Manufacturer
Aviators Equipment Corp.
U.S. Navy flight jacket
ca. 1963
Place madeUnited States
Nylon, polyester
Overall: 27 x 44 in. (68.6 x 111.8 cm)
Gift of John Castro
2011.14
John Castro wore this jacket during the 1960s when he was a reservist, or "weekend warrior," with the U.S. Naval Air Reserve at Floyd Bennett Naval Air Station in Brooklyn from 1963 to 1970. He used it during winter training flights. The emblem sewn onto the jacket (at right breast), representing Castro's search and attack squadron, depicts a serpent coiled around the Empire State Building, holding a trident with a submarine in its blades. As a Naval Reserve petty officer, Castro served as a crew member on a S2F search aircraft. Castro's jacket is a reminder of New Yorkers' military preparedness during the Cold War era.
DescriptionSize 38 army green zip-front nylon jacket with two snap-closure pockets at chest and one on left sleeve; elastic waistband. Squadron emblem sewn at right breast: serpent coiled around top of Empire State Building, holding a trident with a submarine in its blades; "VS 835" at bottom.ClassificationsMILITARY TOOLS & EQUIPMENT: UNIFORM
