Hello Gents!
A very busy schedule prevents me from being on here more often, but I thought I'd offer this update.
Just finished the last of the photographs for the book, which will go into production ASAP, with a projected publication date of 1 July, 2022.
Not quite two weeks ago, I was admitted into the archives at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, and photographed 10 jackets.
Mind you, these were not just
any A-2's, but a hand-picked selection, including:
Jimmy Stewart...yes that Jimmy Stewart
Thomas C. Griffin, Doolittle Raider
William N. Alsbrook, Tuskegee Airman in the 99th Pursuit Squadron of the 332nd FG
George R. Bailey, David L. "Tex" Hill, and John T. Donovan...they all wore the same M422 jacket in the original Flying Tigers, otherwise known as the American Volunteer Group
Philip M. Rasmussen, pilot who got off the ground to down one Japanese plane during the Pearl Harbor attack
Evelyn Ordway Peterson, Flight Nurse in the Pacific
Hub Zemke, multiple ace in the European Theatre
Jay Zeamer, Medal of Honor recipient in the southwest Pacific
Hess Bomberger, P-51 pilot in England and local Atlanta resident
Max L. Markman, B-24 crewman in the PTO with cool "Flying Circus" artwork
I'm hesitant to post any images, as a number have already been "appropriated" from various sources, and are now appearing worldwide on various unpaid-for websites. You can see a few that have been photographed at my regular website,
www.johnslemp.com, and a project specific website at
www.wwiibomberboys.com.
I'm giving a Zoom presentation on Thursday evening to a local photo club, and all are invited. While a few jacket images will be shown, for the most part the presentation will be about the "back story" of the project...how it came about, where it has led me, people I"ve met along the way, a bit about the photo techniques used, and where it is all heading. Be patient at the start, as I'm sure there will be photo club business to attend to.
Here are the details:
Topic: Peachtree Corners Photography Club February Meeting
Time: Feb 10, 2022 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86132171338?pwd=cHc2U2FGMnNuVEdNRUtVZ0V0QWwwZz09
Meeting ID: 861 3217 1338
Passcode: 766825
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As to the comments regarding the use of "bomber jacket" versus "flight jacket"...I get it, but have to gently disagree. This book is meant for the general public, and as such, they
don't know the difference. Since it's all been self-financed to this point, I'm gonna keep using "bomber jacket" as the general descriptive term, and the majority of potential buyers will know what that means. Soon it will be all about selling books.
To that end, it anyone would like purchase a book at the pre-publication price, go to
www.wwiibomberboys.com to get yours now. Once they are published, the price will increase approximately 20%. By the way, 149 jackets have been photographed to date. Included will be chapters on preservation by a professional conservator, a chapter on how these jackets have influenced fashion design worldwide by a fashion historian, and a discussion on collecting jackets, by someone who knows much more about that than I do.
Thanks!
John Slemp
Photographer