joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Share #1 Posted April 8, 2013 Hello Sirs. I received a call today from a guy who works for a company that cleans out garages, attics, etc. He had these items and a few other pieces of militaria. He told me that he was going to throw the items in the dumpster if I didn't want them. Gracious! I can't find any info on either Mickey Finn or William Anthony Finn. I'm not sure if these two guys are the same and "Mickey" is a nickname or they are two relatives. There is paperwork for VA 195 and Attack Squadron 163. Numerous maps of VN and assorted paperwork. I am not very familiar with aviation gear so any info would be greatly appreciated. Best, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted April 8, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted April 8, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted April 8, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellumbill Posted April 8, 2013 Share #5 Posted April 8, 2013 Here's a start - USS Bonhomme Richard, 1962 VA-195 pilots http://a4skyhawk.org/?q=3e/va195/va195-pilots62.htm 2nd from the left, 3rd row. Best, Bill K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted April 8, 2013 Share #6 Posted April 8, 2013 HOLY MACARONI ! I don't collect this gear, but even I know what a great find this is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted April 8, 2013 Share #7 Posted April 8, 2013 IN THE TRASH??? Holy cow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrei Posted April 8, 2013 Share #8 Posted April 8, 2013 Lucky you ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoastaero Posted April 8, 2013 Share #9 Posted April 8, 2013 Really nice find!! VA-195 Dambunters operated the A-4C Skyhawk from 1964-1968 on four Vietnam War cruises aboard the Bon Homme Richard and Ticonderoga. VA-163 Saints operated the A-4E Skyhawk from 1965-1969 on four Vietnam War cruises aboard the Oriskany and Hancock. The MA-2 torso parachute harness has upper Koch riser fittings and Rocket Jet lower lap belt fittings. Has an added webbing on the right shoulder for the SDU-5/E strobe light. The anti-g suit is a cutaway Z-3. Survival vest could be a rigger made vest or modified SV-1 vest or SL-1 survival leggings modified into a vest. The cushion with a slot in the center is probably for a seat parachute assy.? The flight helmet is a modified APH-6A with a M-6A/UR microphone element on a fixed boom (not break away boom) on the right side. The helmet markings are probably from VA-163 Saints, but flown in the Grumman US-2B aircraft because of the added boom microphone and MS-22001 oxygen mask with the MC-3A connector on the end of the hose. The other oxygen mask has a miniregulator between the low and high pressure hoses and would probably be for the A-4C Skyhawk aircraft. The clipboards are the unlighted Mark 2A and the lighted (missing light) MXU-5/P. The small bag is known as a Nav Bag and is used to hold checklists, charts, navigation instruments, flashlight, etc. I will do some more research on the US-2B acft. to find out the squadron. The book Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club by Rene J. Francillon is a great reference book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted April 8, 2013 Share #10 Posted April 8, 2013 WOW! What a great save from the dumpster!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capa Posted April 8, 2013 Share #11 Posted April 8, 2013 History like this does NOT belong in a dumpster. Please pass on our collective kudos to the gentleman who alerted you to this. I'd buy him a beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted April 8, 2013 Share #12 Posted April 8, 2013 Staggering!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted April 8, 2013 Thank you all very much for the positive comments. Bill/Nothcoast..thank you both very much for the information. You both answered everything I could want to know and more. To top all of this off, the call about these items came from a young guy that I had never even met before. He replied to an ad that I have out looking for militaria. I did pay him for the items as it was the right thing to do...plus in all honesty I want him to call me again if/when he finds more military items. He said that he throws items away regularly. I actually thought that the dates on the one harnes said 1980. When I got home I looked through the paperwork and quickly realized that it was all VN era. Upon closer inspection the date is 1960. Again Sirs..thank you very much. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted April 8, 2013 Share #14 Posted April 8, 2013 He was on the Bon Homme Richard in '63. (There is a photo of him on ancestry as a Lt.). I don't have the time to do much searching right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History Man Posted April 8, 2013 Share #15 Posted April 8, 2013 Great group, I especially like that flight helmet! Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoastaero Posted April 8, 2013 Share #16 Posted April 8, 2013 The harness may be dated 1966? The Koch upper fittings came into use in 1963-64 and were modified to earlier harnesses. The flight gear is probably from the VA-163 Saints 1966 USS Oriskany cruise and modified for use with the Grumman US-2B aircraft at the same time or later. The US-2B probably belonged to a VC- (composite) squadron or VRC- [Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) squadron]. Items that seem to be missing are the MK-3C life preserver with yellow bladders, brown safety toe flight boots, B-3A tan/yellow or gray flight gloves, survival vest contents, and flightsuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROC Posted April 8, 2013 Share #17 Posted April 8, 2013 Hi Rob, Very nice grouping, congrat, William A Flinn, is not listed in the USS Oriskany cruisebooks, but that doesn't means that he didn't toured with this unit, it's only means that he left the unit when the cruisebook was prepared, and as you know during this cruise USS oriskany lost many sailors and naval aviators during terrible 26 october 1966 fire (four VA 163 pilots died in the fire). After a quick look, he was promoted Lcdr on 1 april 1966 (before the cruise start), but changed his duty from naval aviator (131x) to Aeronautical Engineering duty (151x) and this duty modification should be the key to understand why you have papers from other airplanes. Let me know by PM if you need his birth date, serial number and NSN for any futher investigation you would do to NARA. Best Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #18 Posted April 8, 2013 The harness may be dated 1966? The Koch upper fittings came into use in 1963-64 and were modified to earlier harnesses. The flight gear is probably from the VA-163 Saints 1966 USS Oriskany cruise and modified for use with the Grumman US-2B aircraft at the same time or later. The US-2B probably belonged to a VC- (composite) squadron or VRC- [Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) squadron]. Items that seem to be missing are the MK-3C life preserver with yellow bladders, brown safety toe flight boots, B-3A tan/yellow or gray flight gloves, survival vest contents, and flightsuit. I believe that the harness is dated 1960. I originally thought that the 6 was an 8 but it's a 6 and the last number is a 0 for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted April 8, 2013 Croc, thank you very much for the info. I spent hours searching for this man today and did not find a single mention of him on the internet. You guys were able to find information in minutes..impressive. I've never had much luck with research. Best, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoastaero Posted April 8, 2013 Share #20 Posted April 8, 2013 Just curious. What is the part number on the lower high pressure hose on the mask? It should be located on the green silicone part. Also, What is the designation of the miniregulator on the same mask? It may be made by Bendix? Thank-you. The sage green helmet bag may originally have been USAF issue. The other bag is probably for the flight gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #21 Posted April 8, 2013 I'll check on the numbers when I get home from work . I think that it said MSA on it. The bag with the yellow straps and VA195 on it is fake fur lined..helmet bag? Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoastaero Posted April 8, 2013 Share #22 Posted April 8, 2013 Most likely a helmet bag with the fake fur lining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #23 Posted April 8, 2013 That's what I thought..thank you again. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 8, 2013 Share #24 Posted April 8, 2013 --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joefriday22 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share #25 Posted April 8, 2013 Very nice..Thank you Sir.. and thank you all for taking the time to research and educate me. I appreciate it very much. V/r Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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