my dad said that NOBODY but a "real turkey" would wear a "new-looking" flight jacket.
he said that SOME "newbies" of the USAAF were known to "drag a new leather jacket behind a jeep", so that it would look "worn"!
furthermore, that sort of thing was NOT confined to the USAAF, as my uncle, PO3 Wayne Thomas Bankhead USN, Acting Chief of the "Champion", said that "officers & pinstripers" INTENTIONALLY "bathed" their gold hat bands in strong BRINE, so that they would tarnish & look "experienced".
fyi, my dad let me "play in" his jacket until i wore it out. (PITY!)
free dixie,sw