US WWII Glider Pilots & A-2s pics

[Brettafett]

Stumbled upon these, randomly, as one does. Thought it interesting, especially regarding the fit.

 

[B-Man2]

Great photos Bretta !
As was the case, with most of the issued A2’s, the fit was all over the place . Particularly with the photos of the guys wearing jackets that look to large on them, even-though they are wearing a full uniform shirt and tie under them and may even be wearing a layer of long underwear or a sweater as well .

 

[Brettafett]

Yeah, now for some fun, any guesses as to contracts lol
Impossible to say... I know, but second pic down, Id say Aero left, RW right
third pic down, maybe a couple of RWs
Last pic, Monarch on right

 

[B-Man2]

I’d say RWs were very well represented in those photos . I was looking for a DuBow but you’re right … hard to tell .

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Great pics Brett - good spot

 

[Silver Surfer]

very cool, and thanx for taking the time to put the pix up.

 

[Smithy]

Good comfortable fits - if you have to get out of one of those bad boys quickly I wouldn't be wanting a skin tight jacket either ;-)

But seriously those gliders had no heating and although they didn't fly at high altitudes it would be damn chilly and draughty in there. I bet those boys were wearing thermals/woollen undergarments as well as their normal dress under those A-2 when flying combat missions.

The more I've been interested in A-2s the more I like a comfortable fit rather than the not very utilitarian trim fit (which looks great when you're standing still with your arms down but is bloody hopeless if you actually move in the damn thing).

 

[Lorenzo_l]

Those are great pictures, Brett. Not only for the plethora of A-2s, but also for the pilots and gliders. Thanks for posting.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

.... and after you've done your bit being a pilot you're not going back to the bar for a snifter either.

 

[Brettafett]

Its interesting that these guys were issued A-2s... Ive seen a ton of docmentaries and read some articles etc where these guys received limited training and were basically GIs, no?

 

[Flightengineer]

Interesting photos. However, it is possible that they are instructors. Someone trained glider pilots.

 

[Brettafett]

For those interested, here's the website

NWWIIGPA-PERSONNEL

National Association of World War II Glider Pilots

www.ww2gp.org

 

[Brettafett]

And here is some other very interesting source of info...

WWII Glider Pilots

There is very little pictorial history and artifacts of the WWII era glider activity at the Atterbury Army Air Field and we need your help finding photographs, memorabilia and personal stories about...

www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org

 

[blackrat2]

Not withstanding the higher waisted trousers a lot of those pics seem to appear that the jackets look long and when zipped up sit very differently to some of the repro’s out there