Original U.S. WWII Army Air Forces Type A-3 Sheepskin Shearling Trousers with Two Sets of Mittens & Two Flight Helmets

Original Items. Only One Group Available. During the years leading up to World War Two there were a large number of flight jackets designed to fit the rapidly evolving needs of the high altitude flight required of bombers. The first jacket designed specifically for the high-altitude needs of bombers was the Type B-3, a bulky sheepskin jacket with a heavy-duty sheep-fur lining meant to keep men warm 25,000 feet in the air. Designed in the 1930s, it was the main jacket used by bomber crews at the beginning of the war. Far bulkier than typical flight jackets, the B-3 does not have a knit waistband and trim fit that made the other jackets famous. 

This is a scarce set for someone who wants to complete their B-6 Flight jacket set, consisting of a great set of A-3 Shearling Trousers, two sets of mittens, and two leather flight helmets. 

The set includes a great pair of A-5 trousers, which retain their tag:

TYPE A-3
DWG. NO. 33H5592
A.C. ORDER NO. 4212689P
PERRY SPORTSWEAR INC.
NEWBURGH, N.Y.
PROPERTY
AIR FORCE, U.S. ARMY
44R

They are in good condition overall with the zipper well-retained, marked CONMAR. There is just some heavy wear to the exterior leather. Otherwise, the trousers with their suspenders are in fair shape.

Also included with the group are two flight helmets, the first being a NAF 1092W Winter Leather Flight Helmet with a chin cup. The winter, shearling lined, version of the Naval Aircraft Factory (“NAF”) Model 1092 flight helmet used by Navy and Marine Corps aviators during the war. It still has an original size tag that reads 7 1/4, and still has the original contract label:

NAF 1092W
CONTRACT 1008-A
B-G INC.

The second helmet is Type A-11 which has heavy service wear and sweat staining, and retains its tag:

TYPE A-11
SPECIFICATION NO. 3189
SIZE MEDIUM
STOCK NO. 8300-396015
ORDER NO. (33-038) 44-6552-AF
CONSOLIDATED SLIPPER CORP.
PROPERTY A.F. U.S. ARMY

The ANB-H-1 headphones are still installed, and the ARMY AIR FORCES decal is present on the side. 

Also included are two sets of leather mittens, the first being a set of inserts for the electrically-heated gloves, with a data tag reading:

INSERT - ELECTRICALLY HEATED GLOVE
(FOR TYPES F-2 AND F-3
ELECTRICALLY HEATED FLYING SUITS)
SPECIFICATION NO. 3158A
SIZE 9
CONTRACT NO. (33-038) AC3142
FOX CHASE KNITTING MILLS, INC. 
(I. MILLER PARACHUTE DIVISION)
PROPERTY - AF, U.S. ARMY

Both gloves retain the snaps for electricity to flow through. The second pair of mittens are Type A9-A, and one retains the tag, the other having lost a lot of material:

TYPE A9-A
SPECIFICATION NO. 94-3070-A
SIZE LARGE
PURCHASE ORDER NO. 44-6528-AF
KEN-WE SPORTING GOODS CO.
PROPERTY
AIR FORCES, U.S. ARMY

The mittens are in very rough shape with shearling material loss and heavy wear to the leather with crazing.

An outstanding set of Shearling-related gear, perfect to complete a display!