Objects Database

RAF Cold Weather Parka

Accession Number

1043.2013.1

Object Name

RAF Cold Weather Parka

Created

15/01/2013

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

15/01/2013

Brief Description

Large heavy padded parka with fur round hood edge. Cord drawstring with wooden toggles and a belt round middle with metal buckles. Zippered front plus 6 buttons and buttonholes. Two buttoned pockets on left and one on right.

Materials

ventile?,metal,wood,fur

Dimensions

90(l) x70(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

On label inside"SIZE 2 HEIGHT 5'0 TO 5'3 BREAST 36" TO 40" STORES REF. NO.22C/1234CONTRACT NO. 24362 SERIAL NO. 51015" and War dept. arrow
"BURGESS" handwritten in pen inside.

Colour

grey

Provenance

Bit of a rarity this fella and not something that you'd normally carry around in your rucksack because it is too big and heavy, though some of the RAF Mountain Rescue Team lads did back in the old days.
Not quite sure which model, as there seems to be lots of variations, but this is an RAF issue Cold Weather Parka from the 1960's, possibly a bit earlier. They were no doubt used for all kinds of RAF personel working in cold climates, but this particular one was used by the RAF Mountain Rescue Teams and it seems that a guy called Burgess was once the proud owner - it was later recycled/re-issued to Jim (Scooby) Paterson who kindly passed it on to us after keeping it in his loft for a few years.
It seems they were used for sedentary jobs and Scooby remembers having to guard a downed military aircraft high in the Scottish mountains one cold winter's night and the parka proved well up to the task - it was also handy for insulation under the sleeping bag when camping.
We think the outer shell is ventile but are not really sure. The fur around the hood could be natural though we are not sure about that either. We are sure that it's a fabulous old jacket and we're delighted to have it.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Jim (Scooby) Paterson

Acquisition Date

15/01/2013

Condition Check Date

15/01/2013

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

15/01/2013

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