Original American Used British Battledress, 9th Air Force, Large Size

Original American Used British Battledress, 9th Air Force, Large SizeAn original British Battledress tunic, 1940 pattern. This is the austerity pattern that did away with the extra material used to make the fly front as well as removing pleats on the pockets. The Americans entered the war wearing the M 1941 jacket. This jacket was quite unpopular, it was difficult to clean, not very hard wearing and not particularly warm in the harsh UK climate. The ETO jacket was the answer to this, it was designed from British

An original British Battledress tunic, 1940 pattern. This is the austerity pattern that did away with the extra material used to make the fly front as well as removing pleats on the pockets.

The Americans entered the war wearing the M-1941 jacket.  This jacket was quite unpopular, it was difficult to clean, not very hard wearing and not particularly warm in the harsh UK climate.  The ETO jacket was the answer to this, it was designed from British Battledress material (a heavy wool), unlined, and with a tailored collar for a shirt and tie, unlike the Battledress in mimicked.  It is quite an unusual jacket to see worn in old photographs, but is most usually associated with the US Army Air Forces.

Even more unusually seen, is American personnel obtaining and wearing British BD.  This is what we have here, the tunic having been obtained by us from the United States. One photograph is included in the listing and note the 40 pattern BDs being worn on the back row.

The tunic is in excellent condition, no significant soiling or staining, no significant areas of mothing, but one or two nips in places and no rips or tears. One of the collar hooks has been replaced.  It is furnished with;

1. A pair of EM collar dogs, Army Air Force branch of service

2. A 9th Air Force SSI

3. A pair of matching S/Sgt stripes

4. Aerial gunner's wings clutch back and Sterling marked

Label shows the manufacturer as Jackson The Tailor, with a 1943 date.  Size Marked 15 (5ft 11 to 6ft height, 42-43" chest, 37-38" waist).

However, jacket measured by hand as follows;

Pit to pit - 23 inches, so around a 42-44 Inch Chest

Waist - 38 inches

Shoulder seam to cuff - 25 inches

Shoulder to shoulder - 19 1/2 inches