The MA-1 bomber or flight jacket is a US military jacket which was developed in the 1950s. The MA-1 and its predecessors, the B-15 & L2(A) flight jackets, were originally developed  because of the emergence of jet aircraft. The ability of the jets to fly at much higher altitudes and in much colder temperatures than the previous propeller aircraft & that the jet aircraft cockpits were cramped & filled with new equipment created new requirements for pilot performance, safety, and comfort.

The design of the B-15 had many features, such as a pen pocket on the arm, diagonal slash pockets, and a place to clip on the oxygen mask. The B-15 also had a mouton wool collar which was a design carried over from the earlier B-10 bomber jacket but could interfere with cockpit straps. These jackets was made from nylon which had been discovered prior to World War II but it was not used in flight clothing until after the war.

The L2A - Air Force Blue coloured - jacket arrived during the Korean War but it quickly became clear that if a pilot was stranded in enemy territory had a much better chance of making it home if they were in olive drab colours, like the B-15 they were made from nylon with wool knit collars, cuffs, and waist. The shoulders featured snap down epaulets and the left sleeve had a zip pocket & pen holders.

The MA-1 was designed by the United States Air Force as an intermediate weight flight jacket for use all year. This was accomplished by manufacturing the MA-1 from very high quality nylon without the wool collar or the snap down epaulets on the shoulders,

The first MA-1 jackets were issued to US Air Force and US Navy pilots and flight crews. Small numbers were also issued to US Army flight personnel.

Changes to the jacket were made by the Air Force due to the introduction of new materials, new sewing techniques or new aircraft cockpit design. The military specification was amended to reflect the changes by adding a letter to the Military Specification. E.G  MA-1 specifications progressed from Mil-J-8279 to J-8279A through to J-8279AG. 

In J-8279D version from about 1960  the MA-1 jacket was made reversible and added a bright Indian Orange lining. If the airplane crash landed and the pilot escaped, he could reverse the jacket to the orange side for a highly visible signal for rescue.

The final revisions were for ground crew only as fire-resistant CWU-36/P and CWU-45/P were issued to aircrew.

MA-1 Jacket Features

• MA-1 utility pocket on sleeve (Cigarette Pocket)

• Sleeve shirring

• Two lower slash pockets 

• Two interior welt pockets

• Knit rib collar, cuffs and waistband

• Knit cuffs

• Water Resistant

• Reversible (orange)

Each MA-1 jacket requires 57 separate sewing operations. These operations are highly engineered and each has a distinct quality purpose. The utility pocket, originally called the cigarette pocket, involves 8 sewing operations.

The MA-1 remained in service until the 1980s, this has not stopped them from being adopted by most subculture since with punks, mods and skinheads.

The adoption of the MA-2 flight jacket was to remove the fire risk of the nylon. The  MA-2 is made of Nomex fabric from which is flame, chemical retardant also offering some protection from radiation. Other than the weights of the jackets they have cargo pockets and the new rounded collar than the MA1. 

The MA-2 is still the active duty flight jacket for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.