Rough Wear 1671-P

The Rough Wear A-2 jacket produced under contract W535ac-21035, order number 42-1671-P, is among the rarest manifestations of the iconic American WWII flight jacket.

Produced by Rough Wear Clothing Co. under a very limited U.S. Army Air Forces contract issued in 1941, this model represents an early wartime procurement, preceding the mass-production A-2 contracts that followed the next year. Surviving documentation that came to light in 2012 indicates that only a few hundred jackets—estimated at around 300—were manufactured under this contract, making it the smallest production run for Rough Wear and exceptionally scarce today. No surviving jackets were known until 2020, when a factory-repaired example bearing both a military and a civilian label surfaced.

Our reproduction pays tribute to this rarest and least documented U.S. Army Air Forces A-2 contract of the Second World War. It has been crafted with extra care to reflect the character and design of this elusive contract while remaining fully wearable today.

Liberty horsehide was chosen to emulate the weight, grain, and natural drape of WWII-era leather. The pattern follows standard Rough Wear design principles, with a trim body, correct shoulder width, and a waist-length cut intended for cockpit use. High armholes allow for ease of movement, preserving the functional intent of the original A-2.

The collar maintains Rough Wear’s signature shape and stand, while the dual front flap pockets mirror the shape of the documented period example. Wool knit cuffs and waistband are matched in tone and weave to wartime originals, and the cotton lining conforms to period specifications. The woven label referencing Rough Wear Clothing Co. and the 42-1671P contract is reproduced in black with gold lettering, as it should be. Hardware is period-correct throughout, including a Talon M-39 zipper in keeping with the original contract and anzo-type snaps. (Please note that production jackets will be offered with a Talon M-42 zipper only, due to the unavailability of M-39 Talons.)

Our reproduction is aimed at collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the historical significance of this exceptionally rare contract and who seek a durable garment suitable for regular wear. Faithful to the spirit of the original, the Rough Wear 42-1671-P reproduction offers a wearable interpretation of one of the most elusive chapters in A-2 history.

The jacket shown is made from Liberty Horsehide in seal brown, with a dull orange lining, brown knits, and dark brown thread.