Toys McCoy M-422A Intermediate Flight Jacket 'Heart of the Tiger' AVG TMJ2224, Goatskin, Mouton Collar, Size 40

Toys McCoy's Navy M-422A intermediate flying jacket in deep mahogany goatskin, decorated for the American Volunteer Group's 3rd Pursuit Squadron with the winged tiger and 'Heart of the Tiger' across the back.

The M-422A, first of the G-1 line

The Navy's leather intermediate flight jacket began with specification M-422 of March 1940 and its revision M-422A that October: chocolate goatskin, a mouton collar, a bi-swing back and flapped patch pockets. It is the direct ancestor of the G-1 that Navy and Marine aviators still wear, and early contract jackets of this pattern are among the most sought-after of all Navy flight jackets.

The Flying Tigers

The American Volunteer Group was raised in 1941 under Claire Chennault to defend China and the Burma Road, recruiting pilots from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps who resigned their commissions to fly P-40s. Its three squadrons first fought on 20 December 1941 and flew until the group was disbanded on 4 July 1942; the 3rd Pursuit Squadron took the name 'Hell's Angels'. The winged tiger badge, designed at the Walt Disney studio, became the emblem of the 'Flying Tigers', and period photographs show the volunteers in a mixture of Army and Navy flying jackets.

The Piece

This is a Toys McCoy reproduction, style TMJ2224, from the custom M-422A series that marked the model's return after a fifteen-year pause, with an original retail of ¥264,000. The woven label reads 'Jackets, Intermediate, BuAero U.S. Navy, Specification M-422A, Toys McCoy Mfg. Co., Contract No. NXs 416', size 40.

The left chest carries a leather-crafted 3rd Pursuit Squadron patch, a figure on a gold disc above 'AVG 3rd Pursuit Sqdn', and the back is painted with the AVG winged tiger leaping from a star beneath 'AVG Spirit' and above 'Heart of the Tiger'.

The shell is goatskin, vegetable-chrome combination tanned and dyed a mahogany so deep it reads nearly black, with a crimson lining, a brown mouton collar, maroon knits and a 1940s-style Talon zip. The bi-swing back gives real freedom through the shoulders, and the cut is close and short in the 1940s way.

Lightly worn and in clean condition; the knits are firm and the art is bright.

Details

• Maker: Toys McCoy Product Co., Ltd., Japan
• Model / ref: TMJ2224, M-422A 'Heart of the Tiger' (Flying Tigers custom)
• Label: Jackets, Intermediate · BuAero U.S. Navy · Spec. M-422A · Contract NXs 416
• Material: Goatskin, vegetable-chrome combination tanned; mouton collar; cotton-rayon lining
• Colour: Deep mahogany, near black; crimson lining
• Made in: Japan
• Tagged size: 40
• Measurements: Shoulder 46 cm · Chest (pit to pit) 49 cm · Sleeve 65 cm · Length 66 cm
• Included: Jacket only

Condition

• Lightly worn, clean
• Back art and chest patch bright
• Mouton collar full
• Knits firm; zip in good order

Condition grade A on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.

Authenticity & Care

The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Hang on a broad shoulder hanger, brush the mouton collar gently, and condition the goatskin sparingly while avoiding the painted back.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.

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