American WWII pilots wore flight clothing suited to their role, altitude and the season. The core kit included a jacket or flight suit, a flying helmet, goggles, an oxygen mask, a life preserver, a parachute harness and pack, gloves and boots. Fighter pilots flying with the Eighth Air Force in England often mixed in RAF-pattern items, so two pilots in the same group can look quite different.
Jackets and flight suits
- A-2 leather jacket: the classic Army Air Forces leather flying jacket.
- B-10 jacket: a flying jacket with an Army Air Forces insignia on the sleeve. Some pilots wore a US armband as well.
- Tanker jacket: a jacket with a wool-blanket-type lining, which collectors describe as warmer than the A-2. See the M1942 tanker jacket for more.
- AN-6550 flight suit and A-9 flying trousers: the summer flight suit and the flying trousers worn with the jackets.
Helmets, goggles and oxygen masks
- Helmets: the A-11 and AN-H-15 flight helmets, and the RAF C-type helmet worn by many fighter pilots.
- Goggles: the B-7, B-8 and AN-6530 goggles, and the RAF Mk VIII goggles that were popular with fighter pilots.
- Oxygen masks: the A-14 mask, often fitted with a T-44 microphone; the A-13 pressure-demand mask; and the RAF Type G mask used by some fighter groups.
Life preservers, dinghies and parachutes
- Life preservers: the B-3 and B-4 vests, known as “Mae Wests,” and the RAF 1941 pattern life preserver.
- Parachutes: the B-8 parachute and harness, often used with a seat cushion.
- Dinghies: the RAF type C dinghy, a life raft carried in a pack on the parachute. The US C-2 life raft was the American equivalent.
- Emergency oxygen: some pilots carried small emergency oxygen bottles, which appear in only a few wartime photos.
Gloves and boots
- Gloves: the B-3A gloves, the A-11 type, and the RAF 1941 pattern gloves, which were often worn with silk liners.
- Boots: the 1943-pattern escape boots, made in leather or black suede with a zipper. They were developed in Britain and used by some American fighter pilots.
Insignia and rank
Aircrew often wore the US armband on a sleeve, and some jackets carried an Army Air Forces insignia. Army officers’ rank was shown with bars, oak leaves, eagles and stars, depending on the grade. Not every pilot held a commission, a question covered in were fighter pilots in WWII officers? Navy aviators wore different insignia, which is covered in US Navy WWII uniforms and insignia.
What do three bars on a pilot’s uniform mean?
Bars are a rank marker on US officer uniforms, but the meaning depends on the service, the period and the uniform itself. As far as the usual US Army insignia charts show, three bars do not match a single officer grade of WWII. Check the bars against a rank chart for the specific service and year, rather than assuming a fixed meaning from the bars alone.
Identifying original flight gear
- Labels and stamps. British items often carry a broad arrow or an “AM” (Air Ministry) mark with a crown on their labels. US items carry contract and maker labels.
- Consistency. Check that the items in a kit suit the period and the unit. Mixing pieces that were never issued together is common and can mislead.
- Photos. Compare the item with wartime photos and reference books.
Reproductions and value
Reproductions of flight gear are common, from jackets to goggles. Check labels, stitching, zipper types and materials against photos. Value depends on originality, condition, labels and documented use. Avoid judging a value from a single listing.