Going to War with your Teddy Bear

[redjoshman]

I was looking through photos in the Life Archives of AAFs for my impression and stumbled upon this:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24 ... _large.jpg

I know its not quite not a Teddy Bear, but it is still pretty similar. I also love how he is able to keep his composure with that thing in his pants and I also expect Buzz Rickson to be making an exact repro by the end of the month costing no less than $500 dollars and ebay prices of old stuffed animals to go through the roof.

Also noticed that he is wearing an A-2 with A-3 trousers, something I'm seening a lot in the 1942-1943 time frame in England among the 8th AF.

Anyway just thought that this pic was funny and pretty cool.

-Josh

 

[Jason]

Great find there! In the face of never knowing wether you'd come back from your next mission or not, a lot of servicemen developed good luck rituals or carried good luck charms... something that is carried on today by all services. Some people explained it away as aircrew being a superstitious lot, but in reality its just a normal human psycological reaction to dealing with prolonged stressful situations.

I like your idea of a BR repro teddy

 

[Chandler]

Probably a good luck gift from his girlfriend, maybe even a child.

Can only hope it was successful!

Chandler