38Driver Posted May 23, 2017 Share #1 Posted May 23, 2017 Funny how things work but the following was nothing but a happy accident after a simple question. I was trolling eBay looking for bits for my USAAF aircrew and came across a listing for some Aussie made Bedggood Flying Boots. The seller was local to me so it caught my eye. I almost talked myself out of them as I have a black pair, but the price was right and these were in good shape. They were popular with USAAF aircrew in the PTO and they look like RAF pattern 1936 boots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted May 23, 2017 On a whim, I messaged the seller and asked if he knew any background on the boots. All he had was a last name. Thankfully it was an uncommon name and within about 5 minutes I found an obituary that matched. Turns out the guy who owned the boots had passed away in 2007. A bit more digging on Ancestry turned up more info along with two photos of him in service, one at the beginning of his time and the other at the end of the war. A bit more digging turned up that he'd been a bombardier with the 71st BS, 38th BG, 5th AF, joining them in November 42. This of course puts him in the thick of it in the fights over Rabaul and up the coast of New Guinea. A bit more digging and an image of his crew turns up. For a history nut like me, this is gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted May 23, 2017 Just for fun, I pass this info on to the seller. He then tells me he has the Jeep Jacket, WW2 officer tunic and a postwar USAF tunic belonging to the same guy. He understands I want to keep the stuff together while I chase the story, and makes a good deal with me to have them. So a impulse buy and a last minute question turned into a great history project and I get to preserve the guys stuff as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Finn Posted May 23, 2017 Share #4 Posted May 23, 2017 Have never seen the brown boots; had a pair of black ones that belonged to the top turret gunner on "Mitch the Witch", which I passed on to my son. BTW, love stories like this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted May 23, 2017 Share #5 Posted May 23, 2017 Great story and very nice that the seller would work with you on the other items. ...Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul kennedy Posted May 23, 2017 Share #6 Posted May 23, 2017 What a great find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon_ib Posted May 23, 2017 Share #7 Posted May 23, 2017 Great story and fine, glad to see the grouping is in good hands. Evan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Watkins Posted May 23, 2017 Share #8 Posted May 23, 2017 I love happy endings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted May 23, 2017 Share #9 Posted May 23, 2017 Great story 38 and a great find. Love those boots! Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted May 24, 2017 Share #10 Posted May 24, 2017 Great catch. That is one interesting last name. The boots certainly won't be lonely now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDogMilitaria Posted May 24, 2017 Share #11 Posted May 24, 2017 Outstanding! Sometimes the simple question of "is there anything else?" can yield some great things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted May 24, 2017 Share #12 Posted May 24, 2017 Well done! I love reading stories like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted May 24, 2017 Share #13 Posted May 24, 2017 Great work on the research and group group of items. Very cool when things come together like that! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted May 25, 2017 Author Share #14 Posted May 25, 2017 Thanks for the comments. Hopefully I'll be able to fill in more of the story as time goes by. My wife commented that I had that sound in my voice that I get when a history project takes hold, so I guess it shows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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