This L-2 jacket is an Experimental Test Sample manufactured in 1954 for Major General James F. Kirkendall, who joined the Army Air Corps in WWII and after the war served as a commander at Yokota Air Base, Japan. During the Vietnam War, he was posted to Southeast Asia as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the 7th Air Force (Pacific Air Force) Headquarters at Tan Son Nhat Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. A handwritten note manufactured for him remains near the test sample tag, making it an extremely valuable piece of clothing. It is believed that the L2 was originally made for Major General Kirkendall,a fighter and reconnaissance jet pilot, for low altitude.
It is made of soft fabrics such as rayon and gabardine, rather than the nylon fabrics typical of flight jackets, so it is assumed that it was made by the Clothing Branch to be worn on the ground to match the color of the Air Force uniform, rather than in an actual airplane. This is a very nice test sample jacket, and one that has enough name left as a one-of-a-kind item. There is some damage to the surface ribbing on the back of the neck and back side, but other than that, it is in good condition and clean. There are also some scratches around the epaulettes. As the size 40 is written, it is relatively large. It is a size that you can enjoy with room to spare. Because it is a used item, returns are not possible. Please understand.
Size: 40
Size (flat): shoulder width 50cm body width 61cm dress length 67cm sleeve length 63cm