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B-17 crewman, c. '42-'43


Sabrejet
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This display represents a hypothetical B-17 crewman equipped with the basic gear which was available in the early war period. He actually looks like something from a 1950s sci-fi movie! Assembling the display was very "fiddly" indeed...such a plethora of straps, hooks, buckles and snaps to adjust! Actually wearing it for hours at a time, in freezing temperatures and under combat conditions would have involved a good deal of personal endurance and not a little discomfort which speaks volumes for the thousand of brave young men who actually did so...day in, day out!

 

The flying helmet is a shearling B-5...a pre-war design. It had no provision for attaching oxygen masks nor communications equipment. Consequently, when head-sets were worn, as here, small holes were literally cut in the shearling helmet to allow the sound from the receivers to be audible! Later, leather cups which retained R-14 receivers became available and which were sewn on at unit level.

 

In the absence of attachment points for attaching an oxygen mask, the full "Juliet" head harness which retained the cumbersome A-10 mask was worn...sometimes under but mostly over the flying helmet, as seen here.

 

The goggles are AN-6530s, held in place by two snap-fastened straps on the B-5. With the shaped shearing "peak" of the helmet folded down, in concert with the goggles, the wearer's face was completely covered against exposure to freezing temperatures.

 

In combat, an M3 flak helmet would be donned. It's hinged cheek pieces fitted over the H-33 headset comfortably. For internal communications a T-33S throat mic is worn.

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BTW...the book is by forum member Blue Leader / aka Mathieu. If you're a USAAF collector and you don't have a copy yet...you should! ;)

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BTW...the book is by forum member Blue Leader / aka Mathieu. If you're a USAAF collector and you don't have a copy yet...you should! ;)

 

Ian are you on commission with BLUE LEADER ??? ;)

 

seriously though , great set up there !! B)

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Hi Ian,

 

Beautifull headgear ! I like the A-10 oxygen mask ! a very uncommon item !

 

A+ Mathieu

 

Merci beaucoup Mathieu! ;)

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Ian are you on commission with BLUE LEADER ??? ;)

 

seriously though , great set up there !! B)

 

Thank you Carl...alas no commission! :D

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Roger that on the brave young men. I have trouble putting on a full face motor cycle helmet, I'd have huge problems with that rig.

 

For sure. Must have been so uncomfortable to wear for long periods...but their lives depended upon it. At least Uncle Sam was on the case and, as always, provided the best state-of-the-art modern equipment for his boys by 1944 and thereafter.

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Ian,

 

I love your little mini tutorials on flight gear. Thanks so much for posting these great pictures.

 

...Kat

 

Thank you kindly, ma'am. One does one's best! ;)

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a10front.jpg

Note that the deign of the harness attachment above the nose is reminiscent of that used on stocking suspenders! ;) The spring wire clip was meant to hold the mask firmly against the bridge of the nose to prevent oxygen leakage. Accounts by vets who wore this mask say the spring clip was very uncomfortable, causing pressure and chafing on the bridge of the nose when worn on long missions. In fact, one vet joked that it was easy to identify the combat crews because they were the ones with the visibly red chafed noses!!

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