Replica Flight Jackets

A handful of Japanese manufacturers make incredible replicas of WWII Flight Jackets.

The top manufacturers in Japan are:

The Real McCoys
Toys McCoys
The Few
Buzz Ricksons

I'm considering getting a Flight Jacket during my next trip to Japan. I have a Buzz Ricksons MA-1 (Black), and now I'm thinking of perhaps an A-2, A-1, N-1, L-2, or L-2B. My list is long because these jackets are almost non-existant outside of Japan. So I'm researching the options over the next few months.

One of the first decisions is whether I should get a remake of a specific historical jacket (with patches), or a plain jacket. The patches can be loud and make the jacket look arrogant, but some of them do look cool and the historical aspects are interesting.


Toys McCoys Cotton Tanker Jacket (Phantom Batman) has an interesting back stencil.

It also has blood chit patches on the shoulder, and inside the jacket. Read the wikipedia link about blood chits. It is interesting, and strikes me as a weird situation that the Japanese are remaking these jackets with the text "I am an enemy of the Japanese. "


This remake of a Flying Tigers Jacket has some impressive historical significance. The Flying Tigers had a key role in the conflict with Japan, and they flew the incredible Tomahawk planes painted with the aggressive shark face.

The jacket also includes blood chits.


This Real McCoys "Gentlemen from Hell" jacket is a remake of a jacket from the 487th Bombardment Group. This is my favorite visually, but I don't know if I could really wear it. I also need a telescope to look at the price tag.