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US Navy Pilot - Naval Aviator Displays


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Posted

Thanks Jerry! I think the only difference between the Suit, Flying, Summer and the M668 is thag the SFS has a zipper on the pen pocket on the soldier, and if of course tagged differently. I’ve seen Marines with M668s earlier in Korea as well.

Posted
2 minutes ago, bloke21 said:

Thanks Jerry! I think the only difference between the Suit, Flying, Summer and the M668 is thag the SFS has a zipper on the pen pocket on the soldier, and if of course tagged differently. I’ve seen Marines with M668s earlier in Korea as well.

I should note that this one is “Specification MIL” marked with N383s contract prefix, rather than M668 spec

Posted

Sure, from the bottom leg part it looks like a m668 but sure later ones have a zippered sleeve pen pocket. Can you post better pic w/o leather jacket?

 

Take care,

Jerry

Posted
40 minutes ago, jerry_k said:

Sure, from the bottom leg part it looks like a m668 but sure later ones have a zippered sleeve pen pocket. Can you post better pic w/o leather jacket?

 

Take care,

Jerry

Heres an old pic of it I have, you can see the zipper pocket on the shoulder. I’ve seen zipper pockets in use later in Korea with the Navy & Marines.

C10D1CC6-EDB4-42B4-89C4-59C1DD8D38A9.jpeg

Posted

Thanks! Now it is clear that is not m668 suit.

 

Good luck,

Jerry

  • 3 months later...
Posted

I have a question.  I have recently come across a mae west in navy blue contract number n151s-63708 made by firestone.  I noticed that someone had one and there was some debate on whether it was procured for surface or air use.  I am in the infancy phase of putting together a naval aviator display.  I have acquired a 1092 USN marked flight helmet, a set of TH-37 receivers and a pair of Polaroid flight goggles.  Would this all be appropriate to display together?  Thank you.

 

Mike

IMG_3566.png

Posted

The vests, made in blue, were for surface use, not aviation use.

  • 1 year later...
Posted

Thanks for the likes @PBR mk2 ... Small changes since 2022 for my early war mannequin...


What a pity that this thread is dead :( 

 

 

Gunner00.jpg

Midway01.jpg

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Flightpath
Posted

It´s not dead yet Jerry!

 

I like seeing sunglasses cases on aircrew belts as you have. Here´s a photo of Lt. Loomer´s Avenger crew, two have their Ray Ban cases on their belts (I have Loomer´s named and dated wings).

 

 

Screenshot_20230716-191244.jpg

Posted

Here it is my USN pilot during Korean conflict 😉11.jpg.20ba8b06f12006364885b7b8bb4ead76.jpg10.jpg.29ab48965b31cdee79b73f102e1560f8.jpg09.jpg.c3157ff9c32256b4840d5a798cba4826.jpg08.jpg.5d0dff0478140e32d492891c925b684e.jpg07.jpg.7bd25fe51dfa2ee2fd6679d0c334238d.jpg06.jpg.90ab43c69c495c49abf6615910627b73.jpg05.jpg.8a5cdcac4ee03910df650ca6a4dd1c5f.jpg04.jpg.9d55771ce7e7b5046841e38627992764.jpg03.jpg.8a728cfca17491ddb1c563f12cefb6be.jpg02.jpg.92dac3683e15a4c70f01cb2392044e5e.jpg01.jpg.323dd8ed281994fc27e6a9e314b553fd.jpg

Posted
1 hour ago, Flightpath said:

It´s not dead yet Jerry!

 

I like seeing sunglasses cases on aircrew belts as you have. Here´s a photo of Lt. Loomer´s Avenger crew, two have their Ray Ban cases on their belts (I have Loomer´s named and dated wings).

 

 

Screenshot_20230716-191244.jpg

 

Hi John that was quick. Nice pic. The one on the left can be a Ray-Ban example - the logo is a little bit visible. The second one is hard to say. My example at my Miday pilot is private purchase sunglasses/case - any marker on them. Of course, later they used the issued examples AN6531 made by AO, Baunsh and Lomb etc.

Hope you ar well!

Jerry

Posted
1 hour ago, PBR mk2 said:

Here it is my USN pilot during Korean conflict 😉11.jpg.20ba8b06f12006364885b7b8bb4ead76.jpg10.jpg.29ab48965b31cdee79b73f102e1560f8.jpg09.jpg.c3157ff9c32256b4840d5a798cba4826.jpg08.jpg.5d0dff0478140e32d492891c925b684e.jpg07.jpg.7bd25fe51dfa2ee2fd6679d0c334238d.jpg06.jpg.90ab43c69c495c49abf6615910627b73.jpg05.jpg.8a5cdcac4ee03910df650ca6a4dd1c5f.jpg04.jpg.9d55771ce7e7b5046841e38627992764.jpg03.jpg.8a728cfca17491ddb1c563f12cefb6be.jpg02.jpg.92dac3683e15a4c70f01cb2392044e5e.jpg01.jpg.323dd8ed281994fc27e6a9e314b553fd.jpg

 

Hi PBR! 

 

Thanks for the additional photos of your mannequin. I'm not KW war expert but all looks complete and very nice. Keep going!

 

Jerry

 

Flightpath
Posted
1 hour ago, jerry_k said:

 

Hi John that was quick. Nice pic. The one on the left can be a Ray-Ban example - the logo is a little bit visible. The second one is hard to say. My example at my Miday pilot is private purchase sunglasses/case - any marker on them. Of course, later they used the issued examples AN6531 made by AO, Baunsh and Lomb etc.

Hope you ar well!

Jerry

Yes, definitely RayBans, also to note is the crew member on the left has a Pal RH36 knife and a folding utility knife hanging from his belt. The crew member on the right has what looks like small obeserver´s wings on his N-3 cap.

Being an Aussie there´s another detail I noticed in the photo....it shows part of the tail of an RAAF Douglas A-20 from 22 Squadron RAAF, 22 Squadron was the only RAAF A-20 unit.

20230812_093246.jpg

Posted

Yeah that is correct - good eye!

 

Looks like you have much better resolution photo than here.

 

Also I can see a G46-6 Western "Shark" knife.

  • 1 month later...
jerry_k
Posted

What a year it has been! With so many changes shaping my life, I’m proud to share that one new project is now complete: a 1944 VBP-135 pilot from the Aleutians campaign. I’ve always been captivated by the rugged clothing worn by PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon pilots and their aircrews. 

 

image.png.5859ff79df4f28f353626643c3ef7056.png

 

The outer layer reflects the harsh conditions they faced: alpaca-lined 1169 bibs, a US Navy M455a heavy winter jacket, a B-2 cap, and sturdy winter M380 boots.

image.png.6780bb5b6d093fa9f6ecef9a713c7ae4.png

image.png.944dd0997eab554c4a1e6c55a5aa7fc4.png

 

B-2 Navy winter cap named to VPB-61 pilot J.P. Payne. 

image.png.05aadfbcacb65118507de79a1423c335.png

 

Intermediate gloves with a standard TH-37 headset in hand.

image.png.35946720809d05050b56319028014681.png

 

Pipe setup: tobacco pouch, tax free Durham tobacco, NAS Whidbey Island matches box, and 1940s Royale Demuth pipe.

image.png.4b7fa89a8aadf3104218449955cfb2de.png

 

FSSC-88-W-800 Elgin wristwatch under the cuff and pilot ring made from the US NAVY wings.

image.png.bc29d786b06e4a0840c278c7d1a68b8a.png

 

Heavy customized MK1 Robeson Shuredge knife attached to the shoulder holster strap...

image.png.2a5d2fb3e37b20ee4a87a34f97e0cf15.png

 

Vintage note pad and US NAVY property mechanical pencil in the pocket.

image.png.6df1fe488f701402496834412f1856d9.png

 

A B-4 life vest paired with a single M556a dye marker and a rigger-made general purpose/navigational bag, along with US Navy winter gloves (for double extra protection from the cold). Typical gear often seen in wartime photos of crews preparing on PSP airstrip for their next mission.

image.png.e1769259b250b38a61aec819bc6532b6.png

 

Better view of winter M380 boots with leather name tag and A-12 US NAVY bubble sextant with case marked VP-201 squadron.

image.png.65a73f44ffd791d142eee668b1c16066.png

 

Inner layer of clothing including a: US NAVY white long sleeve and pants, winter socks, green winter uniform pants, US ARMY khaki shirt with epaulettes (as a private purchase shirt) with ensign collar ranks, US NAVY black sweater.

image.png.7e619eac50738455c74d70fe47897691.png

 

The last pocket filler is a Russian language guidebook and a 40s wallet (still with a 1941 calendar inside), containing 1934/35 series dollars in denominations of 1, 5, and 10, (I based the dollar examples on a US purse kit), in case the aircraft made an emergency landing on Soviet territory and the crew was interned.

image.png.0c912f1eb04752cb6faaf5eeff058b02.png

image.png.1a957f428d715b065b9d289eace0b8c9.png

 

Some of my inspiration VPB-135, 139 photos...

image.png.0b9b456445446ac379c21e24dcbdd12c.png

image.png.a9751f8a76c189db398fb267546eaa7e.png

 

image.png.1468395cb099446271e2646fbb45bd99.png

image.png.9c0ca580979f33239ff3a2b6086e854c.png

image.png.bab8a69530397ac6fcc7c7ddab37fb97.png

 

 

image.png.272d5376c4f0bafa3733158421778f49.png

image.png.bc44bbc3959b2bba7717f9fa9903080e.png

 

 

Enjoy, 
Jerry

 

 

Charlie Flick
Posted

A fantastic setup, Jerry!  It is so realistic that I feel a cold Arctic wind blowing as I am typing this.  I don't know how your display could possibly be improved.  It is indeed complete.   Just fabulous. 

 

Regards,

Charlie

jerry_k
Posted

Thanks Charlie. As always put a lot of energy into this display. However two or three more items are on my want list still...

 

Hope to find it sooner or later.

 

Take care,

Jerry

etienne
Posted

Very nice setup ... time and energy very well used !!

KASTAUFFER
Posted

Nice display Jerry! 

jerry_k
Posted

Thanks @KASTAUFFER Maybe you have some Aleutians Naval Aviators grouping to show?

 

Take care,

Jerry

  • 2 months later...
Posted

Awesome Displays, I love looking at these, Not only is the attention to detail done at a high standard the History and story
are attention getting and lead me to learn more, Thanks

BTW the Pilot in the  "1944 VBP-135 pilot from the Aleutians campaign" makes me feel
sorry for him, Looks like he is starting to sweat 🤣

I always like to have the Pink Floyd song "Learning to Fly" playing in the background when I work on my Aviator displays
 

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