Types of Bomber Jackets and Their Features

The main types of bomber jacket are the leather A-2, the sheepskin B-3, the Navy G-1, and the nylon MA-1 with its lighter L-2B cousin. Fashion added the varsity jacket and the embroidered souvenir jacket. They differ most in material, collar and lining; for winter warmth sheepskin leads, and the MA-1 was built for year-round use.

For the whole category, see bomber and flight jackets.

Bomber jacket types compared

The "Warmth" column repeats what each source says; it is not a lab test, and blank ratings mean our sources do not say.

Military bomber jacket types

A-2: the leather classic

The U.S. Army Air Corps adopted the A-2 on 9 May 1931, swapping the A-1's buttons for a zipper and its knit collar for a leather one. It started in chrome-tanned horsehide, with cowhide approved in 1940 and goatskin in 1941.

A museum example at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a waist-length seal brown horsehide jacket with knit wool cuffs and waistband and two flap pockets with hidden snaps. Crews often added squadron patches and painted art on the back.

Is it still issued? The Smithsonian record says yes, while Wikipedia says the A-2 specification was cancelled in 1951.

B-3: the sheepskin cold-weather jacket

Shearling flight jackets are counted among the warmest, and the U.S. Air Force B-3 is the best-known example. That warmth mattered to bomber crews: some World War II bombing raids flew at 25,000 ft (7,600 m) or higher, where the air could reach −58 °F (−50 °C).

On the British side, Leslie Irvin designed a classic sheepskin flying jacket and was the main supplier to the Royal Air Force for most of World War II.

G-1: the Navy jacket with a fur collar

The G-1 is the name used for the fur-collar flight jacket of U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviators. It began with the M-422 specification in 1940, in chocolate brown goatskin with a mouton collar and a bi-swing back.

It is still issued today, and Tom Cruise wore one in Top Gun.

MA-1: the nylon jet-age bomber

Jets made leather a poor fit. A leather jacket wet from rain or sweat could freeze at altitude, and jet cockpits were cramped. The MA-1 answered with high-quality nylon and polyester interlining, light enough to wear open on the ground.

Most MA-1s are sage green with a blaze orange lining, two slanted flap pockets and a zipped pen pocket on the left sleeve. Alpha Industries won the contract to make it in 1963. Sources differ on its start: "the 1950s" in Wikipedia, "around 1949 or 1950" in Heddels.

L-2B and CWU jackets

The L-2B is a lighter version of the MA-1, with snap-down epaulets and no inside pockets. Today's U.S. military uses the CWU-45P for colder weather and the CWU-36P for warmer weather, both made from Nomex.

Want the features these models share? See flight jacket features.

Fashion bomber jacket types

Varsity (letterman) jacket

The varsity jacket usually has a boiled-wool body, leather sleeves, banded wrists and waistband, and a school letter in chenille and felt. Like a bomber, it has banded wrists and waistband.

Souvenir jacket (sukajan)

The sukajan is a satin souvenir jacket, often embroidered, that began in post-war occupied Japan around the Yokosuka naval base.

Blouson

A blouson is drawn tight at the waist so the body blouses over the waistband. It began in mid-20th-century military uniforms.

Modern cuts: minimalist, oversized, lightweight

Fashion versions come in leather, wool, silk, neoprene, satin and gauze. One maker's custom range shows the usual modern cuts: a vintage leather bomber with a curved hem, a minimalist bomber with slim shoulders and a tapered waist, an oversized varsity with wide shoulders, and a lightweight flight jacket with thinner leather.

For what all of these have in common, read our bomber jacket meaning page.

Which type should you choose?

Once you have picked, how to wear a bomber jacket covers fit and outfits. The full story of each model is on the history of the bomber jacket.

Getting your type made

"Flight and bomber styles" are one of the options for Leather Collection custom leather jackets, which are hand-stitched to your measurements. To understand the build itself, see how a leather jacket is made.

Related guides

• Varsity sleeves come in leather or vinyl; see vinyl letterman jacket vs leather jacket.
• Each bomber type has its own collar; compare them in common jacket collar styles explained.
• Not sure whether you want a bomber or a flight jacket? See bomber jacket vs flight jacket.
• The varsity is a cousin of the bomber; see bomber jacket vs varsity jacket.

FAQ

Are bomber jackets warm enough for winter?

Some are. Sheepskin types such as the B-3 are counted among the warmest flight jackets. The MA-1 is intermediate weight, and the L-2B is lighter still.

Why do pilots wear leather jackets?

Early pilots flew in open cockpits and needed warm, wind-blocking clothing. In 1917 the U.S. Army began issuing heavy leather flight jackets with high collars and snug cuffs. Navy aviators still receive the leather G-1.

What are bomber jackets called now?

The names bomber jacket and flight jacket are both in use; the MA-1 goes by either. Current U.S. military issue carries CWU designations.