MA-2 bomber jacket with the large front cargo pocketsMA-2 bomber jack with Raindance logo
The MA-2 bomber jacket (also known as the MA-2 flight jacket or CWU-45 flight jacket) is an advanced version derived of the original MA-1 bomber jacket that was originally designed for the American military during the 1950s. CWU stands for "Cold Weather Uniform."[1] The MA-2 is still being issued and used by the United States Navy and United States Air Force.[2]
The term MA-2 was a trademark of the Cobles Clothing Company,[3] adopted in the late 1980s when the CWU-45 military jacket started to gain popularity in street fashion. The term MA-2 has become so popular it is now used interchangeably with CWU-45 to represent this type of jacket.
There is also a lightweight version of this jacket, referred to as CWU-36.
Design
The MA-2 has several design changes compared to an MA-1:
Large cargo pockets sewn onto the front of the jacket rather than the small slash pockets on the MA-1 Jackets.
A fold-down collar rather than the elasticated collar of the MA-1
Usually not orange lining, usually the same colour as the outer nylon
A different design where the sleeves join the back to allow easier movement
The cut is somewhat shorter – the jacket sits high on the waist compared to the MA-1.
Genuine, military-issue CWU-45 and CWU-36 jackets (not the commercially available copies) are mostly made from the flame-resistant fabric Nomex, rather than the flammable fabrics used in earlier jackets.
Genuine, military-issue Nomex CWU-45 and CWU-36 jackets have slightly larger and higher pocket openings.
