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US Navy Pilot - Naval Aviator Displays


Darkvalley
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Thanx Jerry for appreciating,

yes you and Paul were of so much help !  There are not just partial pressure suits and high-altitude gear in this world ... 🙃🙃  ..gulp...

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  • 1 month later...

hello again, 

got some days ago my very last item to replace the AN-6542 cloth helmet of the very latewar USN guy   -    a complete and good-looking Nylon Helmet to go together with its Nylon Flight Suit. Not bad at all the former one, however my wish in fact was for a nylon specimen  -   evidently there wasn't too much haste in looking for it. At last this job has been finished once and for all by different steps along the time.

ANB-H-1A headphones marked C.Q.F. and uncommon 'Y' comm. cord w/ NAF black plug.

 Here some pics

 

398534885_005-Copia.jpg.b7997d6948ae028ca00be474b649de3f.jpg

 

 

2063127663_006(6).jpg.0c61a78bf5925fb8f16521461c302031.jpg

 

 

343457214_006(4).jpg.15cd975de26fe4b22f81e03d1c975149.jpg

 

 

63965681_006(0)-Copia.jpg.651710be0f989ab69406849199dfff4b.jpg

 

 

992940031_015(1).jpg.5681c25afce8028a5704af23d5060c77.jpg

 

 

728975595_014(2).jpg.a14086b51fb6a806b5dd06f291f18d44.jpg

 

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Hi All, 

 

Most notably, this is a great thread and reference source.

 

Currently looking to recreate that pistol/holster set up for the Victory pistol and survival knife seen worn by their original owner 

 

1177996703_PersonalKnife.jpg.8b46b0419968815597450228c82fbcfb.jpg

 

That same pistol and civilian type survival knife seen in that period pic was acquired by me from the family from that same VB-135 aviator. That particular pic seen attached was cropped from an official USN photograph. Taken on Attu and dated June 4, 1944.  

 

According to the family the knife was a gift from his (PV-1 Ventura) flight crew. In the end preferring over his USN issue.  

 

Cheers, Dave

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"Currently looking to recreate that pistol/holster set up for the Victory pistol and survival knife seen worn by their original owner".

 

That's a great looking knife, congratulations. Closer examination of the photo shows he is not wearing a Victory revolver though, rather a .45 auto in an M1916 holster with web pistol belt.

holster.jpg

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Hi Paul,

 

Yes, I see that know. I suppose that it is enough that I lucked up on the same knife and a pistol picked up sometime during this same fellows USN aviation career. Most notably the same type Victory pistol used while my late father flew with on his two Vietnam combat tours. Done while aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) from 1966 through 1968. Flying with VA-164 Ghostriders as Air Ops the the CAG CVW-16.. 

 

However, I do have the Switlik Parachute and Equipment M-422 jacket issued to that same fellow.  As seen here.

 

198759033_Sized375SwitlikSize38.jpg.1b681784f7ad1bed2a2be919da03473c.jpg 1787847224_PEPritleWearingSwitlikM-422.jpg.42f5a59d9335dc3f550f5787ef27f2e5.jpg

 

Found within that bulging left pocket was 4 morphine syringes, matches and a pencil. 

 

According to the family they removed his winged USN ID patch and included it in his casket. Now buried along with him.

 

Cheers, Dave

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Killer jacket David. Show us his custom made knife - also killer piece! 

 

Probably he switched his sidearm from .45 to .38 later in the war. Or maybe he had a second sidearm under his jacket which was popular from time to time...

 

Take care,

Jerry

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39 minutes ago, jerry_k said:

Killer jacket David. Show us his custom made knife - also killer piece! 

 

Probably he switched his sidearm from .45 to .38 later in the war. Or maybe he had a second sidearm under his jacket which was popular from time to time...

 

Take care,

Jerry

 

Hi Jerry,

 

See below .

Knife.jpg.318b753065bf9bf67320ec27f78ac317.jpg

 

 

That knife was made in Mexico of all places.

 

These VB-135 members did quite a bit of combat. Done through flying long distant from Attu to the Kuril Islands. 

 

Cheers, Dave

 

 

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20 hours ago, jerry_k said:

Killer jacket David. Show us his custom made knife - also killer piece! 

 

Probably he switched his sidearm from .45 to .38 later in the war. Or maybe he had a second sidearm under his jacket which was popular from time to time...

 

Take care,

Jerry

Jerry,

 

Unfortunately, we will never know for certain about the two pistols. What I do know is that the pic of him with the pistol comes from the first of his two combat deployments to Attu with VB-135. As that pic was taken in June of 1944 and the squadron was rotated out of Attu in late 1944 stateside. Then back again to Attu on August 22, 1945 through the end of the War. 

 

There is plenty of info on VB-135 that can be found on the internet. Some great websites regarding VB-135s contribution to the war effort and the USN Aleutian Campaign as a whole can be seen here  https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2017/february/flying-empire-express and here   https://www.norpacwar.com/

 

Cheers, Dave

 . 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 2/5/2021 at 7:10 AM, Maverickson said:

Hi Paul,

 

Yes, I see that know. I suppose that it is enough that I lucked up on the same knife and a pistol picked up sometime during this same fellows USN aviation career. Most notably the same type Victory pistol used while my late father flew with on his two Vietnam combat tours. Done while aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) from 1966 through 1968. Flying with VA-164 Ghostriders as Air Ops the the CAG CVW-16.. 

 

However, I do have the Switlik Parachute and Equipment M-422 jacket issued to that same fellow.  As seen here.

 

198759033_Sized375SwitlikSize38.jpg.1b681784f7ad1bed2a2be919da03473c.jpg 1787847224_PEPritleWearingSwitlikM-422.jpg.42f5a59d9335dc3f550f5787ef27f2e5.jpg

 

Found within that bulging left pocket was 4 morphine syringes, matches and a pencil. 

 

According to the family they removed his winged USN ID patch and included it in his casket. Now buried along with him.

 

Cheers, Dave

Fantastic jacket Dave from a very rare contract / manufacturer. Having  a picture of the pilot wearing it makes it all the sweeter... Having a picture of the knife worn is also priceless.

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  • 3 months later...

Never say never....

 

During the Christmas time I found great pair of Navy contracted white socks for only a 13 USD

image.png.6e034a5a23f99a348ca94f142f83bd9a.png

Dream items for any Navy collector as we know that is characteristic item look with Navy denim dungaree pants and black low service shoes. I couldn't pass and the story began.

 

From one pair of socks to full mannequin!

 

WW2 US Navy TBM Radioman circa first part of 1945:

image.png.4224613f6d7ce26a604ece0ddf173c26.png

N-3 pants and Navy white long sleeves shirt under the AN6550 suit with Navy contracted Rubber Hood gym shoes popular used by pilots and crew members. 

 

image.png.e3ee5527d521f39f3ad8c7c7e3c3ece1.png

HBT cap with small Combat Aircrew badge and Navy headset with Y cord. For his comfort during the flights closer to north lands he is wearing a Navy AN6552 intermediate jacket.

 

image.png.f4b14bf01f32cedb8a87b15a2053b8fd.png

Standard flying survival gear like B-4 life vest (named to Navy ARM J.B Foley), two dye markers, compass-matches case, whistle and survival light. Leather intermediate gloves are stored in his jacket chest pocket.

 

image.png.c44eaa71d2de39378081210c6ced0ac2.png

Smith&Wesson revolver (of course dummy :( ) is carried in shoulder holster modified as a hip holster with 12 bullets in loops made from leather strap. Crash bracelet is also visible on the left hand.

 

image.png.923922e6f6368102dc6de6974b30a84c.png

Pal-36 knife as his personal knife. On his life vest waist strap is a Very's Shells launcher as his survival signal device. Six very's are stored in flight suit leg pocket.

 

image.png.5dbb923d3fbe7d02a8b93321b180fea2.png

Some personal items likes: Kool cigarettes with case, matches and Orbit chewing gums are stored in the jacket chest pocket. 

 

image.png.7e97f0507f02d31accf4cc81dabb8a17.png

Navy series R88-W-800 watch with Navy sterling ring on the right hand. 

 

image.png.01d49fa3faa7b565e0cb45d9e62affc9.png

Some accessories in his flying suit leg pockets: (mentioned earlier six very's shell's in cloth bag from M592 kit - still have to find a proper and correct bag), vintage note pad, US NAVY property mechanical pencil and ear wardens in case.

 

Some more three items are with him:

Rigger made  transport bag

Bu. Aero MK21 7X50 binoculars made by SARD comp. named to VC-84 member

Navy contracted K-20 aerial photography camera 

 

Both two items can be spotted on some vintage photos of TBM crews:

image.png.220d450e1ff47f3c97ae2690ab22384c.png

image.png.3f9c5469314073e4b77cc01a7277fb58.pngimage.png.0916c8c2d5bcbd6917cb2300b4a1c874.png

 

 

We can see leather binos case under a TBM crew members arms:

image.png.c8b23576616042df734aeea58511d46a.pngimage.png.33d3afc176271923c426076da5bf8380.png

 

In the past when I sold most of my collection under some of life circumstances and decisions I would never expect to make another one mannequin. But never say never!

 

Hope you enjoy this small story...

 

Take care,

Jerry

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I also made some my improvements of my old USMC mannequin. I was able to find a 1067 goggle kit:

image.png.f83b0b4599fdffd311cba89692a6c22b.png

 

Nice USMC series of R88-W-800 watch matched with USMC cordovan strap and popular Dunhill lighter:

image.png.f4c14fa6b44067dc4481fa76e5a03d2b.png

 

Another small invisible at all item - Navy air target maps of YAP islands 

image.png.8ae43bfa26b51cc9cc413b42eba959e6.png

image.png.906c01c81be4f0154189b696bf0210be.png

image.png.308e30bb048458576370f721e7f29768.png

image.png.006b369adbdf85c5de3d34567d8a3c6e.png

image.png.7a60517cdbe3b7eb6b36243e58be2994.png

 

Many thanks for help and big inspirations from my long life friends here: Paul and Dustin!!!

enjoy,

Jerry

 

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  • 1 month later...

Resurrecting this thread with an update of an impression just got done putting together. Navy pilot c. late 1943-early 1944. Some of the better notables is the rigger applied leg pocket on flight suit (right leg) and modified 23P6 life preserver. 

 

DSC_0189.JPG.413faf9fd0677d3a89d01a76fdcf2ed6.JPGDSC_0190.JPG.97694828cad11ac574046cc8980ecb71.JPGDSC_0191.JPG.b81673a80946d17d1b00132775becd5c.JPG

 

 

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Great new impression Dustin! Im afraid that only a few people here appreciate this thread and stuff posted here. Even 0 respons for my new impression?

 

Anyway thanks a lot for you cool contribution as always! 

 

Jerry

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