Dude of the Day 2

[ausreenactor]

Dave
Thanks for that. Definitely an interesting topic and a more interesting flight jacket.
The PV-1 isn’t an aircraft I’m familiar with so I looked it up . Here’s some info on it .

Lockheed Ventura - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

RAAF flew them in WWII as well!

 

[Edward]

On this day in history July 5th, 1976, Forrest Gump started running across the USA. Three years, two months, 14 days and 16 hours later, in the middle of Utah, he suddenly stopped.
He was kinda tired…. Never Forget.

 

[Brettafett]

Captain Chester Coggeshall
343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group

 

[Grant]

Tommy Blackburn and his VF-17 badasses.

 

[Lorenzo_l]

They do look badass indeed....

 

[ausreenactor]

Could not imagine being that 'casual', given the circumstances... A different breed. Respect!

 

[Grant]

Twenty year old Staff Sergeant William W. Fleming of the 303rd BG cleans and inspects a belt of ammunition. A censor obscured the 427th BS insignia on Fleming's jacket. Passed as censored 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Going straight from School into the Air Force S/Sgt. (Gunner) Wm. W. Fleming, of Jenkins, Kentucky, has already taken part in 10 raids on Jerry and won the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. Only 20 years of age, he is married and has one child. "I'd like to see everyone back home," he says, "but I've some unfinished business to attend to just now." Another badass.

 

[ausreenactor]

Twenty year old Staff Sergeant William W. Fleming of the 303rd BG cleans and inspects a belt of ammunition. A censor obscured the 427th BS insignia on Fleming's jacket. Passed as censored 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Going straight from School into the Air Force S/Sgt. (Gunner) Wm. W. Fleming, of Jenkins, Kentucky, has already taken part in 10 raids on Jerry and won the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. Only 20 years of age, he is married and has one child. "I'd like to see everyone back home," he says, "but I've some unfinished business to attend to just now." Another badass.

View attachment 68556

Was the Air Medal 20 missions then a cluster for every consecutive 20 back then.

'Cleggs' snaffled a US Air Medal and three clusters. Three of his next appurtenance at 97 missions...

Threat was exponentially higher against 'Jerry' no doubt...