I’ve just bought an M-A1 jacket on the dreaded eBay! It was advertised as an orginal with authentic period patches on the front. Although I normally collect WW11 items this is the first I have purchased anything from the Vietnam period and am now unsure of it’s authenticity.
One patch is “Hoot Gibson Lt Col USAF” whilst the other is “North Vietnam 100Missions F-105” . Patches definitely look vintage. However, the jacket, although there is some light wear is visible on the cuffs and light staining on the front, has no Manufacturer’s Patch inside which I have seen on other MA-1s. My question to any experts is – do vintage MA-1’s always have a Manufacturer’s Patch or can it still be authentic without?
Any help much appreciated!
Best regards,
Skipper
By: J Boyle - 30th January 2009 at 23:12
The patches look authentic to me…albeit with my limited experience.
My brother was with the USAF in Vietnam and collected patches from the era, so I’ve seen a few.
Most of the name and special event or recognition (“100 mission” ect.) or unofficial patches were made locally (or regionally…Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, etc) in small quantities so often they don’t look as professional as the “official” USAF unit or aircraft-type patches.
Of course, that semi-homemade look also makes things easier to copy.
The nametag is correct on at least one count…the Command Pilot wings would be correct for a Lieutenant Colonel.
I don’t believe it’s an “official” item though. Note the nickname…everybody with the lastname of Gibson is called “Hoot” (after an American screen cowboy ofthe 30s-40s).
All in all, I’d be very concerned about the lack of a tag…any authentic piece would have one.
By: pagen01 - 30th January 2009 at 23:08
Also would the jacket look like that if it had flown 100 Thud missions, not to mention all the training and check rides etc.
By: Skipper - 30th January 2009 at 22:49
Thanks for the help so far, guys.
Guess I should have added these piccies earlier.
The 100 Missions patch looks to be authentic when compared to other Republic Aviation made patches, which I believe this one is.
Lt Col “Hoot” Gibson can lead one to think of the F-4 driver who went on to become a NASA Astronaut or the ex-Korean War jet ace who also flew in Vietnam. However, I believe “Hoot” was quite a common name for someone with the surname Gibson. Using our friend Google, I have found a “Lt Col William L Gibson” who flew with the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron, the “Headhunters” who were at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 30 October – 29 December 1964 and Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 27 June – 26 August 1965. At that stage the 80th flew the “Thud”. Maybe this is “my man”?
Please keep any ideas coming…:)
By: J Boyle - 30th January 2009 at 22:14
Any U.S. issue military item would have a manufacturer tag inside giving description (something like: Flight Jacket, Summer weight, Type XX, Size xx) and care information.
Also, by law, any US issue item would have been made in the U.S. back then.
By: pagen01 - 30th January 2009 at 22:03
Sounds like a con, even before you mentioned the patch. The description just sounded too good.
I could be wrong, and hopefully I am, but just the impression I get.
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January 30, 2009 at 9:55 pm