Leather makes a great Windbreaker, and a great barrier to extremely hot objects which is one reason pilots, motorcyclists and drivers wear leather. For the motorcyclist, it's also a great insurance policy against "road rash".
The A-2 as well as the G-1 were designed as a summer jacket. It's worn on the airfield where the open spaces and aircraft engines increase windchill by several times, even during hot summer days. WW2 uniform specifications usually noted that a Shearling coat was to be worn over an A-2, much like an overcoat would go over a sportscoat.
Posted on Nov 23, 2001, 10:31 PM from IP address 152.163.197.192