The B-3 Bomber Jacket: An American Icon

As the Allied crews of WWII flew punishing 8-9 hour missions over Europe, it was essential to retain body heat in the cold, unpressurized cabins at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet.

It was during this era that sheepskin made its fateful appearance and the B-3 Bomber Jacket earned its place in aviation history. No man-made material could master such inhospitable temperatures over a sustained period and allow the crewmen to perform their critical duties.

The crimp of sheep's wool creates insulating air spaces, naturally both retaining heat and wicking away excess moisture. This protection and comfort was essential to bomber crews, who relied on their B-3 bomber jackets as much for their soft and insulating interiors as much as their rugged and tough exteriors. Even today, high-tech synthetic fibers struggle to provide the same incredible warmth and soft-as-butter comfort that sheepskin jackets naturally offer.

The B-3 Bomber Jacket perfectly reflects that ethos of bravery and determination that saw the United States help liberate an entire continent. Whether through high altitudes, wet snow, strong winds, light rains or blizzard conditions, the high-quality heft of the B-3's sheepskin insulates the wearer from heat loss in a wide range of high-impact activities as well as during cool, leisurely days.