Pictures of World War 1 Vintage Pilots Flight Suit (Coveralls) Made by Gordon & Ferguson, St. Paul. WW1 

  Full View of the Gordon and Ferguson Aero Vintage Flight Suit Showing Fur Lining 

8-17-2009
Dear Diane, Yes, they have value. The US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker is interested in them. I think the fur is supposed to be Chinese Nuchwang dog. By 1918, some 50000 fur-lined flying suits were produced. Steve should be able to help you. Sincerely, Luther QM Museum

From the Webmaster, Now I'm finding that the top value of this Flying Suit has been steadily going up.  The last evaluation has been 3000.  My guess, with all of the information that we have collected on this flying suit history, is that it will go up much higher.  Jeff Dyrek

Their business was established by Richard Gordon on April 1st, 1817 at 132 Third Street and they had a steady growth rate to date.  Paul R. Ferguson entered into the partnership in July of 1873. 

Gordon & Ferguson flight suits were worn by famous aviators like Admiral Richard E. Byrd on his first expedition to Antarctica in 1928.  Their fur lined flight suits were also manufactured for light apparel for open cockpit biplanes and was selected by Minnesota native Charles Lindbergh which he wore when flying "The Spirit of St. Louis" on the first solo non-stop flight from the United States to Paris.  His suit was proudly bearing the Gordon & Ferguson Label. 

Moving on into World War 2, dozens of companies used to make jackets for the Air Force and Navy, including companies such as Aero Leather, Air Comfort, Cagleco Sportswear, Edmund Church, Osterman, Perry Sportswear and Rough Wear Clothing. The Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics news Letter for April 1st 1941 list contracts to Gordon & Ferguson Company, St. Paul, Minnesota for "flight jackets, Aviators', Leather, intermediate," and also Wills & Geiger of New York City.

After the war there was a big market in Japan for flight jackets worn by American pilots in World War 2.  These were worth a lot more if it was worn in combat.  If it had good markings on it such as squadron insignia, it could go for as much a 3000 USD.

Famous pilots like retired Air Force General, Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the B-29 Superfortress, Enola Gay, used one of these flight jackets, but not on day of the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. 

The entire story of the Gordon & Ferguson company can be found at this link about the Gordon & Furguson company, a brief History.

  A JN4 Jenny open cockpit biplane which the pilot wore flight suits like the
Gordon & Ferguson Aero type. 

  Another View of the Gordon &
  Ferguson Vintage Pilots Flight Suite from 1918 

   A Close-up View of the WW1 Flight Suit by Gordon & Ferguson  

 A photo of the sleeve showing the only wear on this very preserved vintage flight suit  

  Inside the Pants Led of the Gordon & Ferguson  
  Aero Flight Suit 

Some links about the Chinese Nuchwang Dog

500,000 dog pelts were bought by the American Air Service before the Armistice of WW1    With aircraft soon reaching altitudes of 18,000 feet, only twelve years after the Wright Brothers made their first flight, pilots were experiencing frostbite.  Better flight suits were being sought after and developed.