For a proposed build you are now admiring some of my custom made pre WW-2 vintage USN M-422 jackets. The first intermediate weight leather flight jacket which replaced the earlier canvas model 37J1. Directly patterned from a rarely seen and little known original M-422 flight jacket maker. In fact the grandfather of all USN intermediate leather flight jackets issued to date. Let me tell you all about it. Sometime back I was fortunate enough to have acquired two of these beyond rare original M-422 jackets. One in a size 38 and the other a size 40. Subsequently, I dissected the original size 40 jacket (received as a basket case) by breaking it down to it's individual panels and patterned it complete. Then completely recondition that size 40 jacket. It is now fully restored. Both my restored size 40 along with my all original size 38 can be seen within the descriptive images. As a result & going forward I now have perfect permanent references for any and all future reproductions for this particular M-422 jacket. These two original jackets of mine are arguably among the most rare USN issued flight jackets ever produced. More often than not this same jacket is omitted from the list of known creditable M-422 jacket makers. Likely omitted because of its insignificant contract dollar amount & as a consequence this particular make jacket went unrecognized because of its exceedingly low production number. That fact in its self inspired me to take the time & visit the National Archives in Washington D.C. to research it and substantiate this particular make jacket as an issued USN M-422 jacket. Ultimately, I was able to find that credible information to prove beyond a doubt that my particular original jackets are in fact from one of the three pre War model M-422 USN makers that were contracted with to build the USN's first model leather intermediate flight jackets. Most notably, through my research I found that among the three M-422 jacket contractors, this same maker likely built the fewest (247 in all) jackets. All were ultimately delivered directly to N.A.S. Pensacola in three separate shipments during the first quarter of 1941. In addition to verifying that my jacket is indeed a true USN issued jacket I came to learn that there were four separate contracts awarded to the three different individual makers that made up the M-422 model jacket complete. Among the other two M-422 makers (Willis & Geiger and Monarch) this particular make M-422 jacket had the lowest production numbers. It goes without saying, my two M-422 survivors are in fact among the first true intermediate leather flight jackets and most rare jacket issued through the USN. Not to mention, all of which were issued prior to the US from entering WW-2. Most notably I have the original USN invoice for my size 38 which was issued to a flight school graduate at NAS Pensacola on July 3, 1941. Simply put, all previous to my jackets surfacing this make M-422 was so rarely seen that it was most difficult to identify. For that matter most were unaware that this make truly existed. That is until I properly substantiated this jacket as coming from a bonafide M-422 USN jacket maker. All through my own initiative with my recent research conducted at the National Archives. An exact replica that was patterned directly from my original M-422 jackets is being offered here.That original maker only had this one & only USN intermediate leather jacket contract. Thereafter busied themselves manufacturing flight gear and parachutes throughout the war and beyond. That same one time jacket maker still remains a prolific flight gear manufacturer. Henceforth all of my M-422 reproduction builds will have labels that read SHEELEY PARACHUTE AND EQUIPMENT CO. as the maker. Otherwise configured exactly like my original jackets in every other way. Please note that the label as seen on my original size 40 M-422 jacket is shown in the second to the last attached descriptive image. Through many years of hands on experience I have found that no USN jacket maker's design is generic. Each maker individualized their make jacket by utilizing their unique design characteristics for every particular model jacket made to date. Likewise, all three of those original makers that represented the M-422 model jackets each utilized their own jacket design for every aspect. All the while achieving common specifications. Reproducing a vintage jacket such as this is completely impossible to accurately duplicate simply by viewing a one dimensional (picture) image. Better if an original jacket can be studied in hand. However, best if patterned from a jacket that was physically dissected to allow the study of all aspects to ultimately derive upon a one to one translation. Exactly as I have done in this case. Your jacket will have to be custom made for you to order & sized to suit. Within the descriptive images are three M-422 size 40 a size 42 and size 44 jackets. All were previously built by me & not offered here. Furthermore, those two SHEELEY PARACHUTE AND EQUIPMENT CO. M-422 jackets seen in the descriptive images are only examples of what I can build for you. To begin my original M-422 jacket was made with seal and chocolate brown colored vegetable tanned goat hide. The exact same type of tanning method utilized on my true to form reproduction jackets. Sourced from Italy for my vintage type jacket builds. Not to be confused with the more modern hides created by chrome tanning. The fit of this particular M-422 jacket is unique to its original maker & as compared to all other USN flight jackets built. The most notable difference being the jacket's front panel's sleeve hole & shoulder seam configuration. Which gives a comfortably snug fit to the sleeves at the under arm. Besides having it's own individualized pattern design, this particular make M-422 jacket was built with many unique characteristics not found on any other make. Between my original jackets and those reproduction builds seen in the descriptive images highlight just a few. In reality there are to many to list. Many years ago through my hands on restoration work I initially found that M-422 and all pre War USN flight jackets in general were in fact stitched in their entity using silk thread. Which included both Monarch and W&G M-422 flight jackets. Something that went unnoticed and left completely undiscovered until my research and hands on experience. Otherwise it was taken for granted that these pre War flight jackets were all stitched in 100% cotton as seen on early WW-2 era jackets. Simply put, any and all reproduction pre War reproduction (pre War) M-422 flight jackets were incorrectly built until my jackets became available. To further back up that statement I recently sourced the USN's specification sheet for the M-422. Made available through the National Archives and copied directly from the USN's 1940 M-422 (1st year of the M-422 production) bidders specification sheet. Thus proving my point that all pre War M-422 jackets were in fact stitched in silk. Note that the original specification as seen in the descriptive images states that all thread to be used for their M-422 jacket stitch work is to be silk. Likewise, all of my reproductions for this particular build follow all that same original material & construction techniques. To include being stitched in it's entirety using both the correct color & diameter silk thread. Again, as specified in the USN bidder sheet. Your proposed jacket's mouton will come from a same era vintage garment. Carefully selected by me. Thus better correctly recreating the look of those original jackets. That exacte color to be used is optional. The rayon lining material that will be used for your build was sourced out of the UK. The same type of lining & color originally used on USN type WW-2 flight jackets. That sourced material to be used is the absolute thickest and correctly colored rayon I have ever encountered. These jackets utilized a unique seal brown colored 100% wool knits. Subsequently I have had those same seal brown (with reddish tint) colored knits specially made to my specifications here in the USA. Thus more closely duplicating those original jackets. Much like all of the USN jackets that I reproduce I utilize the correct USN stencil font. To facilitate I had this particular font CAD duplicated. Likewise the USN font for this maker and not unlike all the USN flight jacket makers is unique to this particular make and model. Your proposed jacket build is priced to come with a Japanese made reproduction zipper chain and correct era blackened brass brass or nickel M-39 Talon zip hardware. The correct 11/16" diameter (non rimmed) buttons. Notably, most all other USN flight jackets came equipped with 3/4" rimmed buttons. Recently retired my 50 plus year old Reece Keyhole Buttonhole machine for a brand new upgraded model. This new leather compatible machine does superior work. As seen in the attached video now used to create the pocket flaps and throat latches on all of my USN flight jacket builds. I've included some keyhole buttonhole examples for this same build within the descriptive images. That kind workmanship is exactly what you can expect with your build. The upgrades that are negotiable for this build concerns the type of leather which can be overdyed from a russet base. This same dye method was utilized periodically by those original WW-2 USN jackets makers. In addition, I can double the lining. On my personal jackets I always chose to double the lining on all my jackets within my personal collection! Note, these USN jackets generally wear from the inside out. Most notably from the back side of the lining rubbing against the suede side of the leather, along the mouton collar & always the first thing to go on a jacket. Thus doubling the lining it greatly extends the life of one of these jackets.The last two photos in the descriptive images are my original size 38 and 40 M-422 jackets. The same original jackets that I utilized to derive my patterns for this same reproduction build. Among the provided pix you will see some of my suggested hides (that seen the more grainy I have available to choose from) available for this particular. Also within the descriptive images are a few examples of my builds using this same pattern. To include a couple in size 40 and size 42 and 44 jackets. However, this jacket can be size as needed. Most notably, the original size 38 jacket (with the VB-135 squadron patch) seen within the descriptive images is IDed to a VB-135 aviator and DFC recipient. He flew (two tour) combat missions out of Attu during WW-2 in the left seat (pilot) position. Flown in the PV-1 Ventura during the Aleutian Campaign from 1943 through 1945. Those combat missions aka The Empire Express were extremely hazardous 1,500 mile round trip to the Kuril Islands. To better place these jackets into a correct historical perspective I've added some photos examples to the descriptive images. All are related to that squadron patched size 38 jacket and tied to the original owner. So please enjoy! Please note the bulge seen in the size 38 jacket's left pocket. Also seen in the period pix. All a result of the owner carried morphine syringes in the event needed for wounded flight crew. All of which still remained in the jacket's pocket when received. Feel free to contact me David Sheeley at your convenience. I'm an avid vintage jacket collector and jacket restorer. Feel free to contact me at your at your earliest convenience to discuss a build. There will be a waiting period for your new build. Please look through my other jacket builds options I have made available.
| Return Shipping Will Be Paid By | Buyer |
| All Returns Accepted | Returns Accepted |
| Item Must Be Returned Within | 14 Days |
| Refund Will Be Given As | Money Back |
| Country/Region Of Manufacture | United States |
For a proposed build you are now admiring some of my custom made pre WW-2 vintage USN M-422 jackets. The first intermediate weight leather flight jacket which replaced the earlier canvas model 37J1. Directly patterned from a rarely seen and little known original M-422 flight jacket maker. In fact the grandfather of all USN intermediate leather flight jackets issued to date. Let me tell you all about it. Sometime back I was fortunate enough to have acquired two of these beyond rare original M-422 jackets. One in a size 38 and the other a size 40. Subsequently, I dissected the original size 40 jacket (received as a basket case) by breaking it down to it’s individual panels and patterned it complete. Then completely recondition that size 40 jacket. It is now fully restored. Both my restored size 40 along with my all original size 38 can be seen within the descriptive images. As a result & going forward I now have perfect permanent references for any and all future reproductions for this particular M-422 jacket. These two original jackets of mine are arguably among the most rare USN issued flight jackets ever produced. More often than not this same jacket is omitted from the list of known creditable M-422 jacket makers. Likely omitted because of its insignificant contract dollar amount & as a consequence this particular make jacket went unrecognized because of its exceedingly low production number. That fact in its self inspired me to take the time & visit the National Archives in Washington D.C. to research it and substantiate this particular make jacket as an issued USN M-422 jacket. Ultimately, I was able to find that credible information to prove beyond a doubt that my particular original jackets are in fact from one of the three pre War model M-422 USN makers that were contracted with to build the USN’s first model leather intermediate flight jackets. Most notably, through my research I found that among the three M-422 jacket contractors, this same maker likely built the fewest (247 in all) jackets. All were ultimately delivered directly to N.A.S. Pensacola in three separate shipments during the first quarter of 1941. In addition to verifying that my jacket is indeed a true USN issued jacket I came to learn that there were four separate contracts awarded to the three different individual makers that made up the M-422 model jacket complete. Among the other two M-422 makers (Willis & Geiger and Monarch) this particular make M-422 jacket had the lowest production numbers. It goes without saying, my two M-422 survivors are in fact among the first true intermediate leather flight jackets and most rare jacket issued through the USN. Not to mention, all of which were issued prior to the US from entering WW-2. Most notably I have the original USN invoice for my size 38 which was issued to a flight school graduate at NAS Pensacola on July 3, 1941. Simply put, all previous to my jackets surfacing this make M-422 was so rarely seen that it was most difficult to identify. For that matter most were unaware that this make truly existed. That is until I properly substantiated this jacket as coming from a bonafide M-422 USN jacket maker. All through my own initiative with my recent research conducted at the National Archives. An exact replica that was patterned directly from my original M-422 jackets is being offered here.That original maker only had this one & only USN intermediate leather jacket contract. Thereafter busied themselves manufacturing flight gear and parachutes throughout the war and beyond. That same one time jacket maker still remains a prolific flight gear manufacturer. Henceforth all of my M-422 reproduction builds will have labels that read SHEELEY PARACHUTE AND EQUIPMENT CO. as the maker. Otherwise configured exactly like my original jackets in every other way. Please note that the label as seen on my original size 40 M-422 jacket is shown in the second to the last attached descriptive image. Through many years of hands on experience I have found that no USN jacket maker’s design is generic. Each maker individualized their make jacket by utilizing their unique design characteristics for every particular model jacket made to date. Likewise, all three of those original makers that represented the M-422 model jackets each utilized their own jacket design for every aspect. All the while achieving common specifications. Reproducing a vintage jacket such as this is completely impossible to accurately duplicate simply by viewing a one dimensional (picture) image. Better if an original jacket can be studied in hand. However, best if patterned from a jacket that was physically dissected to allow the study of all aspects to ultimately derive upon a one to one translation. Exactly as I have done in this case. Your jacket will have to be custom made for you to order & sized to suit. Within the descriptive images are three M-422 size 40 a size 42 and size 44 jackets. All were previously built by me & not offered here. Furthermore, those two SHEELEY PARACHUTE AND EQUIPMENT CO. M-422 jackets seen in the descriptive images are only examples of what I can build for you. To begin my original M-422 jacket was made with seal and chocolate brown colored vegetable tanned goat hide. The exact same type of tanning method utilized on my true to form reproduction jackets. Sourced from Italy for my vintage type jacket builds. Not to be confused with the more modern hides created by chrome tanning. The fit of this particular M-422 jacket is unique to its original maker & as compared to all other USN flight jackets built. The most notable difference being the jacket’s front panel’s sleeve hole & shoulder seam configuration. Which gives a comfortably snug fit to the sleeves at the under arm. Besides having it’s own individualized pattern design, this particular make M-422 jacket was built with many unique characteristics not found on any other make. Between my original jackets and those reproduction builds seen in the descriptive images highlight just a few. In reality there are to many to list. Many years ago through my hands on restoration work I initially found that M-422 and all pre War USN flight jackets in general were in fact stitched in their entity using silk thread. Which included both Monarch and W&G M-422 flight jackets. Something that went unnoticed and left completely undiscovered until my research and hands on experience. Otherwise it was taken for granted that these pre War flight jackets were all stitched in 100% cotton as seen on early WW-2 era jackets. Simply put, any and all reproduction pre War reproduction (pre War) M-422 flight jackets were incorrectly built until my jackets became available. To further back up that statement I recently sourced the USN’s specification sheet for the M-422. Made available through the National Archives and copied directly from the USN’s 1940 M-422 (1st year of the M-422 production) bidders specification sheet. Thus proving my point that all pre War M-422 jackets were in fact stitched in silk. Note that the original specification as seen in the descriptive images states that all thread to be used for their M-422 jacket stitch work is to be silk. Likewise, all of my reproductions for this particular build follow all that same original material & construction techniques. To include being stitched in it’s entirety using both the correct color & diameter silk thread. Again, as specified in the USN bidder sheet. Your proposed jacket’s mouton will come from a same era vintage garment. Carefully selected by me. Thus better correctly recreating the look of those original jackets. That exacte color to be used is optional. The rayon lining material that will be used for your build was sourced out of the UK. The same type of lining & color originally used on USN type WW-2 flight jackets. That sourced material to be used is the absolute thickest and correctly colored rayon I have ever encountered. These jackets utilized a unique seal brown colored 100% wool knits. Subsequently I have had those same seal brown (with reddish tint) colored knits specially made to my specifications here in the USA. Thus more closely duplicating those original jackets. Much like all of the USN jackets that I reproduce I utilize the correct USN stencil font. To facilitate I had this particular font CAD duplicated. Likewise the USN font for this maker and not unlike all the USN flight jacket makers is unique to this particular make and model. Your proposed jacket build is priced to come with a Japanese made reproduction zipper chain and correct era blackened brass brass or nickel M-39 Talon zip hardware. The correct 11/16″ diameter (non rimmed) buttons. Notably, most all other USN flight jackets came equipped with 3/4″ rimmed buttons. Recently retired my 50 plus year old Reece Keyhole Buttonhole machine for a brand new upgraded model. This new leather compatible machine does superior work. As seen in the attached video now used to create the pocket flaps and throat latches on all of my USN flight jacket builds. I’ve included some keyhole buttonhole examples for this same build within the descriptive images. That kind workmanship is exactly what you can expect with your build. The upgrades that are negotiable for this build concerns the type of leather which can be overdyed from a russet base. This same dye method was utilized periodically by those original WW-2 USN jackets makers. In addition, I can double the lining. On my personal jackets I always chose to double the lining on all my jackets within my personal collection! Note, these USN jackets generally wear from the inside out. Most notably from the back side of the lining rubbing against the suede side of the leather, along the mouton collar & always the first thing to go on a jacket. Thus doubling the lining it greatly extends the life of one of these jackets.The last two photos in the descriptive images are my original size 38 and 40 M-422 jackets. The same original jackets that I utilized to derive my patterns for this same reproduction build. Among the provided pix you will see some of my suggested hides (that seen the more grainy I have available to choose from) available for this particular. Also within the descriptive images are a few examples of my builds using this same pattern. To include a couple in size 40 and size 42 and 44 jackets. However, this jacket can be size as needed. Most notably, the original size 38 jacket (with the VB-135 squadron patch) seen within the descriptive images is IDed to a VB-135 aviator and DFC recipient. He flew (two tour) combat missions out of Attu during WW-2 in the left seat (pilot) position. Flown in the PV-1 Ventura during the Aleutian Campaign from 1943 through 1945. Those combat missions aka The Empire Express were extremely hazardous 1,500 mile round trip to the Kuril Islands. To better place these jackets into a correct historical perspective I’ve added some photos examples to the descriptive images. All are related to that squadron patched size 38 jacket and tied to the original owner. So please enjoy! Please note the bulge seen in the size 38 jacket’s left pocket. Also seen in the period pix. All a result of the owner carried morphine syringes in the event needed for wounded flight crew. All of which still remained in the jacket’s pocket when received. Feel free to contact me David Sheeley at your convenience. I’m an avid vintage jacket collector and jacket restorer. Feel free to contact me at your at your earliest convenience to discuss a build. There will be a waiting period for your new build. Please look through my other jacket builds options I have made available.
