MA-1 bomber jacket
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The MA-1 bomber jacket (also known as the MA-1 flight jacket) was first developed in the mid 1950s. The MA-1 and its predecessor, the B-15 Flight Jacket, were needed at that time because the emergence of the jet age created new requirements for pilot performance, safety and comfort.
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[edit] History
Prior to the invention of jet aircraft, fleece-lined leather jackets were issued to flight personnel. However, the new jets could fly at much higher altitudes and in much colder temperatures than propeller aircraft. If the heavy, bulky leather jackets became wet from rain (when the pilot walked to his aircraft) or from perspiration, the water would freeze at high altitudes, making the jackets cold and uncomfortable.
Also, the new jets were more streamlined in design. Cockpits were cramped and filled with new equipment. Speedy, unimpeded access to and exit from cockpits became even more critical for safety. Rather than bulky leather, a sleek, lightweight yet warm jacket was needed for the new jet technology.
[edit] Use of Nylon
To meet these needs, a new type of flight jacket was developed. The material selected for the jacket was high quality nylon. Nylon had been discovered prior to World War II but it was not used in flight clothing until after the war, possibly because the demand for nylon for items such as parachutes consumed the available supply during the war.
The initial nylon flight jacket was designed in about 1946. It was called the B-15 flight jacket (MIL-J-6251). The B-15 was similar to the MA-1 except that it had a mouton fur collar. After a few years, it was discovered that the B-15 fur collar frequently interfered with placement of the pilot's parachute or other equipment and the Air Force decided to discontinue the B-15 and replace it with the new MA-1 flight jacket.
[edit] First Issue
The first MA-1 jackets were issued around 1949 or 1950 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. In the early to mid-1960s more MA-1 jackets appeared in Europe as Alpha Industries began to export MA-1 jackets and other military clothing to European Air Forces and commercial customers.
[edit] Use all year
The MA-1 was designed by the Air Force to serve as an Intermediate Weight Flight Jacket for use all year. This was accomplished by manufacturing the MA-1 from very high quality nylon fabrics and polyester interlinings. The light weight nylon design allowed the pilot in warm weather to wear the jacket open and be comfortable; upon entering the aircraft, the pilot could zip the MA-1 closed and be afforded ample protection against the cold conditions encountered in flight.
[edit] Design Specification
The MA-1 has undergone various design modifications during its long history of use, but its classic, highly functional design has remained basically the same. The original design was contained in U.S. Government Military Specification "MIL-J-8279." Changes to the MA-1 jacket were periodically made by the Air Force. These occurred because of the introduction of new textiles, new sewing techniques or new aircraft cockpit design which required a change in the jacket design. The Military Specification was amended to reflect the changes, which was signaled by adding a letter to the Mil. Spec. For example, MA-1 specifications progressed from the original number Mil-J-8279, to J-8279A, J-8279B, J-8279C, etc. The most recent revision, J-8279F, was issued in the early 1980s.
[edit] Updates in design
The MA-1 as originally designed was made from a high quality nylon outer shell and a nylon lining. In between these nylon layers was a double-faced wool material for warmth. After a few years the wool interlining was replaced by the newly developed polyester fiberfill interlining. The polyester replaced the wool because it made the jacket much lighter and provided superior warmth.
The MA-1 introduced two major design changes from its predecessor, the B-15. First, the MA-1 discarded the mouton fur collar and substituted a knit collar. This was done because the fur collar interfered with the parachute harness worn by the aviators. Another important change that appeared in the mid 1960s (MIL-J8279D) was to make the jacket reversible and add the bright Indian Orange lining. If the airplane crash-landed and the pilot escaped, he could reverse the jacket to the orange side for a highly visible signal to rescue personnel.
Other changes have been made to the original MA-1 design over the years. For example, the early MA-1 models contained a front tab where the pilot could clip his oxygen mask when not in use. After several years, advances in airplane design and pilot helmet oxygen systems made the clip-on arrangement unnecessary, and the front tab was removed from the jacket. Similarly, the first MA-1 models had sewn loops to hold the wired running from the radio to the pilot's helmet. When radio improvements made this unnecessary, the sewn loops were removed from the jacket.
The early MA-1 flight jackets used by the Air Force had the United Sates Air Force insignia printed on the sleeve. This was dropped in later MA-1 models in favor of sewn-on patches or insignia of the specific military units.
[edit] Colors
The MA-1 and its ancestor, the B-15, were produced in two colors: Sage Green and Midnight Blue. Blue was the original color used by the military but it was soon replaced by the sage green color. During the Korean War period, (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. Modern fashion MA-1's are available in a variety of colors including the traditional ones and other colors like Black, Red, Blue, Silver, Grey, Yellow.
[edit] Fetish Interest
Since the 1990s the MA-1 (and it's sister MA-2 bomber jacket) have gained popularity as objects of sexual fetishism. Along with Snorkel Parkas and down jackets, a jacket fetish has developed.
