A Royal New Zealand Air Force flying jacket and sheepskin trousers with a Whanganui connection will be the focus of Whanganui Regional Museum’s next Outfit of the Month talk on Friday 7 August.

Presented by Kaihāpai Taonga | Curator, Fashion and Textiles, Stephanie Wood, the lunchtime talk will explore the history of a sheepskin and leather flying jacket worn by Pilot Officer Peter Brown, who survived a fatal crash when his De Havilland Vampire FB.52 aircraft went down near Tokomaru West Road, Brunswick, during a training flight from RNZAF Base Ohakea in November 1955. The accident claimed the life of the other pilot in a second aircraft.

The sheepskin trousers were worn by Whanganui resident, Flight Lieutenant Garry Ramsey Craig who was an air gunner during the Second World War.

While the Outfit of the Month series is usually associated with historic dresses and civilian fashion, Stephanie says this month’s outfit offers a fresh perspective on the stories clothing can tell.

“Most of our Outfit of the Month talks feature historical women’s fashion, so this one is a little unusual. This month’s outfit tells a story of innovation, aviation and survival. It opens a window onto New Zealand’s aviation history, its role in global conflicts and the lives of the people who wore this specialist clothing.”

As part of her research, Stephanie uncovered some intriguing stories behind the evolution of the iconic aviator jacket.

“One of the little gems I discovered was that the flying jacket was originally designed by Leslie Irvin, an American stuntman and parachute pioneer. In 1919, he became the first person to make a free-fall parachute jump from an aeroplane using a parachute with a rip-cord system that he had invented. It’s remarkable how innovations like these shaped the clothing pilots relied on.”

The talk will trace the development of the aviator jacket from its military origins through to its lasting influence on fashion, Whanganui’s place in New Zealand’s aviation history, and both Peter Brown’s and Garry Craig’s flying careers.

Stephanie believes the topic has the potential to attract audiences beyond the Museum’s regular fashion enthusiasts.

“The Outfit of the Month talks are often associated with beautiful dresses, but clothing has many stories to tell. There will be plenty to discover for those who enjoy our regular fashion talks, but I also hope this talk will appeal to people interested in aviation, military history and local stories. It’s a chance to look at these garments from a completely different perspective.”

The flying jacket was donated to the Museum by Ian Moore in 2008. The flying trousers were also generously donated in 2008 by Garry Craig’s family member, Helen Craig. Together they preserve an important story from Whanganui’s aviation history.

The Outfit of the Month talk begins at 12.15pm on Friday 7 August at Whanganui Regional Museum. Admission is free, and the flying jacket and trousers will remain on display throughout August.