littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Share #1 Posted March 9, 2014 I thought id start a thread regarding the types of flying suits used by the USAAF , I have 4 in total , not many I know , but its a start !! with a little bit of research I have found many different examples of the same nomenclature suit ,that have slight differences to each other Im no expert at all on this subject ,so if I give a wrong call or my information is incorrect please let me know !! im still learning the subject of USAAF So , here we go with the first of my suits The TYPE A4 SUIT, FLYING SUMMER The cost of this suit was $10 in 1943 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted March 9, 2014 Nomenclature label for the A4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 9, 2014 Share #3 Posted March 9, 2014 Nice idea Carl. I have several different types...here are a few to get the ball rolling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 9, 2014 Share #4 Posted March 9, 2014 Next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 9, 2014 Share #5 Posted March 9, 2014 Next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted March 9, 2014 This is where it starts to become a little complicated , well for me it does anyway ! The TYPE AN6550 This particular suit has the 2 way zip which was a later addition but also sports the single breast pocket which was the early pattern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted March 9, 2014 Same suit showing the 2 way zip and plastic buckle on the attached belt note also the light olive color of the material used Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted March 9, 2014 Right now the next suit , this one has had the nomenclature label removed at some point but it does show traces of where it was stitched , after referencing this suit in the " flight gear book by Mathieu Bianchi" AKA BLUELEADER ! I have come to the conclusion that this is the type AN-S-31 , this is a 1944 production suit I think ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted March 9, 2014 Again showing the 2 way zipper and buckle on the attached belt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted March 9, 2014 pocket detail ,showing the "fly" pocket and the suit pocket , not evident on the AN6550 I have previously shown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted March 9, 2014 Shoulder USAAF marking And markings at the neck area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted March 9, 2014 Ok and now a later suit the K1 this suit ,to me , starts to show the way in which we probably all think a flight suit should look with zips and pockets etc !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted March 9, 2014 nomenclature label Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted March 9, 2014 And again the "FLY " pocket and the suit pocket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted March 9, 2014 A better photo of my A4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 9, 2014 Share #16 Posted March 9, 2014 Interesting to see your lightweight K-1 Carl. Makes an interesting comparison with my gabardine one. I've also got a short-lived early 50s one in blue gabardine which I'll try to dig out and photograph it tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted March 9, 2014 Interesting to see your lightweight K-1 Carl. Makes an interesting comparison with my gabardine one. I've also got a short-lived early 50s one in blue gabardine which I'll try to dig out and photograph it tomorrow. I think you mean your L1 Ian ? The one I have shown is the K1 The L1 was gabardine and the K1 in a light cotton poplin style material LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 9, 2014 Share #18 Posted March 9, 2014 I think you mean your L1 Ian ? The one I have shown is the K1 The L1 was gabardine and the K1 in a light cotton poplin style material LB Doh...yeah...that's what I meant. They are of identical design...apart from the fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted March 9, 2014 Share #19 Posted March 9, 2014 The K-1 suit was obviously developed for comfort in jungle regions. It was more or less developed at the request of the 20th bomber command. It's original emphasis was to copy the British emergency jungle suit MK III in that it would carry emergency gear and in the case of the AAF the components of the C-1 vest respectively. This combination was not found suitable as a standard item but the additional pockets allowed for the means to do so at the preference of the user. Further development continued on compliments for the suit later adopting the K-1 Mosquito Gloves and the K-2 Jungle Cap as standard and housed in the pockets. Both articles were adopted at the close of the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted March 9, 2014 Well that has sorted the K1 out Dustin !!!! thank you very much for that info !!! much appreciated LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 10, 2014 Share #21 Posted March 10, 2014 Here are a couple more for you Carl. Not easy to photograph well because they are so darned long, hence the exaggerated perspective! First up a blue gabardine L-1A from that brief period in the early 50s when the USAF adopted blue flight gear, before reverting to sage green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 10, 2014 Share #22 Posted March 10, 2014 Details... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 10, 2014 Share #23 Posted March 10, 2014 Next up, a summer-weight AN-6550 / M44 similar to the one you showed earlier. This one is a USN example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 10, 2014 Share #24 Posted March 10, 2014 Label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted March 10, 2014 Share #25 Posted March 10, 2014 Your label by way of comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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