Nice period photos of A-2's

[Officer Dibley]

And another appearing to have no finish left. Re-dye candidate ?

 

[Smithy]

And another appearing to have no finish left. Re-dye candidate ?

View attachment 22168

That's probably early war or even prior to the US involvement in WWII as the under wing star is prior to the 6th May 1942 adoption of the removal of the red centre dot. The jacket certainly looks like a well worn russet number!

 

[B-Man2]

Love these old photos...keep posting them guys!

 

[Officer Dibley]

These dudes appear to have well-grained jackets. They both look more like steer hide A-2’s i have seen than horse - just my opinion ....

 

[Officer Dibley]

Another nice shot - of a thinner hide ??

 

[Officer Dibley]

This could be either a thinner or a thicker hide !

 

[Officer Dibley]

Not a very good job by the censors on the mission board !

 

[B-Man2]

Great A2 photos .. Some of those could definitely be steer. Didn’t realize how many contracts were made using steer until I looked at Gary Eastmans book, “The A2 Manual”. Turns out there were more than we originally thought.

 

[Micawber]

This could be either a thinner or a thicker hide !

View attachment 22173

That's Charles "Red" Cliburn of the 91st BG H

 

[B-Man2]

That’s a pretty cool photo of him. Very studley.

 

[B-Man2]

There was some conversation on another thread about the height of caps. That ones pretty tall as original caps go.

 

[Smithy]

There was some conversation on another thread about the height of caps. That ones pretty tall as original caps go.

Maybe a newish cap that hasn't had time for the headset to squash it into submission?

 

[Micawber]

TBH Most of the images of crews I've seen from the 91st [and I've seen a LOT ...and some here will know why] the most common wear for officers when flying combat missions was a B-6 or later A-11 flight helmet.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Looks to be a shiny new jacket this cadet is wearing

 

[Officer Dibley]

A few more. Many different types of fit !

 

[B-Man2]

Looks to be a shiny new jacket this cadet is wearing

View attachment 22553

From the size of that collar I’d guess that’s a spanking new Rough Wear but that zip looks like a Conmar so could it be a Perry or a Cable?

 

[Officer Dibley]

I was going to mention the zipper - i didn’t recognise it Burt so thanks for that info. I thought Roughwear had a collar stand, no ? Or only some ?
Dave

 

[B-Man2]

I was going to mention the zipper - i didn’t recognise it Burt so thanks for that info. I thought Roughwear had a collar stand, no ? Or only some ?
Dave

Good call Dave!
Had to go to the ELC A2 book to check. Every RW contract has a collar stand according to the book. I found one Cable contract W535ac 24759 42-10008P that had no collar stand and came with a Conmar Zip on one particular version of the jacket that came with small ring press studs........ And to think that some guys are good enough to know this stuff by heart ....... Whoa!!

 

[Officer Dibley]

A couple of original 8” x 10”’s i just received.
Some of the A-2 fitting will craze some of you !

 

[Flightengineer]

A couple of original 8” x 10”’s i just received.
Some of the A-2 fitting will craze some of you !

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Nice historical photos.
In these jackets was definitely comfortable to sit in the cockpit!