Just got this grouping which I have been chasing for 15+ years.

The veteran was Joliet native F.O. Bob McDonough, a glider pilot with the 87th TCS, 438th TCG.

He flew on D-Day, Southern France, Market-Garden and Varsity assaults!

The grouping has the following; Cut down 'Ike' jacket with FO bars, bullion on blue Glider pilot wing, sewn ribbon bar, felt 9th.

The second uniform is his 4-pocket with same set up except for a metal AECo Glider wing.

Also in the group was the 'crusher' style hat with WO insignia, Wrap brooch Air Medal and 2 other campaigns, 2 extra ribbon bars, several photos, khaki o/s hat, British formation marks, bracelet, and a newspaper article about his wartime service.

First up is the Ike

Enjoy, Mark

 

 

 

Here is the 4-pocket

 

 

 

The other goodies:

 

 

 

 

Wow that's a fantastic grouping!!

 

Some good looking uniforms and an interesting history, nice find!

 

Regards

 

Note: If you're ever selling this grouping, please let me know

The other goodies:

 

"British formation marks" - is that what the small blue & red strips are? I'm dumb about many things, including glider related things and also about what British formation marks are - can you explain?

 

Great set!

 

MW

Absolutely outstanding group, thanks for sharing!

 

 

Beau

Hello,

 

This grouping is just fantastic. Those bullion wings !!!

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

 

All the best,

 

Tim.

Hello,

 

This grouping is just fantastic. Those bullion wings !!!

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

 

All the best,

 

Tim.

Were those bullion wings English made?

All I can say is ......mike

Very nice, I've re-arranged all pictures for better reading!

Mark,

An outstanding group.The wait was definately worth it!!

Glider stuff is a favorite of mine.I have a group to a man who flew the 2nd drop in Hollan and Varsity also.

Thanks for sharing.

 

RD

One fantastic grouping you got there.

Guys, thanks for the kind words, this one is a keeper.

The bullion wing is English-made. As for the British formation marks, I have seen them on a few GP uniforms, I'm still not sure who 'officially' qualified for them or what they did to earn them. See the photo below for one on a uniform. The GP in this picture was with the 100th TCS, 441st TCG.

Mark

 

That really is an impressive grouping.

Eventhough I'm into Armor/TD, I do like this very much.

Thanks for showing it.

 

Do you know what troops he carried in Operation Market Garden?

 

Erwin

Man! There has been some really great AAF stuff posted recently. This is another great group!

J.D.

BEAUTIFUL grouping! This is an awesome acquisition and worth the wait in getting it!!!

Awesome! I was lucky to inherit all of my grandfather's glider-related things. I too, have his uniform with a set of bullion glider wings.

 

And I've always wondered, I see countless pictures of Glider Pilot Flight Officers wearing the regular officer cap and having the band around the cuffs, yet they were only authorized to wear the Warrant Officer's cap and uniform. I wonder if it really mattered or if they really cared, that's why there are so many of them that wore regular officer's things.

I have both versions of the tunic, with and without the stripe. Same with the hat insignia, most that I have seen wore the Officers eagle, but some wore the W.O. version. The GP's seemed to have their own way of doing things.

Mark

Just an update, after some research I've discovered that the 438th TCG gliders took elements of the 82nd into Normandy during the Elmira lift, later in the day of the 6th. Erwin, they carried the 101st into Holland, I'm still trying to ascertain which particular units. As for the British formation marking, it appears that it was a particular honorary award to the GP's who flew into combat in the Horsa, however I cannot confirm this, I need to check with some Brit Airborne types. Mark

Just got this grouping which I have been chasing for 15+ years.

The veteran was Joliet native F.O. Bob McDonough, a glider pilot with the 87th TCS, 438th TCG.

He flew on D-Day, Southern France, Market-Garden and Varsity assaults!

The grouping has the following; Cut down 'Ike' jacket with FO bars, bullion on blue Glider pilot wing, sewn ribbon bar, felt 9th.

The second uniform is his 4-pocket with same set up except for a metal AECo Glider wing.

Also in the group was the 'crusher' style hat with WO insignia, Wrap brooch Air Medal and 2 other campaigns, 2 extra ribbon bars, several photos, khaki o/s hat, British formation marks, bracelet, and a newspaper article about his wartime service.

First up is the Ike

Enjoy, Mark

 

 

 

 

Awesome grouping.

 

My friend was in the same squadron. I'll ask if he knew your man.

 

Rich

Rich, that would be great. Can you ask if he might have a photo of him as well? Thanks, Mark

The GP's seemed to have their own way of doing things.

 

That is very true. My grandpa's letters tell they were a tight-knit bunch that really understood what it was like for each other because nobody else could. They considered themselves part of the AAF but I don't think anyone had any idea what to do with them, so they made them fly C-47's and ferry planes and do all kinds of stuff. I mean, the last plane my grandpa ever flew was a B-17 back to England, so go figure.

Just an outstanding group! I love the bullion glider pilot wings....very very nice! These guys were the "nut-jobs" in the whole AB scheme of things. This comes directly from a lot of the 325th GIR vets that I have talked to. They said that NO ONE would want these guys jobs! Many of these men would qualify for the CIB as well, if autherized. Even though they were supposed to be taken out as soon as they delivered their loads, many were caught up and ended up fighting for days with the Infantry providing an extra man on the line until things could be sorted out and removed from the field.

 

A great looking grouping...for sure! BTW, are the medals named? I didn't catch if you said they were or not?

Thanks again. The wings are really sweet, it's the second attributed set of English bullion Glider wings I have. The Air Medal is not named, it was a 'field' award and wouldn't be. Mark

Mark,

 

Before I was terminally stricken with the WWI aviation illness, I once collected WWII aviation myself and still have a bit of a fondness for it. This is a superb grouping and I am glad that your 15 year pursuit has finally resulted in your acquisition of it. Fantastic group!