{"title":"History of the MA-1 Bomber Jacket","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/camolots.com\/search?q=JK+-+MA1\" title=\"MA-1 Bomber Jackets\"\u003eCLICK HERE TO SHOP OUR MA1'S NOW\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best staple pieces seem to be ones that grew out of functional necessity, and the bomber jacket is no exception. In the days of propeller aircraft, airmen wore leather jackets including the A-2, which is an important ancestor of the modern flight jacket. The fleece lining meant that the jackets were warm, and from a fashion perspective these jackets were tasteful even by today’s standards, with elasticated sleeves and waist, a high wraparound collar, and front pockets. However, the invention of the jet aircraft meant that planes could fly at much higher altitudes and in turn, in much colder temperatures than before.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe best staple pieces seem to be ones that grew out of functional necessity, and the bomber jacket is no exception. In the days of propeller aircraft, airmen wore leather jackets including the A-2, which is an important ancestor of the modern flight jacket. The fleece lining meant that the jackets were warm, and from a fashion perspective these jackets were tasteful even by today’s standards, with elasticated sleeves and waist, a high wraparound collar, and front pockets. However, the invention of the jet aircraft meant that planes could fly at much higher altitudes and in turn, in much colder temperatures than before.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/180506-F-FN604-001_480x480.jpg?v=1607711626\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen leather jackets such as the A-2 would get wet from rain or perspiration, the water would freeze at higher altitudes making the jackets hard, cold and extremely uncomfortable. Also, the new jet aircraft boasted a more streamlined design meaning less space in the cockpit. A slim, lightweight and yet warm jacket was needed as an answer to the evolved jet technology, and it came in the form of the B-15, often considered the godfather of the modern bomber. These had fur collars and were made of cotton: although nylon had been discovered prior to World War II, items like parachutes took precedence over flight clothing when it came to allocating nylon supplies during the war. After 1945, nylon became the material of choice for bomber jackets because of its ease of care, water resistance and resistance to mildew, insects and perspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/B-3-B-6-and-A-2-Flight-Jackets_480x480.jpg?v=1607711784\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch5 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eA-2, B-3, and B-6 Flight Jackets \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/bomber-jacket-history-guide-09_480x480.jpg?v=1607711422\" alt=\"\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/bomber-jacket-history-guide-09_480x480.jpg?v=1607711422\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1949 the B-15 was upgraded to become the MA-1, which has since become the most iconic and the most replicated version. The design of the jacket was again a reaction to the technological advancements of the aircraft themselves, and the needs of the pilots: cockpits had better insulation so the fur collar was no longer needed; instead it was replaced with a knitted, elastic collar that allowed for more room for parachute harnesses. It was at this stage that the familiar orange lining was added so that in the event of a plane crash, the pilot could turn it inside out to aid rescue visibility. It was also around this time that the jacket started to be produced in colors other than the Air Force’s standard issue midnight blue. Throughout the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the jackets were produced in the now ubiquitous sage green color to more closely mirror the ground vegetation and to help provide additional camouflage in the instance of a crash or emergency landing in hostile areas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/2a_480x480.jpg?v=1607712208\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe jacket was originally developed by Dobbs Industries strictly for the U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter pilots. \u003c\/span\u003eThe first MA-1 jackets were issued to United States Air Force and Navy pilots and flight crews. Small numbers were also issued to Army flight personnel. MA-1 jackets first appeared in Europe in very small quantities in the mid-to-late 1950s probably on the black market and at sales of government surplus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1963,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alpha_Industries\"\u003eAlpha Industries\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewon the contract to manufacture the MA-1.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-2\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MA-1_bomber_jacket#cite_note-2\"\u003e[2]\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMore MA-1 jackets appeared in Europe as Alpha and later Rothco\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-:0_1-1\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MA-1_bomber_jacket#cite_note-:0-1\"\u003e[1]\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebegan to export MA-1 jackets and other military clothing to European Air Forces and commercial customers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/american-flight-jackets-from-1947-to-present-the-complete-guide_480x480.jpg?v=1607712310\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe MA-1 was initially produced in midnight blue and sage green. Blue was the original color used by the military, but it was soon replaced by green. During the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Korean_War\"\u003eKorean War\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(1950–1953) mixing flight clothing from multiple time periods and colors was not unusual. Presumably, the green was eventually adopted because it blended more easily with the environment should the pilot need camouflage protection on the ground\u003csup class=\"noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact\"\u003e[\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citation_needed\"\u003e\u003cspan title=\"This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2014)\"\u003ecitation needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e]\u003c\/sup\u003e. During the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vietnam_War\"\u003eVietnam War\u003c\/a\u003e, there were variant commercial copies of MA-1 in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Camouflage_pattern\" class=\"mw-redirect\"\u003ecamouflage pattern\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhich were purchased by American servicemen. While no longer issued by the United States military, it remains popular among many United States-allied armed forces (e.g. Israel, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan (ROC) and Thailand).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMA-1 jackets have become fashionable worldwide, especially in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom. Many American clothing manufacturers, formerly military contractors now produce a variety of colors in addition to the traditional.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/ma-1-history-14_480x480.jpg?v=1607712429\" alt=\"\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg height=\"330\" width=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/http___hypebeast.com_image_2016_11_history-of-the-bomber-jacket-2016_480x480.jpg?v=1607712580\" alt=\"\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/http___hypebeast.com_image_2016_11_history-of-the-bomber-jacket-2016_480x480.jpg?v=1607712580\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"333\" width=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/kanye-west-increases-alpha-industries-ma-1-bomber-sales-1_480x480.jpg?v=1607712604\" alt=\"\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/files\/kanye-west-increases-alpha-industries-ma-1-bomber-sales-1_480x480.jpg?v=1607712604\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThe bomber jacket is here to stay, and while brands will continue to step up and offer their own versions or customizations—some at very high prices and some at very low—it’s unlikely to change from the same tried-and-tested form that its kept since 1949. Take a look at its rich history and there’s no denying that this piece has managed to not only stand the test of time, but resonate with a wide range of people over the last seven decades, regardless of their social or economic status. It’s the perfect example of how practicality, functionality and effortlessness will never go out of style.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/2500\/collections\/Top-Gun-G-1-Jacket-1030x699.jpg?v=1612040208","url":"https:\/\/www.camolots.com\/collections\/history-of-the-ma-1-bomber-jacket.oembed","provider":"camoLOTS.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}