriff I received my russet horsehide A-2 jacket today
and I must say that I am very impressed! The weight of the hide is
impressive, the stitches run straight and at even distance from the seams, all
in all an excellent product. I was skeptical about buying a new A-2; I had
previously had one made by A***** and C*****, but they just didn't cut it when
it came to quality. I'm certainly glad that I took a chance with US
Authentic because the garment I have now is exactly what I was looking for.
I just wanted to drop a quick note regarding my recent experience with
purchasing an A-2 jacket from US Authentic. I have always been a student
of history and attend my share of events (from Civil War to WWII). I
started to research A-2 jackets to find a quality and true to original copy.
After corresponding and reviewing multiple sources I found US Authentic on the
internet. I called their offices and spoke with Dover, owner and expert
consultant. Dover invited me to his offices to see his products and
facilities. I tried on several jackets and decided to go with the russet
A-2. Dover made me a jacket (shortened the sleeves to perfection)
about which I have received many compliments and questions in the short time
that I have owned it. I look forward a long relationship with this
authentic jacket. Thanks again for your help and quality product. I have studied and collected USAAF flying gear for many years, I own
B15s,A-2s,B10s, caps, shirts and boots. I own as many historical publications on
the subject as are available and have even been consulted by museums to grade
their collections. The A-2 I received from U S Authentic is, quite simply, the
closest most people will ever get to an original jacket. The quality and
matching of the hides By Richard Watson I ordered an A-2 jacket in seal brown horsehide on Monday and had it in hand
on Wednesday. It is a wonderful jacket in both looks and quality and I
couldn't be happier with it. It fits just right and the patches I had you
put on really add a note of authenticity. My brother spent 33 years in
service starting out in the Army Air Corps and then the Air Force and the
patches I decided on were some that he By Matthew P. Zahradka I wanted to let you know that I received my A2 jacket this afternoon. Thank
you for a well made garment. I have a limited edition Cooper A2 (russet)
that was made for the 8th Air Force museum, and yours is better in my opinion
due to the snap closures as well as the weight of the hide. The fit on the
jacket is perfect! Thanks again. By JIM "DOC" DOCHERTY ORDERED MY A-2 JACKET ON TUES. AND RECEIVED IT ON THURS. YOU WERE RIGHT ON THE SIZE! I AM VERY HAPPY WITH IT, IT REPLACED ONE THAT I LOST FROM MY KOREAN WAR DAY'S AND WAS VERY GLAD TO REPLACE IT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE WITH ME. JIM "DOC" DOCHERTY FORMER USS PHILIPPINE CV-47 CREW MEMBER, THE GALLOPING GHOST OF THE KOREAN COAST By Emil A. Iglesias Initially, I was very apprehensive about buying my A-2 Russet Horsehide online, but 1 phone call later after speaking to the U S AUTHENTIC, I was very pleased with the personal assistance and the attention to detail and authenticity. Overall, the most pleasant online shopping experience I have had to date. I love the jacket and look forward to enjoying it's beauty and craftsmanship for years to come. By STEVE ROTH, VA.Well, you delivered as promised! The lady's A-2 you cut fits perfectly in all respects. We are both very satisfied with the fit and quality of the jacket. I returned my 44L for a 44R and now the fit is perfect also. Thanks so much for the quality of the product and the excellent quality of your service and personal attention. I will recommend you as the place for A-2's A-2 By Adrian Waiblinger, Australia. I received my A2-Jacket today and this jacket has lived up to its name. The Quality is exceptional and I'm very happy with it, quite a few friends at work have never seen such a jacket and also were quite impressed. thanks for your good service. A-2 By Paul R. Jones Lt. Col. USA, Retired I have collected U.S. military flight jackets for nearly 40 years. I've been in search of the 'perfect' A-2 all these years, but was always disappointed with some or all aspects of jackets I purchased from other outlets. I took a chance on your horsehide A-2 based on the color photo in your online catalogue. My search is over. Your horsehide A-2 arrived today and it is perfect. A close inspection shows that the leather is strong but not too heavy and the color is absolutely perfect- a light tan brown (many other companies us a leather dyed so dark that their jackets look black) and the details are first class. The overall stitching is correct, properly spaced on the seams, 3 to 5 stitches per inch. The collar has the extra strip of supporting leather which keeps it standing up. Many other A-2s do not have this reinforcement and after a few years of wear and aging, the collar lies flat and limp. Your hanging loop is not only stitched through the lining and attached to the back of the jacket as it should be, but is boxed stitched as well. The epaulets are cut straight. Many people desire thin epaulets but personally, I like the wider epaulets as long as the spacing between the box stitches allows for a noticeable underneath. I can get 4 fingers underneath. Likewise, your shoulder box stitching does not go outside the edge stitching. The snaps are either original WW2 stock or they are a perfect match. Additionally, your jacket is very reasonably priced. It is nearly $200.00 lower than Eastman's A-2. I rate this as the best A-2 I've owned. Thanks for producing a handsome, true to standard flight jacket. Well done! cc: I discovered three more points of accuracy in your jacket (I missed them yesterday because I was so exited over the jacket). The extra spacing between the male side of the front zipper and the leather: other companies try to make the zipper look even on both sides, but this results in the male side of the zipper binding; yours is correct. The flaps on the front pockets covered the top squared off stitching on each of the top sides of the pockets. Other manufacturers either do not reinforce the edges or use a triangular stitch (this is okay- mass production of goatskin and steer hide jackets were done this way later in the war, but yours is more authentic). Also, your jacket appears to be veg dyed instead of drum dyed as WW2 jackets were done. I'm looking forward to seeing how this jacket ages and wears as a result. Again, GREAT job, I'm thrilled and can't wait for cold weather.A-2 By Dave Toof.Because of you Shaul, and your time with me, I will, in fact, be purchasing one of your jackets soon. Courtesy, and a bit of time with a customer is great for business, and goes a long way. I would like you to know that I appreciate that.I'm a huge flight jacket buff, and more knowledgeable than many. I own many, and lend, and give rare items to MOFFITT AIR FIELD MUSEUM (no longer a Naval base, now owned by NASA). I have heard many good things about U.S. AUTHENTIC. When I was inquiring about a jacket from EASTMAN LEATHER, I mentioned to the lady on the phone that I was interested in U.S.AUTHENTIC also. The lady on the phone paused then replied, "Well,... they are VERY good". When your competition admits that you are good, That is a high complement. The grain in original A-2's seem to be in blotches, not all over completely, but randomly throughout the jacket. When I make a purchase from your company, If it's o.k. with you, I would like to notify you first to let you know what my plans are, and to possibly ask further questions. No need to respond to this letter, I just wanted to thank you for your time with me.A-2 Custom By Neal Fitzpatrick I've never been so impressed with quality of product and customer service. I was so impressed with my G-1, that I ordered an A-2, customized with my own patches. You guys did a top-notch job sewing them on, right where I wanted them. Both jackets arrived in less than a week to Canada. Thanks a million! A-2 By Chuck Salzenstein I was very pleased not only to receive the jacket so promptly, but with the fit, appearance, and workmanship. I am sixty eight years old and no longer able to fly, but wearing the jacket will not only keep me warm, but will also bring back many fond memories. A-2 By Paul R. Jones Lt Col, USA (Ret) For years the only A-2 source I knew of was Avirex. I bought one of their original 1978 jackets. I ordered a size 40 but they sent a 44. It was way too large but the workmanship was excellent. Particularly the heavy cotton stitching and its spacing was superb. The steer hide was heavy and handsome. The epaulets were not too wide and the box stitching was small and squared off. I washed the jacket and threw it in the dryer. It shrunk enough for me to wear, but over the years I outgrew it. I ordered other A-2s, a B-3 and B-15s from Avirex but their quality clearly dropped over the years and their jackets were always too dark in color anyway. By the 1990s I had to wear a 44 and suck in my breath or order a 46 and wear a heavy sweater under it. I was, quite frankly, dissatisfied with Avirex. I recently read comments on an A-2 web page by a serious A-2 collector who rated Lost World, The Real McCoy and Eastman ahead of yours. I thought you might like to here my comparison of your U.S. Authentic A-2 with two of these company's jackets. I bought a Real McCoy (the New Zealand outfit) A-2 jacket around 1993. It cost $300.00 (U.S.). Plus I had to pay $30.00 customs. I ordered a size 44. It was perfect in color and had the Army Air Forces logo (I had asked for it) on the left sleeve, but their 44 was way too small. I gave it to my son. After two years or so the McCoy had not fared well. The knit cuffs and waistband had frayed and torn and the leather coating had deteriorated badly in the main wear areas. But my son had not put the jacket under a great deal of stress. I've got a friend who's had an Eastman A-2 for about three years, and said he paid around $750.00 for it and quite frankly it looks awful. It is nearly worn out. All the cuffs and waist band wool are worn through with holes and the lining is ripped and torn. The outer shell looks worn, not aged. I found your A-2 purely by chance while surfing the net last summer and liked the look and price. The russet brown was what I've wanted for years and you advertised veg. versus chrome or drum tanning. I ordered it and have just now, because of the weather, been able to start seeing some of the newness wear off, but it certainly does not appear that your A-2 isn't strong enough to stand reasonable wear and tear. The only trouble is, with the McCoy 44 being so small, I ordered yours in a 46, and it swamps me. But I love it too much to send back. I have one question for you though. After having a leather name tag sewed on the left front of the jacket at a shoe repair shop, I noticed a black scrape mark on the jacket (probably made while the guy was pulling the jacket around under the sewing machine). When I attempted to clean the spot with a leather cleaning liquid, the area turned black! I checked the inside of one of the pockets and it is clear that the jacket skin is brown below the surface tanning. What do you suppose made the surface of the skin turn lack like that? I was able to make a repair by buying a chocolate colored shoe touch up spray. The area is a bit shinier than the rest of the skin. Any suggestions for matching it all back up? This worries me. Is this jacket going to fade to a darker color over the years? (us authentic comment- We strongly recommend that any repair will be done by us, after all you get lifetime warrantee on the leather)Overall, I'd say you have just as good a product line as the bigger boys. I'll keep you posted. Also, I'm considering ordering a 44R so I can have one to wear when I only wear a shirt. Have you narrowed your shoulder epaulets? That seems to be a universal criticism you've received. (yes we did, currently our stockA-2 jackets have epaulets width of 1 7/8" at the sleeve side tapering down to 1 1/2" at the neck side) Otherwise, What I've got looks good. And are you going to offer jackets with the Army Air Forces logo shoulder transfer? (We offer the AAF emblem hand painted or embroidered). By Stephen Arlt, Lausanne, Switzerland. I've just received my new A-2 ! I must tell you that I am very pleased with it, it fits me perfectly even with a woolen sweat-shirt, thanks to the measurements I had sent you on your web page. This is my first A-2 and I am sure to have made the right choice: I've got a beautiful jacket for a very reasonable price. Who could ask for more ? In addition, being a member of the B-17 Sally B Supporters Association (Swiss Branch), I look forward to wear my A-2 on the first occasion to come ! Thank you again for your help, understanding and kindness. By Todd Escandon I want to thank you for the fine customer service that you provided to me. I ordered a Horsehide A2 and received it promptly. The quality of the jacket is outstanding and the fit is perfect. However I changed my mind and decided I would prefer the Goatskin A2. I contacted US Authentic and talked to one of your very courteous people who helped me out. I returned the jacket and very promptly received the Goatskin jacket. I am very happy with the new jacket, it is perfect in every way. It is refreshing to deal with a company such as yours. Thanks again. For More Comments about the A-2
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