USAF ID'd Silvertans to a USAAF/USAF C-47 pilot

[MattS]

This is the first set (came with the cap and 2 pairs of pants) of Silvertans I've had. The original owner was Jesse A. T/o/b/l/e/r who entered the Air Corps in 1937. After graduating from flight school Class 38-A (where one of his buddies was Paul Tibbetts), he was assigned to the 91st Observation Squadron at Gray Field Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1942, he was a C-47 pilot and was sent to England with the 60th Troop Carrier Group. On November 8th, 1942, he led Flight C carrying paratroopers from the 509th PIB during the first use of American airborne forces in history (which didn't go as planned). In North Africa, he left the Group and was assigned to General Eisenhower’s headquarters in Algiers. He then became personal pilot to Eisenhower’s Chief of Staff, Major General W. Bedell Smith. He flew in Europe for most of the war and left the service in 1945. He was recalled in 1950, served in Korea, and retired on January 31, 1962. This is one of his last uniforms.

 

The metal insignia was missing when I got it (still need to replace the lieutenant colonel leaves) but the holes were clearly visible. I replaced the lapel "US"s and wings with period correct ones.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/322553-need-help-with-a-ribbon-rack-for-a-usaafusaf-transport-pilot/

 

http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2006/January%202006/0106letters.aspx

 

https://obittree.com/obituary/152772/index.php

[MattS]

Inside the cap, the coat is not named but came from the same source. The pants were marked with "1714" which I figured out were the last 4 of his serial number.

[Brian Keith]

Very Nice Matt!

Thanks for posting it.

BKW

[CNY Militaria]

Great looking uniform there!

[MattS]

Thanks! The history of this one, a flight school classmate of Paul Tibbetts, leading a flight of C-47s during the first ever US airborne operation during Operation Torch (which was also the longest USAAF flight operation up to that point), General "Beetle" Smith's personal pilot, were well worth the price tag I thought.

[PacificGunner]

In cases like this, the story and history behind the item start to outweigh the price if you have the cash to spare. Very nice piece with a very significant history, glad to see it's being preserved.

[MattS]

Thanks for that. It really wasnt expensive, just more than I usually would spend on an USAF uniform.

[MattS]

Thanks to a forum member, I was able to replace the rank with some 1960s NS Meyers.

[MattS]

Given the new online USAAF award card catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/146930748) I was able to find this.