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Pictures of WWII Painted Flight Jackets


36-tex
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36-Tex-thanks for taking the time to upload a really great topic. I sure hope it gets pinned. Nice to see that the jacket artwork was specifically documented. I could only imagine that soldiers that had an artistic ability really made a great deal of money painting jackets, nose art etc.

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Garandomatic

Mrs. Aldaflack.... took me a minute!

 

The skill never fails to amaze me. I've dabbled in art, have been, maybe still am pretty decent in a few respects, but faces, man, especially women's faces, are rough. THey had some seriously talented brush men back then.

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The absolute pinnacle of the art...simply breathtaking! :o Looks like Alberto Vargas joined the Air Corps. Imagine them in full-colour!! Thanks for posting them...and I too agree that they should be pinned for future reference.

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Very nice jackets, mostly of the 401st Bomb Group. I am lucky enough to have one of them in the flesh to share.

 

 

BALL TURRET GUNNER ON SHADE RUFF

 

 

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If anyone else has any from the 401st, I would love to see them, They were famous for really executing fantastic back art on their A-2 jackets.

 

I know Scott at Baystate sold one with the same art as the one I shared above a couple years ago. It was one of this airmans fellow crew members. Sure wish I would have been able to re-unite them. Maybe the lucky owner will share it here!

 

JD

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JD...what medium do you think they used to execute the artwork? Artists' oils...in order to achieve the subtle skin tones etc.?

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Hey Ian,

 

Not sure on the paint, but one thing I can say is that prior to the crazing and flaking it was executed extremely well. Definitely painted by a professional. Some squadron did indeed have professional artists among their ranks and the 401st was one of them.

 

JD

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John Conway

Has anyone done a book on flight jacket artwork? Amazing wartime pics and fantastic that some have survived.

Jon Maguire and I did "American Flight Jackets, Airmen and Aircraft" & "Art of the Flight Jacket" back in the early 90's - they are both still in print. We are discussing doing a revision of "American Flight Jackets, Airmen and Aircraft" if anyone has something they'd like to share. Drop me a line!

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Getting one is a goal of mine.......someday. I have a super nice named and researched A-2 but no artwork on it. He was a B-24 pilot in the Mighty Eight.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Heavenly body, you can see HALL 44. I met Harry Hall of the 401st Bomb Group at his studio / home, Scargo Hill Pottery in Brewster Massachusetts in the mid 90's. Nice old timer told me he painted countless jackets while sitting around. He was an armament specialist and told me he bought a set of oil paints in London while on leave to do these. Not sure if he's still with us, but a very nice guy that gave me about a half hour of time I'll never forget. I have a small book with these photos in it that he initialed for me.

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  • 2 months later...

This was my step dads Jacket. He flew the B-25 in the South pacific during WW2. He was the pilot and he oldest, on the crew, at the ripe old age of 22.

 

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