phantomfixer Posted September 23, 2021 Share #1 Posted September 23, 2021 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted September 23, 2021 Share #2 Posted September 23, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 23, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted September 23, 2021 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 23, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted September 23, 2021 The stitching on Joe's epaulettes is unique, should be able to track down the manufacteurer easy enough...nice pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted September 23, 2021 Share #5 Posted September 23, 2021 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted September 23, 2021 Share #6 Posted September 23, 2021 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 24, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted September 24, 2021 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… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Posted September 24, 2021 Share #8 Posted September 24, 2021 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted September 24, 2021 Share #9 Posted September 24, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted September 24, 2021 Share #10 Posted September 24, 2021 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted September 24, 2021 Share #11 Posted September 24, 2021 Are they performing some kind of maintenance on the turret? The 50s have been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted September 24, 2021 Share #12 Posted September 24, 2021 I think most photos like this were completely staged/posed so not sure he's really doing anything. Maybe just looking cool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted September 24, 2021 Share #13 Posted September 24, 2021 What’s the tool in their hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 24, 2021 Author Share #14 Posted September 24, 2021 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. 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)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 24, 2021 Author Share #15 Posted September 24, 2021 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted September 24, 2021 Share #16 Posted September 24, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted September 24, 2021 Share #17 Posted September 24, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted September 24, 2021 Share #18 Posted September 24, 2021 Yeah, I meant with an added B-3 collar but didn't note the epaulets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kein Posted December 31, 2021 Share #19 Posted December 31, 2021 ... I would say that a piece of the lower bullet tower also belongs to the lower shooter ... guns down :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted December 31, 2021 Share #20 Posted December 31, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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