Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Named to Lieutenant J.A. Merkel who served as a U.S Naval Aviator Attack Squadron Pilot during the Vietnam War. This wonderful condition leather G-1 flight jacket with fur collar is in size 42” and has an incredible 16 original Vietnam War era patched that are as follows:

- Pilot Wing badge that reads: J.A. MERKLE LT. USN
- VIET NAM 1966
- Attack Squadron 35 VA-35 "Black Panthers"
- Attack Squadron 95 "Skyknights"
- VT-30 (Navy Training Squadron 30)
- Carrier Air Wing Eight
- Traron One VT-1 Aviation Training Squadron Patch
- Carrier Air Group 3
- USS INTREPID CVS-II
- Carrier Air Wing 10
- U.S.S. Saratoga
- Far East Cruise 1966 - USS Intrepid CVS II
- Training Squadron Three (VT-3)
- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
- VT-5 Traron Five Tigers
- La Colmiane

The interior of the jacket is embroidered J.A. MERKLE. Jacket is in very good condition and certainly can be worn, functional zipper, pliable leather and elastic cuffs and waistband. Patched jackets from USN aviators in the Vietnam era have become desirable collector's pieces over the past decade and will certainly only appreciate in value over time. This example is the very best we've ever seen with an incredible 16 patches!

The "G-1" military flight jacket is the commonly accepted name for the fur-lined-collar World War II-era flight jacket of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The G-1 remains a current uniform-issue item in naval aviation for officer and enlisted aviation personnel on flying status in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard (i.e., Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, Naval Flight Surgeon, Naval Aircrewman, etc.) and is arguably best known as the leather flight jacket as worn by Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun.