This is a Type L-2B, a light-zone flight jacket made by Buzz Rickson's, a brand that thoroughly analyzes the spinning and weaving of yarns, fabric materials, parts and forms, and revives masterpieces of flight jackets in the modern age.
The L-2B is the third model in the L-2 series of flight jackets for the light zone, a relatively mild temperature range of 30 to 10 degrees Celsius, and was used from the mid-1950s through the 1970s, It is classified into four main types according to material and detailing: early, mid, late, and re-late.
This model is based on the H-type (MIL-J-7448H) with specifications of the late type that eliminated epaulettes, etc., and is a spot model for the fall/winter of 2024 with custom patches.
TYPE L-2B H-TYPE 67th TAC.FTR.SQ. WILD WEASEL IV
The 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, established in 1941 during World War II, is a prestigious squadron with a long history.
During the Vietnam War, the squadron was equipped with the “Magdanelle Douglas F-4C Phantom II Wild Weasel IV,” a modified version of the famous F-4 Phantom II that was used to fight the North Vietnamese SAM threat, and continued to fight until the end of the war. The Wild Weasel's mission was to use its radar to direct the attention of targeted enemy anti-aircraft defenses to itself. It was a very difficult and dangerous mission to track enemy radar signals to their source so that the Wild Weasel or its wingman could accurately target and destroy enemy air defense facilities. The patches were all theater-made in Thailand and Japan, and the scroll around the fighting cock was a Wild U.S.A.
The scroll around the fighting cock shows the pride of the pilots. The “NITE SAM GUALIFIED” patch below the nametag shows the pilots' experience in avoiding or destroying SAMs in night combat. The patch on the right sleeve was presented by McDonnell Douglas to pilots who completed 100 missions flying the F-4. The patch on the left sleeve was made by a North Vietnamese newspaper at the time of the Vietnam War.
The patch on the left sleeve is a famous patch that has an anecdote about a U.S. general who was amused when a North Vietnamese newspaper called the U.S. aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin “air pirates” to make fun of them.
The patches on both chests and sleeves are very luxurious, and the custom design is eye-catching.
The omission of epaulettes, pocket flaps, and flaps protecting zipper ends is a characteristic of the late model L-2B.
A label is sewn on all sides inside the left pocket.
Wool ribs are attached to the collar, hem, and cuffs for an excellent fit.
The outer material is 2/2 heavy nylon twill with a smooth hand.
Unlike the MA-1, the absence of padding keeps the volume down, but the moderate heat retention makes it an excellent jacket for the fall and early spring.
The L-2B's lining color has been changed to rescue orange since the mid-term model, making it reversible.
Therefore, the zipper has also been changed to a reversible one so that the zipper can be opened and closed when worn in either the front or back.
・Made in Japan
Size Chart(cm)
Size/Back Length/Chest/Shoulder/Sleeve/※Sleeve
M(38)/66/63/49/62/---
L(40)/68/65/50/63/---
XL(42)/69.5/67/54/64/---
