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Ball turret gunner jacket ID


phantomfixer
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First thought was a A2 over a B3, but no way an A2 would fit over a B3 unless super sized A2, and the sleeves did not show an over sized A2

then I thought a B3 collar sewn on a A2, but I see no epaulettes...

jacket.JPG

242258613_418753703006949_3415640159305446194_n.jpg

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Could it be that the photo shows it dark like leather. 

I don't know the finer details to look for as I don't have an B-10 to compare, But could it be a B-10 with the white fur collar???

 

I have a photo of my Uncle joe wearing a B-1 summer cap , But the period photo makes it out to be as dark as the A-2 jacket he is wearing.

 

1721279514_JosephGeorgeRachunasat443rddepotinstrumentshopworkbench.jpg.a077c1e525fc831e0a9552002a74e446.jpg

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I think the gunner is wearing leather...the collar looks like a B3 collar...odd combo

 

looks like Uncle Joe is working on an oxygen blinker gauge

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2 hours ago, phantomfixer said:

I think the gunner is wearing leather...the collar looks like a B3 collar...odd combo

 

looks like Uncle Joe is working on an oxygen blinker gauge

I agree with what your saying. It does look like an A2 with a B-3 collar like you mentioned.

 

Could it be a custom jacket from his local Flight Equipment guys?????

 

Yes my Uncle was attached to the USAAF 433rd Repair Sub-depot before volunteering for flight duty.

You are correct Sir on the O2 blinker. He was an Instrument tech in the repair Division.

That photo is out of the 384th Bomb Groups Book "As Briefed"

My Cousin gave me that photo to scan and it wasn't until later I saw that it was published in that 384th book

 

Semper Fi

Phil 

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2 hours ago, phantomfixer said:

The stitching on Joe's epaulettes is unique, should be able to track down the manufacteurer easy enough...nice pic

I didn't know that was a way to ID Mfg.

Thank You!!!

Semper Fi

Phil

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3 hours ago, AZPhil said:

I didn't know that was a way to ID Mfg.

Thank You!!!

Semper Fi

Phil

Epaulette box stitching and design can be the easiest way to ID an A2…

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The practice of sewing the B3 fur collar to the A2 jacket is not so unusual. Here is another example.

Rather ugly to look at but evidently useful, at least for someone! (Courtesy Uniformes magazine, France)

Schermata 2021-09-24 alle 10.42.44.png

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Phantom,

Let's brighten the image a bit and improve its resolution. I'd say A2 with B3, or possibly AN-J-4 (?), collar attached, as previously speculated. The AN-J-4 had shorter fleece (3/4", vs 1 1/4" for the B-3) and lacked the two leather neck straps seen on the B3.

 

242258613_418753703006949_3415640159305446194_n.jpg.ac09125e202848e83011ed6836e691bf.jpg

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A lot of B-3s also have the straps folded back and tucked in. I have one that came like that. I thought they were missing until I looked.

Are we sure this in an A-2 rather than and AN-6552?

Dave

 

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4 hours ago, pararaftanr2 said:

Phantom,

Let's brighten the image a bit and improve its resolution. I'd say A2 with B3, or possibly AN-J-4 (?), collar attached, as previously speculated. The AN-J-4 had shorter fleece (3/4", vs 1 1/4" for the B-3) and lacked the two leather neck straps seen on the B3.

 

242258613_418753703006949_3415640159305446194_n.jpg.ac09125e202848e83011ed6836e691bf.jpg

That looks better...could be an A2...Looks like an epaulete ...

I have seen A2s with G1/ANJ style collars (not the AN-J-3A)...  

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3 hours ago, manayunkman said:

What’s the tool in their hand?

the gunner or Uncle Joe,  the gunner has the guts, barrel and buffer etc on the M2, uncle Joe, can't tell

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4 hours ago, manayunkman said:

Are they performing some kind of maintenance on the turret?

 

The 50s have been removed.

After a mission, all the guns were removed for cleaning. I think that is what we are seeing here.

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4 hours ago, dmar836 said:

A lot of B-3s also have the straps folded back and tucked in. I have one that came like that. I thought they were missing until I looked.

Are we sure this in an A-2 rather than and AN-6552?

Dave

 

Dave,

The collar on the AN-6552 was smaller and made from brown mouton, not the light color sheep shearling shown in this photo. Also, I think I'm seeing part of an epaulette on the left shoulder, which the AN-6552 did not have.

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  • 3 months later...

Thank you for the answers to my questions.

 

Many years ago I found an A-2 with a Navy collar sewn to it.

 

Belonged to a Bombardier.

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