Cooper Original™ 50 Mission™ B-3 Shearling Bomber Jacket

Our Cooper Original 50 Mission™ B-3 Shearling Bomber is made from naked New Zealand leather, the ultimate heavyweight cold weather leather “bomber” jacket! During WWII, the B-3 kept our bomber crews warm at high altitude in the perilous skies over Europe with the added benefit of looking pretty darn stylish too! In fact, the B-3’s style & practicality was widely recognized during the war years, and even non-aviators like General George S. Patton chose to wear a specially modified version of the B-3. Today, this same jacket will keep you just as warm and stylish as our WWII bomber crews, even on the coldest winter days. B/O sizes please allow 5 weeks to complete The Cooper Original™ 50 Mission™ B-3 Shearling Bomber Jacket features: New Zealand sheepskin leather All-natural shearling fur lining Leather welted seams Buckled collar Waist adjustment straps Front hand-warmer pockets Map pouch Color: Brown Fit: Normal   Protect your jacket with our new jacket care products. These products are all natural and hand made in the USA. It will help preserve your new jacket or add years back to your old one. Exposure to the elements and regular wear will dry out and fade your jacket. Replenish your jacket now! History of Cooper: Founded in 1922, Cooper manufactured raincoats for the US Army in 1917-1918 as well as field jackets from 1941-1945. On January 5 1942, Cooper was awarded the contract to produce A-2 jackets for the USAAF during WWII. In 1988, they were awarded a contract to produce A-2s for the USAF; the jackets were created using patterns from an original A-2 but were made in a fuller cut to accommodate modern physiques. In 1996, they were awarded a contract from the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) to re-design the A-2 into what would become the current military-issue version. Fit & functionality upgrades were made to this venerable Air Force flight jacket, including side-entry hand-warmer pockets and an interior pocket (which had previously only been available on civilian A-2 versions, not on military-issue A-2s), underarm gussets, and a more roomy fit. Their contribution to the civilian market was no less significant. Cooper produced a range of A-2s, G-1s, Indy jackets and more to customers around the world. US Wings partnered with Cooper in 1986 and ending when Cooper ceased production in the late 1990s. US Wings is the official home of the Cooper name and we’re proud to continue the tradition of excellence. This line consists of classic Cooper jackets as well as a number of “new classics” that are sure to appeal to any leather jacket enthusiast. Rest assured that we’ve retained Cooper’s commitment to quality, putting only the finest materials and the highest level of craftsmanship into the jackets that bear the Cooper Original name. This ensures that our jackets will be of the same high quality as the original Cooper Sportswear jackets worn by your father, grandfather or even great-grandfather. History of the B-3: During 1942, the B-17 Bomber plane, also known as the Flying Fortress, was introduced in Europe. The B-17 would prove essential in winning the war. The crewmen were flying grueling 8 to 9 hour missions over the skies of France and then Germany, as the bombing campaign intensified making it essential for the crew to retain body heat in the cold, unpressurized cabins at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. It was then that the B-3 Shearling Bomber Jacket made its appearance and earned its place in aviation history. This durable and practical yet stylish jacket withstood the elements while providing much needed protection and comfort to the battle-weary men. The B-3 Shearling Bomber Jacket continues to remain an icon of American style and fashion.