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"Flying Trapeze" A-2 photo's
- Thread starter oose
- Start date
zoomer
Well-Known Member
Great sleuthing oose!
In order, they are Sgt. Luke Williamson (Security jacket); Sgt. Billy McDonald (Werber); and Capt. Claire Chennault (Werber). Dates between 1934, when the small, gold stamped name tags were adopted, and '36, when the team disbanded.
A little background on the 3 Men on the Flying Trapeze from this site:
In order, they are Sgt. Luke Williamson (Security jacket); Sgt. Billy McDonald (Werber); and Capt. Claire Chennault (Werber). Dates between 1934, when the small, gold stamped name tags were adopted, and '36, when the team disbanded.
A little background on the 3 Men on the Flying Trapeze from this site:
The Trapeze were actually the AAC's second stunt team, after the ill-fated Three Musketeers.
Silver Surfer
Well-Known Member
interesting to see these pix in a high rez scan. they give us a real idea of what these early jacs looked like, hide, and fit wise. interestingly, the sat either has really long arms or williamson has really short arms. the other jacs look to fit properly, but they too have longer arms. i have seen this in many early a-2 pix, as well as early wwll pix. then, like magic, in later wwll pix the arms appear shorter. yes, yes, yes, they do shorten with wear, but.....i understand evolution, but in the course of 3-5 period during the early-mid 20th century, did american males go from t-rex to orang?
A
Anonymous
Guest
Great photo's thanks for sharing!
EMBLEMHUNTER
Well-Known Member
Isn't that the "Air University" patch on their jackets ???????????????/
Johnny
Johnny
zoomer
Well-Known Member
Yup. The Trapeze started there when it was the Tactical School.
Jacket patch
Jacket patch
TankBuster
Active Member
That's a great shot of Chennault!
TankBuster
Active Member
Chandler said:
It's not uncommon to have long tenured pilots be issued more than one A-2. I've personally seen a couple well documented groups where guys were issued more than one A-2 and they served for far less time than Chennault did! I'm sure some of the higher ranking officers were entitled to more than one if that's what they wanted.
zoomer
Well-Known Member
Every pilot on Hap Arnold's 1934 Alaska flight got a new Werber with a special patch commemorating the achievement. Pix suggest most got a size larger than usual, perhaps for extra layering.
Some pix of Security A-2s, otoh, show them seriously weathered, as if the finish didn't hold up to use. There's even one shot with what looks like a pocket missing. So perhaps there were issues with durability yet to be worked out in that first contract.
Some pix of Security A-2s, otoh, show them seriously weathered, as if the finish didn't hold up to use. There's even one shot with what looks like a pocket missing. So perhaps there were issues with durability yet to be worked out in that first contract.
herk115
Active Member
TankBuster said:
I have pictures of my father in no less than three different A-2s during his war years. I don't know the circumstances, but multiple issue was certainly possible. Then again, at one point he was a supply officer, so he may have known how to pull the appropriate strings. I suppose, though, that during the peacetime air force, when the regulations state that one's garments must be "clean, dry, and serviceable," that when an A-2 got a bit worn it could be taken back to supply and exchanged for a new one. I was never bashful about asking for new CWUs, flight suits, nomex gloves, etc., and they were granted as asked for.
