When you imagine an Air Force pilot, the first image that probably comes to mind is the dashing World War II-era captain in impossibly high-waisted khakis and a brown leather bomber jacket. But you might be surprised to learn then that the first time the U.S. Air Force issued a leather jacket was in 1987.

So this is a technicality I’m exploiting, but the U.S. Air Force didn’t exist as a separate branch of the military until 1947. Before then, it was a part of the U.S. Army Air Corps and then U.S. Army Air Forces, which issued its last leather jacket in 1943.

But the legacy of this jacket just wouldn’t die so the Air Force brought back a retro piece of equipment over 40 years later due to a combination of Hollywood, one dedicated collector, and deregulation of the airlines, which we’re going to get into in today’s Blowout.

Brands mentioned:

• Cockpit USA
• Good Wear Leather
• Buzz Rickson's
• The Real McCoy's

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Today’s episode featured writing from “⁠Why the Air Force Brought Back the A-2 Leather Jacket” by me on Heddels.com and the production talents of Sean Thornton with the theme musical talents of Andrew Ryan.

Thank you to our season sponsor, Meermin.