Looks like Flak staff inspecting a shot down bomber
AgreeLooks like Flak staff inspecting a shot down bomber
Burt, it’s about French garrison withdraw from Niger.????
Sorry SM I missed the significance of this photo
At least, French military prevented ISIS or their buddies spread all over Africa, and under very limit budget, their one year’s budget equals to what US Africa Command spent in a week or two.I'd guess this is a picture of The West giving up the ghost in Niger- right?
You’re right his jacket is baggy. So my contention has always been that the reason the guys in Europe and colder climates have trim fitting A2’s is that they wear a number of layers under it to keep warm. Remember the A2 was originally issued as a summer flight jacket. If they wear those same jackets without the layering, their jackets would look loose on them as well .Erik Shilling is in the A-2 in the color photo. JC has told me he believes it to be an Aero (second incarnation of the company? I'll have to check my notes).
Shilling is one of the few AAC pilots to bring his A-2 to the AVG. At one time I wrote up a list of every pilot I could find in a picture wearing an A-2 while in the AVG (not the 23rd FG) -- the list wasn't long.
For my own aesthetic, I can't agree with Shilling's A-2 fit -- it's more baggy than I prefer in the jacket, though I'm not one who thinks it should fit like a shirt. Somewhere in between.
But there are plenty of pics of men wearing an A-2 just over a uniform shirt and the jacket doesn't look baggy (or trim).If they wear those same jackets without the layering, their jackets would look loose on them as well .
I’m guessing this guy on the right didn’t didn’t have much of a choice when it came to aesthetic preference…But there are plenty of pics of men wearing an A-2 just over a uniform shirt and the jacket doesn't look baggy (or trim).
Of course, the main thing to keep in mind is that there are also plenty of pics showing 4 or 5 guys in A-2s and they all fit differently!
It's really all a matter of your own aesthetic preference.
We've discussed him previously (sorry I never remember his name) -- if you read 30 Seconds Over Tokyo they talk about him being a giant of a man -- very atypical compared to most air crew.I’m guessing this guy on the right didn’t didn’t have much of a choice when it came to aesthetic preference…
(Doolittle Raiders)
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