USAF CONTRACT 1950’s TO VIETNAM 3 PATCH FLIGHT JACKET N2B WITH ATTACHED HOOD. JACKET HAS THREE PATCHES. TACTICAL AIR COMMAND shoulder patch. 18TH FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON right chest patch. 353RD FIGHTER SQUADRON left chest patch. THIS JACKET HAS THE EARLY WHITE DSA TAG WITH BLACK LETTERS. LATER TAGS WERE BLACK WITH SILVER LETTERS. DESCRIPTION: USAF contract N-2B Flight Jacket with 3 patches indicating a 20 year history beginning in the 1950’s through the Vietnam War. 18TH Fighter Interceptor Squadron, and the 353rd Fighter Squadron. This jacket is designated on the military DSA label as N-2A men’s flying jacket with attached hood and made by Alpha Industries, Knoxville, TN. Jacket is in good shape and all buttons and snaps are intact and working. The two pockets with a snap are not just pockets but also openings to allow the wearer to reach through the jacket to the pockets in their clothing underneath. Features left arm zippered pocket, centrally zippered hood, looped front button hooks with zipper underneath the buttoned flap, and snaps on the bottom of the flap, elastic wrist cuffs, and an elastic waist band. Hood has a plush lining with synthetic fur on the outer edge. The jacket itself has a quilted lining. HISTORY OF THE USAF N-2B FLIGHT JACKET. US Air Force N-2B Parka / Heavy Insulated Flight Jacket was developed in the USA during the early 1950s for military use. The N-2B Parka / Flight Jacket is a short version (waist-length) of the famous N-3B. Designed to protect flight crews from the most extreme and harsh cold weather. Primarily issued to air crews assigned to troop transports, helicopters, and strategic bombers. Extreme cold weather parka. Temperature rated to 60 °F. This jacket would have been used in some of these below listed station locations such as MN, AK, MI, and ND. TACTICAL AIR COMMAND shoulder patch history. In 1946 three major command divisions within the Continental United States (CONUS) were formed: Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command, and Air Defense Command. On 1 December 1950, the Air Force reestablished Tactical Air Command as a major command and removed it from assignment to ConAC in large part due to the need to deploy personnel and aircraft to Japan and South Korea due to the Korean War. 18TH FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON right chest patch history. Re-designated 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 October 1952 Activated on 1 December 1952 Inactivated on 15 April 1971. 31st Air Division, 1 Dec 1952; 514th Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953; 11th Air Division, 1 Sep 1954; 5001st Air Defense Group, 20 Sep 1954; 11th Air Division, 1 Oct 1955; 412th Fighter Group, 20 Aug 1957; 30th Air Division, 1 Apr 1960; 478th Fighter Group, 1 May 1960; 478th Fighter Wing, 1 Feb 1961; Grand Forks Air Defense Sector, 1 Jul 1963; Duluth Air Defense Sector, 4 Sep 1963; 29th Air Division, 1 Apr 1966; 28th Air Division, 15 Sep 1969; 24th Air Division, 19 Nov 1969-15 Apr 1971. Minneapolis-St Paul Intl Aprt, MN, 1 Dec 1952; Ladd AFB, AK, 28 Aug 1954; Wurtsmith AFB, MI, 20 Aug 1957; Grand Forks AFB, ND, 1 May 1960-15 Apr 1971. 353RD FIGHTER SQUADRON left chest patch history. In 1966 the 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron was reassigned to the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon AB, Spain. Myrtle Beach, SC and. Korat RTAFB, Thailand On 12 October 1972, the 353rd deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand as part of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (Forward), and engaged in combat operations in the Vietnam War. The squadron used A-7 aircraft for close air support and in search and rescue operations. MARKINGS ON THE DSA TAG. JACKET, FLYING MAN’S, HEAVY. INTERLINING: 100% SYNTHETIC FIBER. (ALSO DRY CLEAN INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW). NOTE: RN 35569 is not a zip code as Knoxville does. Not have this code. RN 35569 is the Alpha Industries model#. VERY GOOD NO ISSUES. The item “USAF CONTRACT 1950’s TO VIETNAM 3 PATCH FLIGHT JACKET N2B WITH ATTACHED HOOD” is in sale since Sunday, May 3, 2020. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Vietnam (1961-75)\Original Period Items\Uniforms”. The seller is “spudcakes” and is located in Semmes, Alabama. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States