US Wings in the Movies
With Hack's dedication to military authenticity, the product supplied by US Wings, Inc. is respected in military and movie circles. US Wings jackets have also gained fame through the art of Ron Kaplan. US Wings jackets painted by Kaplan have been presented to famous test pilot General Chuck Yeager, and General Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay.
The authenticity of these jackets was also noted by the movie industry. US Wings has supplied jackets to HBO for films about the Flying Tigers and the Red Tails, known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
The Tuskegee Airmen have recently come into the spotlight after a long struggle with anonymity. To celebrate the courage and victories of the Red Tails, Angela Williams and Peggy Darlington of Darlington & Williams Co. have recently created a jacket and colorful patches of the four Red Tail squadron. Angela Williams is the daughter of the late Robert Williams, co-executive producer of the film, an original Tuskegee Airman, and friend of Sgt. Hack. Darlingon stated,
"I've known Bob for over six years and every time I hear his stories I am inspired all over again. Looking over his WWII photographs and memorabilia, Angela and I decided right away that we wanted to put together an authentic replica of the leather jackets the pilots had worn. Until now, the story of these heroes of the Second World War has not been adequately celebrated. We have included some of the original squadron patches of the 332d fighter group as well as new commemorative patches. There's a wealth of history here and our jackets help tell part of the story."
Williams added, "We both felt strongly that the jackets should be authentic. US Wings, Inc. was by far the best source we found for quality A-2 jackets made in America."
Besides the A-2, US Wings has also supplied G-1s, CWU-45Ps, khakis, custom flight jackets and other apparel for various TV series, big-screen movies and plays, including "The 6th Day," "Behind Enemy Lines," "Dogs of War," "Amelia's Journey," "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," and the hit Fox TV show "24."
US Wings: Made In The USA
US Wings is proud to offer our American-made Signature Series™ line of flight jackets, made right here in the USA in our New Jersey manufacturing facility. All Signature Series™ jackets are hand-cut, hand-sewn and hand-inspected by highly skilled craftspeople who take great pride in producing quality American-made garments. With imported flight jackets so ubiquitous, it's getting harder to find genuine USA-made "bomber" jackets nowadays. But rest assured, every jacket in our Signature Series™ collection is made in America by Americans. And when you choose to wear a US Wings Signature Series™ jacket over an import, you'll feel good about wearing a quality garment that was handcrafted in the USA from the highest quality materials. Check out these photos of the some of the talented craftspeople who work in our US Wings New Jersey manufacturing facility.
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"Hello! Over." Those are likely to be the first words you hear from Sgt. David Hack. Once a military man, always a military man, deep down into the ethical and moral fiber. To know him is to know honesty, integrity and honor.
Through the years, the Sarge has continued close military ties. He serves in many organizations and military boards, including the VFW, the National Coalition of the Veterans of the Vietnam War, and was one of the four members of the Military Coalition for then-President George H.W. Bush (along with Col. Bud Day, Maj. Gen. Jim Dosher, and Jack Terberville). And, after 5 years of effort, he was responsible for the commemorative Audie Murphy postage stamp, which was released in 2000.
Sarge is a descendent and member of the Royal Ffrench Family of Ireland. The family goes back to John LE Ffrench in 1278, who was originally Norman. The name was de Freynes -- from the latin "fraxinus" (ash tree). The ancestor of the Ffrench family went from France to England with William the Conqueror in the person of Theophilus de Franch, then eventually back to Ireland. Ffrench was one of the most prominent Tribes of Galway and settled in County Wexford, Ireland. Ffrench Castle was built in the year 1400 AD and re-built in 1683 after a major battle and fire that took place in Galway. A member of the Ffrench Family became Sovereign of Galway in 1444 (Sovereign = a person exercising supreme authority; i.e., a Monarch). James French, Born in Galway County, Ireland circa 1650 (and who spelled his name French), came to America in 1671 and settled in Maryland. In 1785, a group of sixty Catholic families, mostly St. Mary's Parish, formed a pact to migrate to Kentucky from Maryland. The first group of twenty-five families left Maryland in early 1785 and included the family of Ignatus French. In 1911 Viola A. Ffrench of Sunfish Kentucky, the direct descendent of the Royal Ffrench Family of Ireland, was born. The Hire in the United States and of the Royal Family is US Wings CEO David D. Hack, son of Viola Ffrench. In Ireland, even to this day, the family name is spelled "Ffrench" or "ffrench," and there is still a Lord and Lady Ffrench living at Castle Ffrench, at Ballinamore Bridge in County Galway. At the Castle Ffrench are the ruins of the tower which was erected by Joseph Ffrench in 1683. The Dolphin at the top of the Ffrench Family Crest was said to be an affectionate fish and fond of music. It was the crest of the Dauphin or heir to the throne of France, who is said to have taken his title from his Cognisance. The dolphin is said to be an example of charity and kind affection toward our children. The words "Malo Mori Quam Foedari" translate to "I would rather die than be disgraced."
Men shrug on the A2 flight jacket and in an instant they're suave, debonair, authoritative. Women slip on supple leather and they're svelte, sassy, chic. Why? Because they're wearing a piece of history. In the air, on a motorcycle, at a racetrack or doing the downtown thing—the A2 bomber jacket is probably the most recognizable jacket in the history of the United States.
