The History of the A-2 Flight Jacket: America's Most Iconic Military Jacket
- jamesjordan
- Jun 28
- 4 min read
There is no jacket more closely associated with American airpower than the A-2. Clean lines, snap-down collar, fitted waist and cuffs — the A-2 looks as sharp today as it did when it was first issued to Army Air Corps officers in 1931. It has never been officially retired, never been fully replaced, and never stopped influencing the design of leather outerwear worldwide.
Origins: The 1931 Army Air Corps Specification
The A-2 was specified by the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1931 as a standardized leather flight jacket for officers. Before the A-2, pilots wore a variety of leather jackets without consistent military specification. The new jacket brought order to that chaos: horsehide or cowhide leather shell, a bi-swing back for ease of movement in the cockpit, knit wool cuffs and waistband, snap-down epaulettes, and two front slash pockets with snap closures.
The jacket was designed for function: the knit waistband and cuffs sealed out wind and cold at moderate altitudes. The snap-down collar offered protection without bulk. The fitted silhouette stayed out of the way in tight cockpits. Everything about the A-2 design was intentional.
The A-2 in World War II
When the United States entered WWII in December 1941, the A-2 was already the standard leather jacket of the Army Air Forces. Fighter pilots flying P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs wore the A-2. Bomber pilots and co-pilots flying lower-altitude missions wore the A-2. Transport and liaison pilots wore the A-2. It was everywhere.
Pilots personalized their A-2s heavily. Squadron patches, painted nose art, mission tallies, and hand-painted insignia turned the A-2 into a canvas of personal and unit identity. These decorated jackets became treasured heirlooms — and many survive today as remarkable artifacts of American aviation history.
In 1943, the Army Air Forces discontinued the A-2 in favor of newer designs, including the B-15 and later the MA-1 nylon jacket. But the decision was controversial, and veterans never forgot the jacket they had worn to war.
Revival and Return to Service
Decades later, the A-2 made an official comeback. In the 1980s, the U.S. Air Force revived the A-2 as an approved uniform item for officers. It was respecified with goatskin leather and updated hardware, but the fundamental design remained faithful to the 1931 original. This revival confirmed what veterans had always known: the A-2 was too good a design to stay retired.
Cockpit USA became the official supplier of A-2 flight jackets to the U.S. Air Force — a designation that speaks directly to the quality and authenticity of their product. When the Air Force needs an A-2, they go to Cockpit USA.
The Cockpit USA A-2: USAF Official Supplier
Design Elements That Have Never Changed
The core A-2 design has remained remarkably stable over nine decades: snap-down collar, knit wool cuffs and waistband, slash front pockets, leather zipper pull, bi-swing back panel, and a fitted silhouette. These elements work together as a system — each feature solves a problem that cockpit life created. Nothing is decorative for its own sake.
The leather choice has varied across eras — horsehide in the original 1930s and 1940s versions, goatskin in the modern USAF specification — but each hide brings natural durability and break-in characteristics that synthetic materials cannot replicate. A good A-2 gets better the more you wear it.
The A-2 in American Culture
The A-2 has appeared in more films, photographs, and works of art documenting WWII than any other single uniform item. It has been worn by Hollywood actors portraying American pilots from Errol Flynn in 1942 to Tom Hanks in the 1990s. Its image is inseparable from the American military identity of the Second World War.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the A-2 flight jacket first issued?
The A-2 was first specified by the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1931 and issued to officers through the 1930s and all of WWII until 1943.
What leather was used in the original A-2?
Original WWII-era A-2 jackets were made primarily from horsehide leather. Modern reissues, including those for the current USAF specification, typically use goatskin.
Is Cockpit USA the official USAF A-2 jacket supplier?
Yes. Cockpit USA is the official supplier of A-2 flight jackets to the U.S. Air Force, making their civilian versions the most authentic reproductions on the market.
Why was the A-2 discontinued in 1943?
The Army Air Forces discontinued the A-2 in 1943 to shift resources toward newer jacket designs including the B-15, which used nylon — a material more readily available than quality leather during the war.
