Pearl Harbor vs 100 Mission B-3: Cockpit USA's Two Flagship Bombers

If you've decided on a Cockpit USA B-3 shearling bomber — good choice — you're going to run into a decision: the Pearl Harbor or the 100 Mission? Both are genuine shearling B-3s built to the same high standard. Both carry significant WWII history. But they're distinct pieces with different details, different stories, and different appeal. This guide breaks down what separates them.

The Pearl Harbor B-3: Period-Correct WWII Reproduction

The Cockpit USA Pearl Harbor B-3 is a reproduction built from original WWII military specifications. The goal with the Pearl Harbor is accuracy — this jacket is built the way the originals were built, using the same construction methods, hardware specifications, and shearling selection that would have been used for actual military issue during the war years.

If you're a serious WWII history enthusiast, a collector who wants the most authentic reproduction available, or someone who values period-correctness above commemorative detail, the Pearl Harbor is your model. It's the B-3 as it actually existed for the crews who flew bombing missions over Europe and the Pacific.

The 100 Mission B-3: A Tribute With Unique Details

The 100 Mission B-3 pays tribute to the bomber crews who flew 100 combat missions — an extraordinary achievement during WWII that earned airmen the right to return home. Flying 100 missions was grueling, dangerous, and rare. The 100 Mission jacket honors those men with specific design details that distinguish it from the standard Pearl Harbor reproduction.

The 100 Mission is for buyers who want the same shearling bomber quality but with additional commemorative significance. It's also an excellent collector's piece precisely because of its specific tribute story — it carries a narrative that the Pearl Harbor reproduction, while historically accurate, does not specifically tell.

What They Share

Both jackets use genuine sheepskin shearling throughout — real wool on the inside, leather shell on the outside. Both are made in the USA by Cockpit USA. Both feature the signature oversized round collar, front zipper, and the classic B-3 silhouette. Both are built to provide serious warmth in genuinely cold conditions. The quality difference between them is negligible — Cockpit USA doesn't cut corners on either.

How to Choose

Buy the Pearl Harbor if: you want the most period-accurate WWII B-3 reproduction available, you're a historian or serious collector, or you simply want the jacket exactly as it was during the war.

Buy the 100 Mission if: the commemorative tribute story resonates with you, you want a jacket with additional design details that tell a specific story, or you're drawn to the idea of honoring the men who flew 100 combat missions.

Both models are available at Legendary USA, an authorized Cockpit USA dealer. You can also view the Hooded B-3 — a variation that adds a shearling hood for even more cold-weather protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pearl Harbor B-3? It's a period-correct WWII reproduction of the B-3 shearling bomber jacket built to original military specifications.

What does the 100 Mission refer to? Flying 100 combat missions during WWII was an extraordinary achievement that earned bomber crews the right to rotate home.

Are both B-3 jackets made with real shearling? Yes. Both the Pearl Harbor and 100 Mission use genuine sheepskin shearling — real wool on the inside.

Is there a B-3 with a hood? Yes. Cockpit USA also makes a Hooded B-3, available at Legendary USA.

Where can I buy these jackets? Both are available at Legendary USA, an authorized Cockpit USA dealer, at legendaryusa.com/collections/cockpit-usa.