Inspiration for Indiana Jones’ Leather Jacket/Khakis

THE QATSPY® Quapaw Aviation Tactical Sportswear Performance Yukon Outfitter Company

THE QATSPY® Flight Operation Center Collection

By: Charles W. Boatright

We carry the authentic A-2 and G-1 U.S. Military Leather Flight Jackets that we supply to the U.S. Military. They are as tough as they have that charisma look for both men and women. Ladies, we have the same A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that was supplied to the WASP back in World War II. This was taken at Walt Disney World during the production of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular where the actor is sporting the Indiana Jones outfit.

Inspiration for Indiana Jones’ Leather Jacket/Khakis– Was the 1931 A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that was Worn by the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII

If there is one thing that draws audiences to the Indiana Jones Movies more than the suspense-filled, archeological adventures searching for historical artifacts and escaping danger, it is Indy’s classic outfit. We all know Indiana Jones’ iconic outfit that consisted of The leather jacket, fedora, and khakis Chino pants/shirt and bullwhip. The 1890’s and 1930’s brought us some of the most enduring and most iconic classics that actually defined fashions, even in today’s standards.

Indiana Jones’ outfit was well established in military tradition and history that endures as classic icons that has defined fashions, that has even endures today as a fashion standard. You can’t go wrong wearing the classic khaki chino pants, button-down Oxford shirt, and the classic itself, The A-2 Leather Flight Jacket, with that fedora to top off your attire. Of course, the tie is always optional, based on your situation. I can’t agree more with the Late Coach Mike Leach’s (The Pirate) assessment with neck ties; ‘They should have gone the way of the powdered wigs.’

This was taken in late November, in front of the Mississippi Center for Plastic Surgery in Ridgeland, Mississippi, (200 West Jackson Street PH No. (769) 300-4055) where I had a follow-up appointment to check a spot that was surgically removed earlier that month in their offices by Dr. David Steckler. The spot was benign which was great news to hear. The best fashion statement that you can make in regards to our health and fitness is your skin. Following a healthy diet based on WHAT and WHEN to eat and routine exercises especially if you are 65 years old as I am, is essential. I depend on having healthy skin to be able to model at age 65. Diet, Exercise, and healthy lifestyle can help you to have healthy age-defying skin.

Let’s Look at Indy’s Classic Khaki Chino Pants

The Term Khakis Description Origin

Khaki describes the color of the fabric and not the cotton fabric that came from China. Khaki was derived from a Hindu word that means soil-colored or sand color. The first military corps that influenced the need for a camouflage color, that later became the term khaki, was in 1846 in India. British-Indian Army still wore the red wool coats with white trousers that hearkens back to General Cromwell era that made it a perfect target in skirmishes.

With the advent of two developments made it essential for wearing camouflage instead of red wool coats and white trousers. The first development was rifling, or groves in barrels developed in 1520, that improved infantry’s accuracy over longer distances. The second development was smokeless gunpowder that was developed in 1884. Black powder caused the fog of war to envelop the battle field from rifles and canon fire that obscured the view of the battle field.

An unit commander, Henry Lumsden, that lead the Corps of Guides, in 1846, noticed how their Indian infantrymen wore cotton trousers that they were dyed their uniforms with a mixture of tea and native soil that allowed their uniforms to blend in with their surroundings. The color of this dye mixture was described by the Hindu word ‘Khaki’. In 1848, the khaki color uniforms became the standard issue uniform of the British and later of the U.S. Military leading up to the Spanish-American War in 1989.

The Hindu word ‘khaki’ became synonymous that was first used in the middle 1800’s established the fashion standard for the classic khaki pants. Coupled the khaki pants with a button-down oxford shirt that I’m wearing in the above photograph, you are ready for business and/or for leisure wear.

 

The Majority of what Indiana Jones wore was heavily influenced by both the British and U.S Militaries dating back to the 1890’s with the khakis and to the 1930’s with the iconic leather jacket. We can’t even imagine Indiana Jones without his leather jacket, fedora, and khaki Chino pants. Now for the word Chinos when and where was that term from.

The Chino was the Origin of where the Fabric was from

During the Spanish-American War, the American solders referred to their khakis pants as ‘Chino’ because of where the fabric was from, China. Thus the name Chino stuck for describing khaki as Khaki Chino pants that is a major part of my wardrobe, as well.

You can dress either up or down by wearing the very same button-down Oxford shirt and khaki Chino pants for almost any and all occasions. You NEVER have to be concerned if your khaki Chino pants will clash with your shirt or jacket you’re wearing. Button-down Oxford Shirt and Khaki Chinos and The A-2 Leather Flight Jacket, that I’m wearing, are a safe bet to have in your wardrobe for any/all occasions, except in the instance of a black tie and tux occasion.

The Indy-Style Leather Jacket Origin

Nothing defines Indiana Jones more than his leather jacket, with a close second being his khakis and his fedora. The leather jacket that is Indy’s signature part of his outfit was based on the 1931 A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that we are wearing in the featured image and in the photographs above. These are part of our Flight Operations Center Collection along with the khakis chino pants, fedora and button-down Oxford Shirt.

The A-2 Leather Flight Jacket was submitted to the U.S. Army Air Corps to replace the A-1 Leather Flight Jacket on June 09th, 1931. The A-2 Leather Flight Jacket identified the charisma and the exploits of the U.S. Pilots and Aviators during World War II in their cockpits and walking across the tarmac. The A-2 Leather Flight Jacket was what inspirited the Indy-Style Leather Jacket that also reflects that same character and charisma of those pilots and aviators had while flying their sorties.

Photograph of the Tuskegee (Red Tail) Airmen during their training with the P-40 Warhawk that they later flew the P-51(D) Mustang in combat in Europe flying bomber escorts and bombing missions.

The Originals A-2 Leather Flight Jacket That Virtually Hasn’t Changed since its Introduction in 1931

The A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that was first supplied to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1931 has virtually not changed since its introduction in June of 1931.

The durability of The Indy’s ensemble of leather jacket, fedora, and khaki chino pants/shirt gave him the ability to crisscross continents in his exploits and were what endeared Indiana Jones’ character to us in 1981. Indy’s character style hearkens back to the classic era of the Greatest Generation and their bravery that was defined by their charisma that achieved nothing short of saving humanity from tyranny and oppression.

The Leather Jackets, fedora, khaki chino pants, flight suit, gloves, and the all important aviators sunglasses are all part of our Flight Operations Center Collection that captures that same charisma of the Indiana Jones character and of the Greatest Generation’s pilots, aviators, and airborne units that worn the A-2 and G-1 Leather Flight Jackets in the cockpit:

THE QATSPY® carries aviators gloves, sunglasses, khakis pants, and both the Indiana Jones-style and the both the U.S. issued A-2 and G-1 Leather Flight Jackets. The one I’m wearing is my A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that includes my 101st Airborne patch when I was in the 326th Combat Engineers attached to the 101st. My call sign was JACKHAMMER because it seemed like I was always on the jackhammer. Demolition was one of my specialties!

The THE QATSPY® A-2 Leather Flight Jacket is so versatile that I even wear it riding my INDIAN Scout Bobber 60 Motorcycle to and from the hangar and it also serves as my Sports Jacket for all occasions.

My US WINGS A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that is so versatile that I even wear it riding my INDIAN Scout Motorcycle to and from the hangar. I’m a big Coach Mike Leach fan that tragically pass away on Monday, December 12th, 2022. He was one that developed the Air Raid Offense with Coach Hal Mummy. The Air Raid Offense is now being used at the high school, college, and professional level. This is why I wear my Mississippi State University Bulldog cap. The MSU Bulldogs also won the 2021 NCAA College Baseball World Series. One of the most enjoyable experience I had witness.

Indiana Jones’ Side Arm

Webley MK-VI Revolver Pistol that cambered the 0.455 Caliber round. Source of illustration Wikipedia.org

My preference, however, is the Moses Browning’s design Model-1911 Springfield Caliber 0.38 Supper ACP Automatic COLT Pistol. The Model-1911 has been a standards in the U.S. Army since it was introduced.

This is a Model 1911 based on the Moses Brown Design 0.38 Super Caliber ACP. Little has changed from the original design where we celebrated 100 years in 2011 since it was introduced.