doinworkinvans Posted August 15, 2013 Share #1 Posted August 15, 2013 Hey guys I thought these were pretty cool. I don't think they are rare photos at all, but I did think they showed a good variety of flight clothing/gear in action. The first is some pilots from the 9th AF - just shows a good array of gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted August 15, 2013 The 2nd is some crew from a flak damaged B26. Note the flak vest looks huge on him. Also I noticed they are both wearing what appear to be regualr helmets and not flak helmets. Just thought these were cool.. I love seeing stuff in action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted August 15, 2013 Share #3 Posted August 15, 2013 Both have painted helmets...looks to be the same design on both of them. I'd love to see a close-up of the design! Flak vests were one size fits all. His flak apron is hanging loose so it just looks bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted August 15, 2013 Share #4 Posted August 15, 2013 I enjoy studying flight crew photos as well. It's always neat to see the different mixtures of gear used. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted September 13, 2013 Share #5 Posted September 13, 2013 Hey guys I thought these were pretty cool. I don't think they are rare photos at all, but I did think they showed a good variety of flight clothing/gear in action. The first is some pilots from the 9th AF - just shows a good array of gear. the guy on the far right looks to be wearing the British made escape boot , these were designed so that the top half of the boot could be pulled away from the leather upper and leave a plain oxford style shoe, that would not attract suspicion from the occupied countries if the airman was to have bailed out over them LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted September 15, 2013 Share #6 Posted September 15, 2013 The one guy in the first photo with the P-47 second from right I believe is one of the Aces , name eludes me right now , but the '47 alo looks to be one of the Aces birds as it has some kill markings on it too ..................................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Leader Posted September 17, 2013 Share #7 Posted September 17, 2013 The 2nd is some crew from a flak damaged B26. Hi, Here an another photo of the B-26 showed above with the full crew. The B-26 was from the 323rd BG of the 8th Air Force before to be assigned to the 9th Air Force, IX BC on October 16, 1943. All the men wear a helmet M-1 which some have the front part cut. The paint on the front is a 8 in a cercle with wings on each side. Look at the RAF observer parachute. The man on the right wear a dinghy pack Type C attached to it. MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted September 17, 2013 Share #8 Posted September 17, 2013 That's the 455th Bombardment Squadron emblem on the nose of the Flak damaged B-26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 17, 2013 Share #9 Posted September 17, 2013 Those cut-away M1s are something else! They have a vaguely medieval look about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted September 17, 2013 Wow - thats alot of flight gear?? Were those cut away helmets authorized before the issue of flak helmets?! How did they do that? Thanks for sharing this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted September 17, 2013 Also interestingly enough, thats the same plane picture as I shared at the beggining of this thread! It looks like the photo I shared they are obviously posing for it. Maybe a promo photo saying how the flak gear was appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Leader Posted September 17, 2013 Share #12 Posted September 17, 2013 An another close up photo of two crew members of the 323rd BG wearing a M-1 helmet and an experimental Wilkinson Flak suit. This photo comes from the Mighty Eighth War Manual by Roger A. Freeman. We can see here the paint on the steel helmets, the same as show above. Mathieu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted September 25, 2013 More flight gear - this one's a Time Life photo. How much gear can you name?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Leader Posted September 26, 2013 Share #14 Posted September 26, 2013 This photo shows the1st Lt. Hugh B. Roper crew in front of the B-24D "Exterminator" from the 330th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF in Febrary 1944. The flight gear is composed of sheepskin flying suits (A-3 trousers and B-3 jackets), A-2 jackets, A-4 summer flying suit, B-6 and A-8 flying helmets, B-2 flying cap, garrison hat, A-6 flying boots, M-1 helmets, B-3 Mae Wests, seat parachute, MKVII goggles, AN-6501 aviator's bag, A-4 briefing case ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted September 26, 2013 Wow - looks like you hit it all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted September 26, 2013 Good color photo of a B26 crew....good clean gear setups. Are they all holding bombsights???!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_lits Posted September 26, 2013 Share #17 Posted September 26, 2013 It looks like they are holding their helmets and goggles. Great color photo. They have both B3 & B4 mae wests. Love those B3 jackets!! Thanks for sharing the photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share #18 Posted September 26, 2013 This looks to be an action shot. What is that device on his wrist? And what is that on his pants coming up from his boots? That little zig-zag pattern? Also it would appear to me that there would not be a wide range to shoot from that position, almost straight down! You're window for oppurtunity would be slim! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted September 26, 2013 It looks like they are holding their helmets and goggles. Great color photo. They have both B3 & B4 mae wests. Love those B3 jackets!! Thanks for sharing the photo. Yea those are def goggles and helmets, but over their shoulders... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 26, 2013 Share #20 Posted September 26, 2013 On his wrist are what I believe are the connectors for the electrically heated "bunny suit". You can see the zig-zag heating elements on his leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 26, 2013 Share #21 Posted September 26, 2013 Like so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share #22 Posted September 26, 2013 Ian...simply amazing! I have never seen one of those! And blue?!?!? at that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_lits Posted September 26, 2013 Share #23 Posted September 26, 2013 Hey sabre is that your "blue bunny"? I have one very similar with an inspection tag still on it. They are extremely hard to come by these days and most are badly moth bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted September 26, 2013 Share #24 Posted September 26, 2013 The certainly are hard to find and...as you say, invariably nibbled here and there. My F3, on the other hand is in perfect shape...thank God moths don't nibble nylon!! http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/124016-f3-heated-suit-and-accessories/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renfield Posted September 26, 2013 Share #25 Posted September 26, 2013 Here is a nice picture. All the men are named on the back. Notice the M4A2 helmet. It looks as if the ear flaps have been cut off. There is no end to the field modifications these men did to their equipment. That is one thing that makes collecting these pictures so much fun. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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