Military Clothings

Alpha Industries has been the largest supplier of flight jackets for the Air Force, Navy and the Army of the United States of America for over 40 years.

Around 1998 the U.S. government decided to withdraw the contract to many of the companies producing military clothing and flight jackets selling the surplus on the civilian market, including Alpha Industries as well.

Since then, Alpha Industries has become a fashion company producing garments on the “style” and not only military, but without using the military specifications that required the U.S. government anymore. As if this were not enough, Alpha has transferred all its production to China and other Asian countries.

Some years ago, we started a deep research of “old” Alpha Industries items Made in U.S.A. receiving the support of the former Italian Alpha Industries official distributor. He could help us, as it has been distributing these items for over 25 years, until 1997.

Since that moment, the Knoxville Tennessee Alpha Industries products with military-governmental technical specifications have become very rare and hard to find. With time and with much effort we managed to put together a collection of all respect as you can see here:

http://www.modamilitare.com/usa/alpha-industries.html

It is a huge collection of flight jackets produced in Knoxville with government specifications, and other military items manufactured in the USA and also in Italy, because at that time Alpha Industries also produced some of its products in Italy, especially some models for the civilian market, which were produced upon approval Alpha Industries and maintaining the technical military specifications.

Unfortunately, since several months we aren’t anymore able to find almost anything in order to replenish our stock of the most popular flight jackets from Alpha Industries Made in USA, so now some model begins to run low.

I think, and I’m pretty sure that we are the only ones in the world to have a vast assortment of “old” models Alpha Industries Made in USA products for the U.S. military, and I also believe that we will not keep a good stock for a long time, because of the continuous and growing demand we have.

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History

Travel back to 1959, Knoxville, Tennessee.  The United States Department of Defense recruited Alpha Industries to revamp its military jacket.  As the jet age took flight to greater heights and ground troops encountered trickier terrain, the technological needs and real-life demands of our soldiers changed.  Simply put, but not simply achieved, Alpha reengineered outdated designs.  As better fabrics were developed and tested, Alpha made better jackets for the troops – better designed, better produced, and more reliable.  Alpha garments were ranked as warmer, more comfortable, more durable and designed to meet any climatic challenge.

Thus, for many decades the DOD awarded contracts to Alpha to manufacture outerwear to protect Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps personnel.  Since the mid-1960’s Alpha has continuously manufactured the M-65 Field Jacket, and we’ve produced virtually every MA-1 Flight Jacket used by US Air Force, Army and Navy pilots.  All told, Alpha Industries has produced over 40 million pieces of military outerwear to perform under the most severe conditions imaginable.

3-Bars Makes All The Difference

When Alpha Industries received a military contract and that contract was fulfilled, “surplus” materials were always left over.  In order to use these materials and keep our factories operating, we continued to make jackets following the strict military specifications.  These additional jackets were sold to surplus stores.  But, for internal purposes we needed to develop a way to separate these jackets from the ones that were actually going to the military.

On jackets shipping to the military the label contained a single black bar separating the identification of the type of jacket and its specifications.  We developed a replacement label to be used for surplus jackets.  The only difference between this and the actual military label was that we put three black bars instead of one.  And, this label was the only difference between these surplus jackets and those that were actually to be worn by military servicemen.  Other contractors also manufactured surplus coats, but they changed to lower grade materials using lighter fabric, thinner insulation, less durable zippers and fasteners.  And they didn’t change the internal labels; their garments still had the single black bar.  Over time, customers at surplus stores began to notice that the jackets with the three bars were the best.  And no wonder; after all, these were the exact same jackets that American pilots and ground crews were wearing at bases around the world.  In fact, if you look closely at the Alpha logo, you’ll see that we integrated these three bars into the mark that has come to symbolize our company and its products.

Going Fashion

Years of manufacturing for the military and selling surplus paved the road for a smooth transition into the commercial fashion market.  At the street level, Alpha was known as the producer of iconic military jackets worn by soldiers who faced extreme danger and harsh conditions.  These products emerged into popular culture and the fashion world because Alpha’s quality and manufacturing expertise had to be superior.   And soon enough Alpha became a distinct fashion brand worldwide, with recognition in American and in major international markets in Europe and Asia. Alpha sets standard as a leader in cutting-edge apparel design. From flight decks to civilian sidewalks, Alpha stands on the frontlines of quality and fashion.  Alpha is tried, tested and proven, and will remain part of the American Culture.

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From Wikipedia.

The MA-2 bomber jacket (also known as MA-2 flight jacket or CWU-45 flight jacket) is a version of the MA-1 bomber jacket which was originally designed for the US military during the 1950s.

The term MA-2 was a trademark of the Cobles Clothing Company,[1] adopted in the late 1980s when the CWU-45 military jacket started to gain popularity in street fashion. When contested in court, Cobles lost the exclusive right to the use of the term as they had attempted to widen it to other garments and footwear which was not acceptable because of a legal technicality. The term MA-2 has become so popular it is now used interchangeably with CWU-45 to represent this type of jacket.

There is also a lightweight version of this jacket, referred to as CWU-36. [edit] MA-2 Design

The MA-2 has several design changes compared to an MA-1;

* Large cargo pockets sewn onto the front of the jacket rather than the small slash pockets on the MA-1 * A fold down collar rather than the elasticated collar of the MA-1 * Usually not orange lining, usually the same colour as the outer nylon * A different design where the sleeves join the back to allow easier movement * The cut is somewhat shorter – the jacket sits high on the waist compared to the MA-1 * Genuine, military-issue CWU-45 and CWU-36 jackets (not the commercially available copies) are mostly made from the flame-resistant fabric Nomex, rather than the flammable fabrics used in earlier jackets

Federico Scatizzi

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From “Wikipedia”

The MA-1 bomber jacket (also known as the MA-1 flight jacket) was first developed in the mid 1950s. The MA-1 and its predecessor, the B-15 Flight Jacket, were needed at that time because the emergence of the jet age created new requirements for pilot performance, safety and comfort.

History

Prior to the invention of jet aircraft, fleece-lined leather jackets were issued to flight personnel. However, the new jets could fly at much higher altitudes and in much colder temperatures than propeller aircraft. If the heavy, bulky leather jackets became wet from rain (when the pilot walked to his aircraft) or from perspiration, the water would freeze at high altitudes, making the jackets cold and uncomfortable. Also, the new jets were more streamlined in design. Cockpits were cramped and filled with new equipment. Speedy, unimpeded access to and exit from cockpits became even more critical for safety. Rather than bulky leather, a sleek, lightweight yet warm jacket was needed for the new jet technology.

To meet these needs, a new type of flight jacket was developed from the existing B-15 jacket, which was initially produced in cotton, but later produced in the same pattern but in high quality nylon. The B-15 had a wool collar with pile (a little like fur) carried over from the earlier B-10 that was found to interfere with straps in practice. Nylon had been discovered prior to World War II but it was not used in flight clothing until after the war, possibly because the demand for nylon for items such as parachutes consumed the available supply during the war.

The first MA-1 jackets were issued around 1949 or 1950 to United States Air Force and Navy pilots and Flight crews. Small numbers were also issued to Army flight personnel. MA-1 jackets first appeared in Europe in very small quantities in the mid-to-late 1950s probably on the black market and at sales of government surplus. In the early to mid-1960s more MA-1 jackets appeared in Europe as Alpha Industries began to export MA-1 jackets and other military clothing to European Air Forces and commercial customers.

The MA-1 was designed by the Air Force to serve as an Intermediate Weight Flight Jacket for use all year. This was accomplished by manufacturing the MA-1 from very high quality nylon fabrics and polyester interlinings. The light weight nylon design allowed the pilot in warm weather to wear the jacket open and be comfortable; upon entering the aircraft, the pilot could zip the MA-1 closed and be afforded ample protection against the cold conditions encountered in flight.

The MA-1 has undergone various design modifications during its long history of use, but its classic, highly functional design has remained basically the same. The original design was contained in U.S. Government Military Specification “MIL-J-8279.” Changes to the MA-1 jacket were periodically made by the Air Force. These occurred because of the introduction of new textiles, new sewing techniques or new aircraft cockpit design which required a change in the jacket design. The Military Specification was amended to reflect the changes, which was signaled by adding a letter to the Mil. Spec. For example, MA-1 specifications progressed from the original number Mil-J-8279, to J-8279A, J-8279B, J-8279C, etc. The most recent revision, J-8279F, was issued in the early 1980s.

The MA-1 was produced in two colors: sage green and midnight blue. Blue was the original color used by the military, but it was soon replaced by green. During the Korean War, (1950–1953) mixing flight clothing from multiple time periods and colors was not unusual. Presumably, the green was eventually adopted because it blended more easily with the environment should the pilot need camouflage protection on the ground. Modern fashion MA-1′s are available in a variety of colors, including the traditional ones and black, red, blue, silver, grey, yellow.

Civilian use

Because the MA-1 Jacket not only keeps the wearer warm, but is highly comfortable, the jacket is very popular in Europe[citation needed] and Australia[citation needed] during winter. The jacket is also worn by many people[citation needed] in North America, where it is commonly known as a bomber jacket, especially in areas with cold weather. These jackets became popular[citation needed] within the skinhead subculture and Doormen in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. During the 1980s the jackets became popular in London clubland and enjoyed extensive exposure in style magazines such as The Face and I.D., often reimagined by clothes designers of the time. Today they continue to be worn by skinheads around the world and “planchas” (an urban tribe in its beginnings, but a strong subculture today) in Uruguay.

The MA-1 is also in use in several police forces where cold weather is a part of everyday life. They were chosen over several other designs primarily for the sturdy construction, and the heavy insulation needed in extreme cold temperatures.

Federico Scatizzi

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From: “Wikipedia”

An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur or fake fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of freezing temperatures and wind. This kind of garment, originally made from caribou or seal was invented by the Caribou Inuit, Inuit (Eskimo) of the Arctic region, who needed clothing that would protect them from wind chill and wetness while hunting and kayaking. Certain types of Inuit anoraks have to be regularly coated with fish oil to keep their water resistance.

The words anorak and parka are now often used interchangeably, but when first introduced, they described somewhat different garments, and the distinction is still maintained by some. Strictly speaking, an anorak is a waterproof jacket with a hood and drawstrings at the waist and cuffs, and a parka is a knee-length cold-weather jacket or coat; typically stuffed with down or very warm synthetic fiber, and with a fur-lined hood. Originally an anorak specifically implied a pull-over jacket without a zipper, button or frogged opening, but this distinction is now largely lost, and many garments with a full-length front opening are now described as anoraks. The anorak and parka have been developed from their traditional forms into a number of different designs using modern materials, notably the Fishtail and Snorkel parkas and the Cagoule, a form of lightweight anorak.

Amauti Two young Inuit mothers wearing amautit (angajuqtaujaq)

The amauti (also amaut or amautik, plural amautiit) is the traditional eastern Arctic Inuit parka designed to carry a child in the same garment as the parent so that the child is warm and safe from frostbite, wind and cold. The amauti can be made from a variety of materials including sealskin, caribou skin or duffle (a thick woollen cloth) with a windproof outer shell. Children continue to be commonly carried in this way in the eastern Arctic communities of Nunavut and Nunavik, but the garment is sometimes seen in the Northwest Territories, Greenland, Labrador and Alaska. Traditionally the mother or female care-giver wears an amauti, but the garment may also be worn by fathers or male care-givers. A male who wears an amauti is said, in the south Baffin tradition, to be probably more successful when next hunting for certain species of animals.

The word ‘parka’ is derived from the Nenets language. In the Aleutian Islands the word simply means “animal skin”. It first entered the English written record in a 1625 work by Samual Purchas. The word ‘anorak’ comes from the Kalaallisut word anoraq. It did not appear in English until 1924; an early definition is “gay beaded item worn by Greenland women or brides in the 1930s”. In the early 1950s it was made from Nylon, but changed to poplin by 1959, when it featured in Vogue magazine as a fashion item. In 1984, the Observer newspaper used the term to refer to the type of people who wore it, and “an anorak” became a derogatory term for trainspotters or nerds.

N-3B (“Snorkel”) Parka US Air Force, Snorkel Parka

The original Snorkel Parka (USAF N-3B parka, which is 3/4 length and has a full, attached hood; the similar N-2B parka is waist-length and has an attached split hood) was developed in the USA during the early 1950s for military use, mainly for flight crews stationed in extremely cold areas, designed as it was for temperatures down to -60 deg. F. Originally made with a sage green DuPont flight silk nylon outer and lining it was padded with a wool blanket type material until the mid 1970s when the padding was changed to polyester wadding making the jacket both lighter and warmer. The outer shell material also was changed to a sage green cotton-nylon blend, with respective percentages 80–20, 65-35, and 50-50 being used at various times. It gained the common name of “Snorkel Parka” because the hood can be zipped right up leaving only a small tunnel (or snorkel) for the wearer to look out of. This is particularly effective in very cold, windy weather although it has the added liabilities of seriously limiting the field of vision and hearing. Earlier (Vietnam-era) hoods had genuine fur ruffs on the hoods; later versions used synthetic furs. Original manufacturers of this parka for the government included Skyline, Southern Athletic, Lancer, Greenbrier, Workroom For Designers, Alpha, and Avirex. Older nylon-shell parkas have a tendency to exhibit a change in color from the original sage green to a shade of magenta due to long-term cumulative exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. To some in the military, this is personally desirable, as it lends to its wearer an aura of seasoned experience (referred to as salty by those in the US Navy and US Marine Corps). However, considered in a tactical environment, this is a liability, as it decreases one’s ability to be camouflaged on the ground.

The basic N-3B parka design was copied and sold to the civilian market by many manufacturers with varying degrees of quality and faithfulness to the original government specifications. Surplus military parkas are often available for relatively low prices online and in surplus stores; they compare quite favorably with civilian extreme-cold parkas of all types due to their robust construction, designed for combat conditions, and warmth, at (usually) significantly lower prices. However, one would have to be satisfied with the single color choice of sage green.

In the UK, the snorkel parka attained its popularity high point in the late 1970s to mid 1980s when its cheap and hard wearing properties made it the jacket of choice for school kids. It became so popular that at many schools almost every boy had one. Whilst the original N3B parka lining was un-quilted and the same colour as the outer shell, the school type parkas usually has quilted orange lining.

Brands such as Lord Anthony, Campri, Keynote and Brutus made their names selling snorkel parkas.

In the late 1980s the snorkel parka became unpopular and was associated with geeks and nerds, helping to create the UK term ‘anorak’ for such people. As such it became highly unfashionable and for a time wearers became the subject of ridicule.

In Europe the snorkel parka started to regain popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, being worn by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kenny McCormick (South Park), and David Beckham. Around 2004, the traditional association with “Anoraks” had faded and the Snorkel Parka became a main-stream fashion jacket once more becoming particularly popular in the indie scene and with now middle-aged people recapturing memories of their school snorkel parkas. It is also once again popular as a school jacket, though at nothing like the same level of popularity as it achieved in the 1970s and 1980s.

Most modern parkas more closely resemble the original 1950s design and have lost the orange quilted lining of the 70′s school parkas, however the old school style are now considered highly desirable selling for high prices in vintage clothing shops.

Snorkel jackets remain very popular within Hip Hop culture being worn by both men and women and also have an association with Indie pop.

Fishtail Parka M-51 fishtail parka. This was a favorite amongst the mods.

The Fishtail Parka was first used by the United States Army in 1951 to help protect soldiers from the elements in the Korean War.

There are two main styles of fishtail parkas; the M-51 fishtail parka; and the M-65. The M stands for military, and the number is the year it was standardized. The name fishtail comes from the fact that the coat is longer at the back than it is at the front. This was so the coat could be tied around the upper legs, much like a Knochensack for added wind proofing as they are not, as some think, waterproof. The hood of the M-51 Fishtail Parka is integral to the jacket and folds down inside the jacket collar when not in use. The M-65 Fishtail parka has a detachable hood. Both types feature a removable liner. Designed primarily for combat arms forces such as infantry, they are to be worn over other layers of clothing; alone, the fishtail parka is insufficient to protect against “dry cold” (as used in the US military; see FM 31-70, Cold Weather Field Manual) conditions. On the other hand, the N-3B parka (above) has more integral insulation and can be worn alone in colder temperatures than the fishtail parka. Because it has less insulation but is designed to fit loosely, it allows infantry more latitude to add or subtract layers underneath to adapt to changing weather or situational conditions than that allowed by the N-3B parka, which was designed for aircrews who typically worked under more static weather and geographic conditions. With proper additional insulating garments in the US military inventory, one can remain warm with the fishtail parka in -60 deg. F. temperatures. The fishtail parka has been replaced in the US military by the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS).

In the 1960s UK, the fishtail parka became a symbol of the mod subculture. Due to their practicality, cheapness and availability from army surplus shops, the parka was seen as the ideal garment for fending off the elements when on the mod’s vehicle of choice, the scooter. Its place in popular culture was assured by newspaper pictures of parka-clad mods during the Bank Holiday riots of the 1960s.

Cagoule (raincoat)

A cagoul, cagoule or kagoule is the British English term for a lightweight, weatherproof anorak or parka, usually without the lining and sometimes coming to knee-length.

A cagoule which can be rolled up into a very compact package and carried in a bag or pocket was invented by Noel Bibby of Peter Storm Ltd. in the early 1960s. It has an integral hood, elasticated or drawstring cuffs, and a few poppers or a short zip at the neck. Like the original Aleut anorak it does not open fully at the front and must be pulled on over the head. In some versions, when rolled up, the hood doubles as a bag into which the rest of the coat is pushed. It became very popular in the United Kingdom during the 1970s.

Federico Scatizzi

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Style: Alpha Industries WI 96 Jacket Color: Silver Size: Small Shell: Water repellent MP-TEX 200 Denier Trilobal Nylon Liner: Quilted interlining Features: Made In USA Features: Heavy brass zippered storm front closure Features: Deep hanging cargo pockets Features: Water Repellent Features: Knit Cuffs

The WI-96 General purpose jacket with quilted interlining, featurs deep hanging cargo pockets and heavy brass zippered storm front closure.

MP-Tex fabric, a nylon/rayon blend that is durable, weather resistant, will not stain, and is impervious to abrasion. MP-Tex Fabric. Developed for use by the US Air Force Military Police. Because Military Police must perform difficult and dangerous work in every type of weather, the US Air Force selected this fabric. It has strength, is long wearing (durable), and offers superior protection against any weather condition. Features include: 200 Denier Trilobal Nylon and 14/2 Spun Viscose Rayon blend, incredibly strong with an average 250 pounds per square inch breaking strength, stain resistant, abrasion and tear proof, water repellent, and wind resistant. The CWU 45/P is made to the same standard as our Nomex version worn by the U.S. Air force.

* Water repellent MP-TEX outer shell * 100% Fully lined with quilted nylon flight lining and polyester batting * Heavy brass zippered storm front closure * Deep hanging cargo pockets * Knit cuffs

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The Bomber B-15 became standard issue to the USAAF after 1943, replacing the venerable A-2. After some initial objections to the change, pilots and aircrews eventually embraced the B-15 and recognized its virtues: it was lighter in weight than a leather jacket (while still being warm) and the fur collar reduced neck chafing while scanning the skies for bogeys.

The Alpha B-15 is a reproduction of the WWII-issue jacket, but is constructed from flight satin nylon with a synthetic fur collar.

Other authentic features include leather oxygen mask retention tabs, headset cord loops, two front slash handwarmer pockets, two inside map pockets, pen-pencil holder on left sleeve, inside wind flap, knit cuffs and waistband, fiberfil insulation, and embroidered “Wing & Star” AAF patch on the left sleeve.

Available in colour Blue, Green and Black.

Original Made in USA

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We are a company that sells older models Alpha Industries jackets with military technical specifications become extremely rare to find because they are no longer produced by Alpha Industries.

We are not direct to Alpha Industries.

We sell models that Alpha Industries no longer manufactures in the USA from 10 years.

Unfortunately today, Alpha Industries produces no more jackets with military specifications, and no longer produces in the USA, now produce clothing for the fashion market civil. You can to buy the original Alpha Industries Made in USA with military technical specifications, only here. www.modamilitare.com

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This is the old classic USAF nylon flight jacket… the MA-1!

This popular jacket protected our pilots for decades, in the air and on the ground! Insulated for warmth, with 4 snap-close pockets (2 outside, 2 inside), knit cuffs, collar and waistband, and zippered combination utility/pen pocket on left sleeve.

For emergency situations, this jacket is completely reversible to Safety Orange.

Our MA-1 is genuine government-issue!

Made in USA

Available in various colors and sizes.

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This is the classic pilot’s coat (pilot=ship’s navigator, not aviator), adopted by the US Navy before WWI, and still in use today!

This coat has all the great features of the US Military version, including: a vent back, nylon quilted lining, and two large handwarmer pockets.

Made to the same Department of Defense specifications as its genuine US Navy counterpart (except in 75% wool), our Pea Coat is known for its exceptional warmth and style.

A true classic, it’s been a tradition for generations.

Made in the USA.

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