Jump to content

Marine PBJ flight crew equipment


36thIDAlex
 Share

Recommended Posts

36thIDAlex

Hey all, just got my high resolution scanner up and running and have been going through scanning all my photographs. After scanning these I saw a lot of really great details and figured it’d be a good reference to have up on the forum. The pictures come from a tail gunner grouping of a marine who flew a PBJ in VMB-423. The era is winter 1944 to summer 1945. I’m not super down on my navy gear but thought you all who are would appreciate it.

 

fb5546e18a92b32e2ecd9fe840a73a03.jpg

 

a347098a100ee68238c0ab31b88be5df.jpg

 

8a0baf51f35c7280796093f30d751214.jpg

 

1bd2c0c7d11e219ea81dafda0c873dd4.jpg

 

 

c3b3f6a4dba362ebf665d46562a67e9a.jpg

 

38a00bac2e91d938ea174078936da448.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Alex.

 

They are standard dressed up with: summer flying suit AN6550 or M426a. Mostly of these guys used a billed cap with headset - rather than flying helmet. I guess one photo above with flying helmet is only for photo session.  You can choose variety of billed cap like: blue dark wool example, B-1 (navy contracted) or kind of rigger made cap.

 

Standard .38 S&W in shoulder holster with ammo loops. Usmc pilots/crews used very often his 782 gear like: belt, canteen, compass case with compass for officer and MKII/Ka-bar knife.

Survival kits E-17 were also popular in these crews. Here are some more examples from VMB-613 and VMB-611. 

 

 

 

Usmc aviation065 VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065a VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065aa VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065aaa  Jack B. Critchley VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065aaa VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065ac VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065ac William W. Helms VMB-611.jpg

Usmc aviation065acdd VMB-611.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pilot and second pilot (I guess) used a nylon suit. Of course standard chute harness type was a QAC type.

Usmc aviation068aa VMB-613.jpg

Usmc aviation068bbc VMB-613.jpg

Usmc aviation068bbccc VMB-613.jpg

Usmc aviation068bbcccd VMB-613.jpg

Usmc aviation068d VMB-613.jpg

Ahhh I forgot about life vest. B-4/AN6519 will be the best with standard survival gear like: two dye marker, one-cell survival light and whistle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ahhh your post bring some memory about my small impression from years years back (march 2010):

 

Cheers,

Jerry

 

Jerry Pilot 03.jpg

Jerry Pilot 03a.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
36thIDAlex - even thanks? Wow....

I appreciate the contributions Jerry, as said I don’t really do navy or marine stuff and hadn’t checked on this thread in awhile. Really neat photos you managed to find, hopefully some of the marine/aviation guys find all of them useful for any projects in the future! Very cool impression too.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, 36thIDAlex said:


I appreciate the contributions Jerry, as said I don’t really do navy or marine stuff and hadn’t checked on this thread in awhile. Really neat photos you managed to find, hopefully some of the marine/aviation guys find all of them useful for any projects in the future! Very cool impression too.

Welcome ! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...