Bulletproof jackets were originally developed to protect Royal Airforce members from German anti-aircraft shells during World War II. They were later adopted by ground soldiers and are now made of lighter materials like Kevlar.
A bulletproof jacket is a protective garment designed to be worn over the torso, keeping the delicate internal organs and ribcage safe on the battlefield. When well maintained, a bulletproof vest can protect the wearer from bullets, shrapnel, and other projectiles, except at very close range. An alternate spelling for the garment is black jacket, which is technically considered correct. Body armor has largely been superseded by light armor, but it played a huge role in warfare for part of the 20th century.
The garment was originally developed for members of the Royal Airforce by the Wilkinson Sword Company. The airmen risked serious injury and death by Fliegerabwehrkanone, exploding shells fired from German anti-aircraft guns operated by land-based military personnel. The shells were colloquially known as “anti-aircraft” and could cause severe damage to the unprotected torsos of pilots and crew, as well as their aircraft.
Many people are familiar with the slang term “take a lot of flak,” which is directly related to German shells. On nights of heavy bombardment, the flak could make flying virtually impossible and highly dangerous. The feeling of being overwhelmed by people from all sides firing shells transferred to the civilian world through many veterans. Unfortunately, a bulletproof vest has not yet been developed to protect you from metaphorical junk.
To address the problem of the literal flak, the Wilkinson Sword Company developed the flak jacket, a garment made of heavy material lined with metal plates. A bulletproof vest could also take the form of a bulletproof vest, leaving the arms free for better range of motion. The jackets turned out to be useful, but extremely bulky. Other Allied troops adopted bulletproof vests for their aircraft crews, and ground soldiers also wore them as protective clothing. Many soldiers were saved from death and serious injury by their bulletproof vests during World War II, along with the conflicts around the world afterward. For many nations, a bulletproof vest was standard issue for soldiers, along with other basic supplies.
Widespread adoption of Kevlar and lighter skid plate materials led to the production of strong but much lighter body armor. The term “bulletproof vest” is sometimes used to refer to modern body armor, which is made by a variety of companies. However, the steel plates and bulky materials of the old-fashioned flak jacket are not used on the modern battlefield, although many veterans kept their flak jackets to commemorate their experiences.
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