The Great Escape Photo Album
 

Definitly one of the best~ 165 pictures http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057115/mediaindex Each one enlarges~~ Eric~

I always wanted to see an extreme close-up of Steve McQueen's A-2 jacket to see the name strip and who it belonged to originally. It is an authentic, issue jacket and the nameplate looks original as well. I doubt the studio would add a "V. Hilts" nameplate, since nobody would ever actually read it on screen.

I also wonder where the jacket is today. (It is NOT the jacket Frank Sinatra later wore in Von Ryan's Express, as many people claim. Anybody who has collected these jackets as I have would know they are completely different garments).

Do we know what motorcycle was used and where it is today?

I think I found it! http://www.mcqueenonline.com/thegreatescapetriumph.htm

I refound the motorcycle chase scene~~~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zwW7iWinrk

It was indeed a Triumph, dressed up to look loosely like a wartime German Zundap.

Just came across this article on this bike~ http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/...-great-escape/

Was this simular? This has a "USN" on the colar~

Eric,
At best, only similar. You have a WW2 vintage Navy M422 Deck/Flight jacket, which was made of goatskin and featured a mouton collar. Steve McQueen wore a standard issue A-2 Army Air Corps issue jacket. From what I am able to deduce, the jacket is a 1942 pattern, based on the cut of pockets, collar and epaulets. It is made of horse hide. The jacket looks very much like the coats put out by the Roughwear Clothing Company. One point of observation is that there were discolorations at each shoulder, indicating that the jacket once had either Lieutenants, Captains or other rank insignia on them, which were removed for the movie. Here is a decent closeup from the website you posted.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm39283929...i_mi_all_sf_11

Thanks Doug you can certainly see the difference. This must have ben made for warmer climates. The lining bears this out!

The Steve McQueen estste auction~ http://www.mcqueenonline.com/stevemc...ateauction.htm