Greetings from Korea War Memorial / Seoul South Korea

[Pilot]

 

[Pilot]

Very interesting display about a Korea War US fighter pilot and an Aero ( I believe) A-2 jacket.
Very nice to see Museum...

 

[Smithy]

Many thanks for that. Looks like an interesting display. Lots of USAF jocks who started to fly in WWII wore A-2s during the Korea conflict even though they'd long ago been superseded. James Jabara is arguably the most famous A-2 wearer, being photographed by Stars and Stripes on the 20th May 1951 at Suwon, just after he'd landed and just after scoring his 5th and 6th MiGs to become the first jet ace in history, the jacket still having the USAAF decal on the left shoulder

 

[Pilot]

Great stuff all over!
Happy you like my poor contribution.
Great city and people too.
Still in the heat with the madman of the north.
Great museum.
Happy to contribute.
Will donate a few items to the museum, I have from this periode.
Cheers

 

[Roughwear]

Thanks for posting this. This later contract Aero A2 is in remarkably well preserved condition.

 

[Pilot]

Thank you Sir, coming from you, I feel very honored.
Thank you Sir, my pleasure.

 

[Grant]

Pilot, thanks for posting the pics - that Aero looks in good condition!
Many air crew wore WWII surplus flight kit as well as flew surplus WWII aircraft.
My dad flew B-26 Invaders in the war, wearing a D-1/B-1 trousers combo to keep warm!

 

[Pilot]

Thanks to all.

Pilot, thanks for posting the pics - that Aero looks in good condition!
Many air crew wore WWII surplus flight kit as well as flew surplus WWII aircraft.
My dad flew B-26 Invaders in the war, wearing a D-1/B-1 trousers combo to keep warm!

Wow!
very interesting.
Great to see history is still alive and a lot of families know and care.
Super!
Any idea about the Aero contract? I guess a 18775 P in seal HH but unsure.

 

[Smithy]

I'm no A-2 expert by a long chalk but does the label in that look unusual? I always thought most WWII A-2 labels had the writing lines centred in aspect to the label, plus it's missing the separate small size tag. The layout to my far from expert eyes looks more like what you'd see in a B-15 or similar. Great looking jacket though!

 

[Pilot]

Thx, I am no A-2 expert either, others here are much better in that, so I can only pass this question to them.
The size tag was there, but folded towards the label. My photos, made though an aroured window is not so sharp, but one can see the size tag ( a black rectangle on the right side from viewers prospective. ).
Thx and best.

 

[Roughwear]

This Aero is from the 42-15142-P contract, not the 18775-P contract. At least two different batches of cow hide were used to make jackets from this contract for 50,000 jackets from 28th March 1942. They were the russet shade found on many jackets from the 18775-P contract and the darker seal colour characteristic of the 21996 contract. This jacket is made from the latter hide and has the rarer brown waistband and wristlets. You can make out the last digit of the contract in the photo if you enlarge it. BTW Tim, the label is correct and the size tag is there, just folded back over the label.

 

[Pilot]

Thanks a lot for that.

 

[Smithy]

Thanks guys, looking closer, that's what threw me, the size tag has turned up hiding part of the maker's label which made it look unusual.

Spectacles Smithy?

 

[Pilot]

As promised, I went back and took some more photos.
I was not allowed ( yet) to touch the A-2 Aero...but maybe after a few honest meetings and ( Korea war items) donations...mabe it will loosen up a bit.
Interesting is the name of the owner/wearer. Can we trace this name/pilot?
Since living in Korea the half of the year, it would be fantastic to have some history on all this.
Thx and best...