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Collection from Italy: #1 F4U Pilot, late war.


BlueBookGuy
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BlueBookGuy

Hello all the people. wish to post some of my collection of pilots, they range from WW2 to about 1990.

Two - three are not U.S., if not allowed Ill leave them outside.

 

will try to post when in spare time, thanks for the patience. Some of them did require four-six years to be completed. This first is a late springtime 1945 F4U pilot, USMC, operating from US carriers. Will re-arrange one or two details slightly uncorrect - or, maybe better, they may be made 100% eye-satisfying. Mannequinn recovered from a dump and repaired.

AN-6519 Life Vest USN-contracted, dated January 1945.

 

Thanks, Franco (continue)

 

post-151851-0-23638000-1394022229.jpg

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BlueBookGuy

Frontal view. Helmet last subvariant of AN-6542, receivers US Navy ANB-H-1A by Permoflux Corp.

AN-6530 goggles by Chas. Fischer Mfg.

 

(continue)

post-151851-0-46895100-1394022730.jpg

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Close-up. A-14 mask not USN -contract, short cable Navy-marked is correct. Extensions for both the mike (last wartime variation) and earphones are the pattern for Navy hook-ups.

 

(continue)

post-151851-0-66379900-1394022942.jpg

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BlueBookGuy

Thanks so much gentlemen.

Actually this very pilot was completed in a very short time, thanks to advices and many so useful suggestions from a very kind and competent (and, much advanced ) collector - thanks again!! ;) ;) . Personally I wasn't too much expert in the field of Navy airmen in WW2. From the start, much more AAF or USAF- oriented (or, more modern Naval Aviation).

Most of my guys required from a minimun two years, to up six years for a full completation. (here in Italy I found a complete C-2 Raft Pack for the AAF P-38 pilot, only 7 years after the mannequinn was equipped with the rest.

 

Longest time needed for any of them, the Italian Air Force pilot of F-104G placed in year 1963: 8 years from first item (flight gloves) to the last one (Italian-made variant of the USAF B-5 Life Vest.

But let's go with some more pics of this Navy guy. Thanks again.

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Detail of right-hand glove, size 8, some issues in putting it without damaging anything. But eventually, much realistic.

Better close-up subsequently, for the other glove . The pair was more than brand-new.

 

(continued)

 

post-151851-0-28088600-1394039298.jpg

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BlueBookGuy

Back Kit M-592, this sub-variant made by the "Belber Trunk & Bags Co." Very smooth grey finish (not the much rougher, green canvas of other makers).

Actually empty and filled with rubber sponge. Still used by some aviators (USN and USMC) even at this late stage of the war - in effect, the PK-1 Raft Kit wich contained itself most of M-592's items and should have disposed the man from wearing seperately the back Kit, actually didn't come to operational units before late May 1945.

 

 

post-151851-0-99955800-1394046570.jpg

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BlueBookGuy

Mid-'40s civil pattern, laced shoes, made by "Florsheim Shoes co."

The Green Nylon flight suit is by "Alda Mills", possibly issued since October 1944? Cuncurrently with the Green Nylon helmet of same material, and patterned after the 1944 subvariant of the cloth AN-6542 summer helmet.

 

(continued)

 

 

post-151851-0-01727900-1394047089.jpg

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BlueBookGuy

Inside markings. Similar markings are found in other almost identical ,original USN summer Gloves, but from a very few years after 1945.

 

post-151851-0-00305000-1394061947.jpg

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