The Tankers Jacket was initially designated in February of ’41 by the United States Army Quartermaster as the JACKET, WINTER, COMBAT, P.Q.D. Spec. No. 26; before later being reissued in an updated Spec (26A) in 1942, which saw the refinement of the pocket design from a large patch to a cotton-lined slash on the body and improvements to the wind-flap design. 

Constructed of a simple chino cloth exterior, avoiding unnecessary ornament that could catch or snag in confined spaces and benefitting from an ‘action back’, utilizing side pleats for exceptional moveability, the jacket was intended as part of a foul-weather suit comprising a matching helmet and bib-front trousers. It was particularly effective in the Armoured division, giving it the ’Tank’ moniker but was utilized by all troops, and senior generals such as Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley were photographed wearing it. 

It would be requisitioned by the USAAF for Pilots of Fighter Aircraft that were too cramped for the bulky clothing in use at the time, with it providing a better combination of comfort, warmth and pliancy than the leather A-2 for many Fighter Pilots. 

The JACKET, WINTER, COMBAT provided the basis for many civilian jackets designed through the 50s and 60s. Its thick wool melton-lined interior and wool-ribbed cuffs and hem provide effective insulation without introducing excessive bulk or weight. 

This 2022 edition of the JACKET, WINTER, COMBAT from REAL MCCOY MFG.CO employs a new pattern accurately reflecting the relaxed body proportions of those worn in the 1940s. The use of felled seams and bespoke bell-shaped zipper make this jacket unparalleled in the market today. 

• Cotton Twill Outer Shell
• Wool Melton Lining
• Wool Ribbing
• 40s Bell-Shaped Front Zipper, Nickle Finish, Cotton Tape
• Cotton Sewing Thread Construction
• Made in Japan