aviationphotog Posted January 15, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 15, 2014 Hey everyone, I'm putting together a special photo project and need a little bit of help narrowing down a typical late '42/Early '43 B-17 Bomber crew uniform impression. I have about 95% of a full Waist Gunner impression that I've collected over the years minus an A-4 flight Suit, F-1 Blue Bunny Suit (yeah, very rare to find), and some other smaller items and I should be able to take that and combine it with some other items to get just about all the positions for the photoshoot. At any rate, I'm trying to get a list of the different positions and what an 'average' uniform and equipment list would be for the positions. I realize there was a zillion different combination of items based on preference, but I'm sure there's a certain combination that was worn more than most. This list excludes generic Enlisted or Office clothing items such as button up shirts, ties, and pants that might be worn under everything. I very much welcome any incorrect or additional items that I might be missing! Pilot -------- Headgear: Crusher Cap, HS-38 Headphones, Sunglasses, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, perhaps F-1 Blue Bunny? Chest: B-3 or A-2 Jacket, B-3 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness or B-7 Backpad Parachute Bottoms: Either just the A-4 Flight Suit or perhaps A-3 Trousers? Gloves: A-10? Shoes: RAF Boots or Standard GI Shoes or A-6 Boots? Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest? Co-Pilot -------- Headgear: Crusher Cap or Garrison Cap, HS-38 Headphones, Sunglasses, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, perhaps F-1 Blue Bunny? Chest: B-3 or A-2 Jacket, B-3 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness or B-7 Backpad Parachute Bottoms: Either just the A-4 Flight Suit or perhaps A-3 Trousers? Gloves: A-10? Shoes: RAF Boots or Standard GI Shoes or A-6 Boots? Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest? Bombardier -------- Headgear: Crusher Cap or Garrison Cap or B-6 Helmet, HS-38 Headphones or Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, perhaps F-1 Blue Bunny? Chest: B-3 or A-2 Jacket, B-3 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: Either just the A-4 Flight Suit or perhaps A-3 Trousers? Gloves: A-10? Shoes: RAF Boots or Standard GI Shoes or A-6 Boots? Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest? Navigator -------- Headgear: Crusher Cap or Garrison Cap or B-6 Helmet, HS-38 Headphones or Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, perhaps F-1 Blue Bunny? Chest: B-3 or A-2 Jacket, B-3 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: Either just the A-4 Flight Suit or perhaps A-3 Trousers? Gloves: A-10? Shoes: RAF Boots or Standard GI Shoes or A-6 Boots? Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest? Flight Engineer -------- Headgear: B-6 Helmet or B-2 Cap, HS-38 Headphones or Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, F-1 Blue Bunny Chest: B-3 Jacket, B-3 or B-4 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: A-3 Trousers Gloves: Rayon Gloves inside A-9A Gloves Shoes: D-1 Heated Shoes inside A-6 Flying Boot Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest with Apron, H-1 Bailout Oxygen Tank Radio Operator -------- Headgear: B-6 Helmet or B-2 Cap, HS-38 Headphones or Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, F-1 Blue Bunny Chest: B-3 Jacket, B-3 or B-4 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: A-3 Trousers Gloves: Rayon Gloves inside A-9A Gloves Shoes: D-1 Heated Shoes inside A-6 Flying Boot Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest with Apron, H-1 Bailout Oxygen Tank Waist Gunners -------- Headgear: B-6 Helmet or B-2 Cap, HS-38 Headphones or Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, F-1 Blue Bunny Chest: B-3 Jacket, B-3 or B-4 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: A-3 Trousers Gloves: Rayon Gloves inside A-9A Glove Shoes: D-1 Heated Shoes inside A-6 Flying Boot Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest with Apron, H-1 Bailout Oxygen Tank Belly Gunner -------- Headgear: B-6 Helmet, Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, F-1 Blue Bunny Chest: B-3 Jacket, B-3 or B-4 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: A-3 Trousers Gloves: Rayon Gloves inside A-9A Gloves Shoes: D-1 Heated Shoes inside A-6 Flying Boot Additional: H-1 Bailout Oxygen Tank Tail Gunner -------- Headgear: B-6 Helmet or B-2 Cap, HS-38 Headphones or Ear Cups in the B-6, AN-6530 Goggles, A-8B/A-10 Oxygen Mask, T-30-S Throat Mic Full Body: A-4 Flight Suit, F-1 Blue Bunny Chest: B-3 Jacket, B-3 or B-4 Mae West, AN-6513 Parachute Harness Bottoms: A-3 Trousers Gloves: Rayon Gloves inside A-9A Glove Shoes: D-1 Heated Shoes inside A-6 Flying Boot Additional: M-3 Flak Helmet, M-1 Flak Vest with Apron, H-1 Bailout Oxygen Tank Appreciate any/all the help! 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Johan Willaert Posted January 15, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 15, 2014 For reference here's my 1944 B17 Navigator... -A11 Flying Helmet & ANBH1 Earphones-B8 Flying Goggles-A10R Oxygen Mask & ANB-MC1 Microphone -Wool underwear and socks,-Officer's shirt w/ Capt Bars en AAF Insignia & Tie, and wool trousers-ANS31A Flying Suit over F3 Electrically Heated Suit-B3 Flying Jacket-A6 Flying Boots-A9 Flying Gloves-A4 Parachute-RAF Observer's Type Harness (issued by the RAF)-B4 Life Preserver-Parachute First Aid Kit-A11 Wrist Watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparty On Posted January 15, 2014 Share #3 Posted January 15, 2014 For reference here's my 1944 B17 Navigator... -A11 Flying Helmet & ANBH1 Earphones -B8 Flying Goggles -A10R Oxygen Mask & ANB-MC1 Microphone -Wool underwear and socks, -Officer's shirt w/ Capt Bars en AAF Insignia & Tie, and wool trousers -ANS31A Flying Suit over F3 Electrically Heated Suit -B3 Flying Jacket -A6 Flying Boots -A9 Flying Gloves -A4 Parachute -RAF Observer's Type Harness (issued by the RAF) -B4 Life Preserver -Parachute First Aid Kit -A11 Wrist Watch Johan, This is great! Im starting a similar project but its of a glider pilot. Couple questions...how long did it take to acquire everything and what was the most difficult piece to find? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted January 15, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 15, 2014 I put this together over a period of roughly 15 years although I have to admit it wasn't really on my list of collecting priorities... And it was also in pre- internet times so just about everything was picked up at shows in Europe in the 90s... Most difficult were the A6 boots... I wanted a late 1943 to 1944 set up so, A6 were the way to go... Also for a parachute harness, I wanted either an A3 or the Brit Made Observer type, the A4 or A5 being too late... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Leader Posted January 15, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 15, 2014 Hi, For a typical late '42/Early '43 B-17 Bomber crew uniform you can not use a M-3 Flak Helmet nor a M-1 Flak Vest but only a M-1 helmet. In some cases a RAF Wilkinson Flak vest. A+ Mathieu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted January 15, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 15, 2014 Do you plan on including a parachute or QAC harness? One of my pet peeves is when people set up a display or re-enacting outfit for AAF and the vast majority of the time, they stop at the Mae West and never even think to look for a good parachute... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviationphotog Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted January 15, 2014 Thanks for the info so far everyone! Do you plan on including a parachute or QAC harness? Yes indeed! I have an AN-6513 harness ready to go thanks to the forum's very own WWII Parachutist. For a typical late '42/Early '43 B-17 Bomber crew uniform you can not use a M-3 Flak Helmet nor a M-1 Flak Vest but only a M-1 helmet. In some cases a RAF Wilkinson Flak vest. I wasn't sure about the Flak helmet, I figured it might have been later war... but I'm surprised about the Flak Vest. Good info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff TX Posted March 1, 2014 Share #8 Posted March 1, 2014 Very impressive displays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8thairforce Posted January 9, 2015 Share #9 Posted January 9, 2015 Very very nice indeed ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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