MAle We also offer our US Wings Womens WASP A-2 Jacket with an embroidered Fifinella patch on the left chest. Fifinella was the insignia of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) established during World War II, August 1943. A winged female gremlin, wearing goggles and boots, and was originally designed by Walt Disney. Disney also designed the insignia for the Flying Tigers. Her job was to ward off male gremlins, who were believed to cause aircraft malfunctions. The jacket also has an embroidered USAAF patch on the left sleeve. Cut specifically for women. Import. Custom Item: Please allow an additional 7-10 days before shipment. The Women’s Wasp A-2 Jacket with patches features: 100% Goatskin leather Two front cargo pockets Side entry hand warmer pockets Inside pocket Snap down collar Stitched down epaulets Brass zipper One piece back Brown satiny lining Fifinella patch left chest USAAF patch left sleeve Color: Dark 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! WASP History: Jacqueline Cochran formed and headed the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP). Cochran, the famed aviatrix, became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Male pilots filled most combat duties which left a vital need for service pilots during WWII. WASPs filled the need. The WASPs logged over 60 million miles and flew virtually every type of aircraft from trainers to heavy bombers. They would often fly them as skillfully or better than their male counterparts. Recognition of these pilots were not until much later in life: 1984 – Awarded the Victory Medal and American Theater medal 2009 – Recognized and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for invaluable service in WWII Considered trailblazers, they paved the way for future female USAF pilots. Our WASP Jackets are a tribute to these pioneering aviators. The Modern A-2: In 1931, the Type A-2 jacket was standardized by the US Army Air Corps to succeed the Type A-1. The A-2 has sturdy snaps, reinforced pockets, snap down collar. Replaced the A-1’s buttoned front with a zipper for added protection against the elements in the open cockpit. The creation of the modern A-2 was after a brief period of the Air Force not issuing jackets to pilots. The modern design differs from the original design in several ways. With a looser fit, made from goatskin in seal brown, side entry pockets, and an inside wallet pockets.
