littlebuddy Posted November 19, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 19, 2013 Here it is , the new addition to LBs AAF collection . After a lot of searching,pleading ,favours and who knows what else , i have finally got myself a A4 QAC harness there is no makers label/stamp on it dated Dec 1944 ill let the pics do the talking anymore info on this would be great , manufacturer etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted November 19, 2013 contd... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted November 19, 2013 contd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted November 19, 2013 contd.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted November 19, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 19, 2013 Time for dress-up!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted November 19, 2013 contd.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted November 19, 2013 Share #7 Posted November 19, 2013 Congratulations Carl...you've found your "Holy Grail". Those things don't grow on trees! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted November 19, 2013 Thanks Ian !! not quite my holy grail but getting there !!! (my holy grail is an original 487th FS PATCH ) Now to find the chute pack to go with it !!! i know there was one on "the bay" which was just too soon for me to be able to afford it after this !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Leader Posted November 19, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 19, 2013 Hi Carl, Beautiful harness ! Early date ! Congratulation ! Mathieu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberry 9 Posted November 20, 2013 Share #10 Posted November 20, 2013 Very nice...congrats on a great find! Once again, I'm jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWII Parachutist Posted November 20, 2013 Share #11 Posted November 20, 2013 Nice score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted November 20, 2013 Share #12 Posted November 20, 2013 Nice one.. I have always wondered if those made it in time to the ETO before VE-Day... On original pictures it's so hard to see if it's an A4 or an RAF Observer type!! Were the yellow group ID bands factory applied on the A4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolyHappiness Posted November 20, 2013 Share #13 Posted November 20, 2013 Congrats LB! You finally got one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 20, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted November 20, 2013 Nice one.. I have always wondered if those made it in time to the ETO before VE-Day... On original pictures it's so hard to see if it's an A4 or an RAF Observer type!! Were the yellow group ID bands factory applied on the A4? Johan , as far as im aware , yes ,the yellow ID bands were factory supplied , but I could be wrong !! (probably am ) WW2 PARACHUTIST might know ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWII Parachutist Posted November 20, 2013 Share #15 Posted November 20, 2013 All A-4's should have factory sewn yellow marked webs. The earlier AN6513 and A-3 were initially unmarked. However, to prevent mismatching of packs and harnesses, in late 1943 a technical order was issued which directed all assemblies be color coded. It took some time for current production of AN6513 and A-3 to incorporate the changes; harnesses already in the field were simply painted.By the time the A-4 was standardized in December 1944 (some test batches were run before this date), color coding of harnesses at the factory level had been been going on for nearly a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 20, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted November 20, 2013 All A-4's should have factory sewn yellow marked webs. The earlier AN6513 and A-3 were initially unmarked. However, to prevent mismatching of packs and harnesses, in late 1943 a technical order was issued which directed all assemblies be color coded. It took some time for current production of AN6513 and A-3 to incorporate the changes; harnesses already in the field were simply painted. By the time the A-4 was standardized in December 1944 (some test batches were run before this date), color coding of harnesses at the factory level had been been going on for nearly a year. Many thanks Joshua !! LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27thdivcollector Posted November 20, 2013 Share #17 Posted November 20, 2013 Congrats Carl, another fine item for the Peplow Museum of American Airmen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted November 21, 2013 Share #18 Posted November 21, 2013 Thanks for that... Carl, could you post a picture of the QR Box safety clip??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted November 21, 2013 Will do Johan , ive just got in from work , ill get some took later !! LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share #20 Posted November 21, 2013 As requested Johan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share #21 Posted November 21, 2013 contd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted November 21, 2013 Share #22 Posted November 21, 2013 Thanks Carl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share #23 Posted November 30, 2013 Just a question regarding the harness , when you look at the shoulder straps they are tucked underneath a webbing loop, is this the correct method for retaining them ? LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share #24 Posted November 30, 2013 And what are the 2 "d" rings at the side for ??? LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted November 30, 2013 Share #25 Posted November 30, 2013 I have a pretty good archive concerning safety equipment. The gang boxes originate with the RAF and a directive was undertaken to modify AAF harnesses and that the box be adopted on all future procurement of QAC harnesses. One document that I found this morning answers some of the questions presented here, It is a fast forward skipping sometime. from United States Strategic and Tactical Air Forces (USSTAF) dated March 1944 it states , paraphrasing, "Follow up was completed, progress being made on supplying A-4 and B-9 parachute harnesses to the UK" "About 1568 of the A-4's have been modified and shipped, on the way in about one week" "The quick release box itself is holding up[ the program. Contracts have been let with 3 companies for 65,000 (A-4 with quick release boxes)" "Scheduled deliveries are 14,000 in june, 25,000 in July and 26,000 in August." "It would be desirable to secure boxes from England to expedite production over here (USA)". I have pretty much a weekly progress report on parachutes from the ETO starting about September 1942 thru 1945 chalk full of info like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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