Name: Original U.S. WWII Named US Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron (VB later renamed VPB)-104 G-1 Leather Flying Jacket - M. Kusenda USNR
SKU: 190692

Original Item: Only One Available. The "G-1" military flight jacket is the commonly accepted name for the fur-lined-collar World War II-era leather flight jacket of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. A similar jacket used by the United States Army Air Corps/United States Army Air Forces was usually called the A-2 jacket.

The G-1 remains a current uniform-issue item in naval aviation for officer and enlisted aviation personnel on flying status in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard and was featured as the leather flight jacket worn by Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun.

This G-1 Jacket was worn by M. Kusenda, a Pilot with the United States Navy Reserve. Unfortunately we have not been able to locate any service information on Kusenda, making for a wonderful research opportunity. The jacket is well worn without any extensive damage to the exterior, however the lining on the interior does have extensive tearing to the liner with quite a bit of detach though it appears to have been repaired at some point. The leather is somewhat stiff but not brittle, the knit cuffs are period replacements and waistband is original to the jacket and does not appear to be replacement. The zipper appears to be original to the jacket as well. The lining does not retain the original tag. The exterior does have some extensive cracking in the material which is expected as they were worn for long periods of time while in various harness types that would consistently rub onto the material.

The front left features a lovely leather name tag that identifies the jacket having
belonged to M. KUSENDA / USNR. The right side of the jacket has an incredible embroidered squadron insignia that appears to be a larger aircraft carrying a smaller one under its wing. The colors are still present but there is fading and mothing present.

This wonderful jacket comes more than ready for further research and display.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 26”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 21"
Waist width: 19"
Front length: 30"