Item 2023.153.19 - US Army Air Force Type A-4 Flight Suit

2023.153.19

US Army Air Force Type A-4 Flight Suit

Item

1

Flight suit made from a khaki coloured, woollen fabric. Flight suit is front fastening via a talon zip on a concealed placket that fastens closed with poppers. Suit has a stand collar which also fastens with poppers. There is an attached belt with metal buckle which is held in place by belt loops. There is an angled patch pocket on the right of the chest and a large patch pocket to the right lower front leg. There are inseam, vertical pockets at either side of the waist. At each cuff [of the sleeves and the legs] there is a vertical slit with a zip closure and a popper fastening. The flight suit is unlined.

Label: [Unreadable] / Drawing No.30-72 / C.Order No.42 16473 [Unreadable] / Property / US Air Force-US Army / 40
Material: Wool
Measurements: 45cm [Chest]; 135cm [Length]
Details: Belt; patch pockets
Condition: Fair, repaired tear to lower left leg front, holes, fading, stains

During the 1940s, the fabric that flight suits were made from varied depending on the time of year. In the summer, cotton suits or those made from a wool gabardine were worn; with thick, harder wearing fabric, such as shearling lined leather, used in winter or for flying at high altitudes.