In Stock SALE Ground Crew Jacket Navy Deck Wear N-1168 Alpaca Tear-Resistant Jungle Cloth Jacket

| WWII US Navy Cold Weather Jacket Timeline | 1. DECK ZIP (Early WWII: c. 1940/41-1942) System Classification: Early Deck Protection System Single Zipper Front Core Materials: Outer - Jungle Cloth, Lining - Wool Blanket Lining, Wool Ribbing Historical Context: An early, unrefined prototype serving as a transitional model from pre-war to early war. Its critical flaw was the tendency for the zipper to frost over and seize in the salty sea air and low temperatures, preventing sailors from quickly removing their jackets in emergencies. 2. DECK HOOK (Mid WWII: 1943-1944) System Classification: Deck Protection System Metal Hook & Clasp Closure Core Materials: Outer - Jungle Cloth, Lining - Light Wool Blanket Lining Historical Context: An improved model born from the zipper failures of the ZIP version. It replaced the opening mechanism with a more reliable hook and clasp, while largely retaining the previous generation's pattern and fabric. 3. N-1 DECK JACKET (Late Mid WWII: Late 1943-1945+) System Classification: N-1 Winter Combat System Dual Closure System (Zipper + Buttons) Core Materials: Outer - Jungle Cloth, Lining - Wool, Alpaca Historical Context: The first truly mature and standardized classic model. It became one of the US Navy's most successful winter garments, rectifying all the shortcomings of the previous two generations. The dual closure enhanced wind resistance and reliability, while the wool pile significantly boosted warmth. 4. NAF-1168 AVIATOR JACKET (Late WWII: Late 1944-1945) System Classification: Naval Aviation System Developing Unit: Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) Single Zipper Front + Internal Wind Flap Core Materials: Outer - Jungle Cloth, Lining - Wool Blanket Lining, Wool Ribbing Historical Context: A specialized cold-weather jacket for aviators and flight deck personnel, not intended to replace the N-1 but to coexist as a distinct model. It combined the advanced thermal materials of the N-1 (khaki cloth + wool) with the more flexible design of flight jackets (like the 37J1) – featuring a ribbed collar, shorter body, and greater range of motion. Its purpose was to provide superior shoulder mobility compared to the N-1 while maintaining warmth. The NAF-1168 is an exceptionally rare winter jacket from the late WWII period (1944-1945) within the US Naval Aviation system. Formally designated as the US Navy Flight & Ground Crew Jacket, it belonged to the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) system, rather than the traditional N-series deck wear. This model was primarily issued to flight and ground support personnel on aircraft carriers and naval air bases, for operations in high-intensity, low-temperature, and high-wind environments. Due to its extremely short production run and limited distribution, far fewer NAF-1168s survived post-war compared to the N-1, making it highly sought after in military uniform research and vintage clothing collection circles as one of the rarest naval winter garments. This RED TORNADO model references the FW version. Strictly speaking, this is a NAF-1168 in DECK ZIP Navy Blue. While they appear visually similar, there are significant differences: the DECK ZIP features a light wool blanket lining and no wind flap, in Navy Blue; the NAF-1168 uses an alpaca lining + wind flap and is Khaki colored. As this model was designed for the aviation system, and considering pilots needed to operate controls above them, it incorporates the gusseted underarms common in flight jackets for ease of arm movement. Therefore, our version recreates the NAF-1168 pattern using the classic Navy Blue of the Deck Zip. This piece retains the NAF-1168 silhouette – a relaxed, shorter cut. The outer fabric is a high-density Jungle Cloth. RED TORNADO's reproduction tear-resistant jungle cloth closely matches FW in both density and weave width. This was a widely-proven heavy cotton fabric during WWII, offering excellent wind resistance and durability. The lining is a thick blend of Alpaca and Wool, representing the premium thermal configuration for naval winter wear at the time. Compared to later synthetic fillings, alpaca and wool provided exceptional warmth even in cold and humid conditions. The cuffs are made of genuine wool ribbing, and the collar and hem feature wool with stretch fibers for comfort and wind protection. Custom-made military-grade zippers are used for the hardware, with meticulous attention to detail. We hope you'll find it to your liking. / Product Information / - FW-0014 - 100% Cotton - 70% Wool, 30% Alpaca - Navy Blue - Tear-resistant Jungle Cloth - Alpaca Lining - Genuine Leather Fur Collar Design - Boxer Pockets - Ribbed Cuffs - Custom KYNOCH Military Zipper - Brand Label - Handcrafted Single Piece Production / Washing & Care / - Gentle hand wash, wash separately, recommended to use a neutral detergent. - Do not use detergents containing bleach. / Size Recommendation / - Product measurements are taken flat. Manual measurements may have slight variations from the actual product dimensions due to fabric elasticity, washing treatments, and measurement starting/ending points, with a tolerance of ±2cm. - If you have questions regarding size selection, please feel free to message us for a recommended size.