A-2's in Korea
corona...@my-deja.com
boxes of old Kodachrome color slides taken during the Korean War that
he'd recently re-discovered (Dad flew night combat in B-26's). I was
amazed to see pictures of a number of his buddies sporting A-2's, and
even some D-1's. Dad said if they could get their hands on an A-2, it was
considered a prized possession, even if totally un-practical for the
climate in Korea . The color slides clearly show the different shades of
brown, from russett to real dark seal brown.
Unfortunately, for me, Dad never did get his hands on an A-2, but he did
come home with a D-1, which grandma gave away to Goodwill a number of
years ago :(
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Timbo
your dad flew B-26's. I've seen A2's in photos, don't remember any D-
1's but I'm glad to hear you saw them. It was an interesting "jacket"
conflict (literally) what with all those different jackets serving. All
my books are packed away but I have one ("Air War Korea"?) that has a
photo of a few fighter pilots standing in front of a Sabre jet on the
front cover in various flight gear including a handle bar mustachioed
jock in an A2...great photo.
--
Tim
ken_b...@my-deja.com
The Air Force Museum has a number of Korean War vintage A-2s on
display, and no doubt many more stored away. One of perticular note is
the A-2 worn by 1st Lt. William "Skeeter" Hudson on June 27th 1950,
when he shot down a Yak-11 in his F-82G "Twin Mustang." This was the
first official aerial kill of the Korean War, and one of four made by
the F-82, the last prop driven fighter to serve with the USAF. From the
photos I've seen of the 68th F(AW)S flying F-82G's early in the war,
almost all of the pilots had A-2s at the time the conflict started.
Regretably the Museum has the jacket displayed in such a way that the
label isn't visiable, so I can't determine the maker or contract #. It
would be interesting to find out if it's a late production contract
or "new old stock" that was issued to the F-82 pilots.
I really wish the Museum would do something about displaying the
jackets so that the labels are visiable. This would make the whole
experence much more educational for me. I'd like to be able to see the
style and know for sure that it was a perticular maker and contract.
Isn't education what going to a Museum is all about?
Ken
avg...@my-deja.com
> While visiting my parents last week, my father showed me a couple of
> boxes of old Kodachrome color slides taken during the Korean War that
> he'd recently re-discovered (Dad flew night combat in B-26's). I was
> amazed to see pictures of a number of his buddies sporting A-2's, and
> even some D-1's. Dad said if they could get their hands on an A-2, it was
> considered a prized possession, even if totally un-practical for the
> climate in Korea . The color slides clearly show the different shades of
> brown, from russett to real dark seal brown.
> Unfortunately, for me, Dad never did get his hands on an A-2, but he did
> come home with a D-1, which grandma gave away to Goodwill a number of
> years ago :(
I just finished reading "Bill Mauldin in Korea"; a book of article
compilations he wrote as a magazine correspondent covering the "police
action".
There's a chapter in which he interviews some Navy jet pilots and notes that
they were veterans of WW2. After the war they signed on as reserves then got
called up for Korea. Is it possible the Air Force had a similar program and
the pilots brought along their trusty A-2s?
What Jimmy Stewart movie portrayed him as a WW2 AAF vet (typecasting, ya
think?) who was called back as a reserve in the '50s? Strategic Air Command?
AVGFan
ken...@my-deja.com
ken_b...@my-deja.com wrote:
> In article <8kihba$10k$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> Timbo <timbo...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> > In article <8kibcl$s6u$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> > corona...@my-deja.com wrote:
of
> > > boxes of old Kodachrome color slides taken during the Korean War
> that
> > > he'd recently re-discovered (Dad flew night combat in B-26's). I
was
> > > amazed to see pictures of a number of his buddies sporting A-2's,
> and
> > > even some D-1's. Dad said if they could get their hands on an A-2,
> it
> > was
> > > considered a prized possession, even if totally un-practical for
the
> > > climate in Korea . The color slides clearly show the different
> shades
> > of
> > > brown, from russett to real dark seal brown.
> > > Unfortunately, for me, Dad never did get his hands on an A-2, but
he
> > did
> > > come home with a D-1, which grandma gave away to Goodwill a number
> of
> > > years ago :(
> > >
that
> > your dad flew B-26's. I've seen A2's in photos, don't remember any
D-
> > 1's but I'm glad to hear you saw them. It was an
interesting "jacket"
> > conflict (literally) what with all those different jackets serving.
> All
> > my books are packed away but I have one ("Air War Korea"?) that has
a
> > photo of a few fighter pilots standing in front of a Sabre jet on
the
> > front cover in various flight gear including a handle bar
mustachioed
> > jock in an A2...great photo.
> > --
> > Tim
> >
> display, and no doubt many more stored away. One of perticular note is
> the A-2 worn by 1st Lt. William "Skeeter" Hudson on June 27th 1950,
> when he shot down a Yak-11 in his F-82G "Twin Mustang." This was the
> first official aerial kill of the Korean War, and one of four made by
> the F-82, the last prop driven fighter to serve with the USAF. From
the
> photos I've seen of the 68th F(AW)S flying F-82G's early in the war,
> almost all of the pilots had A-2s at the time the conflict started.
> Regretably the Museum has the jacket displayed in such a way that the
> label isn't visiable, so I can't determine the maker or contract #. It
> would be interesting to find out if it's a late production contract
> or "new old stock" that was issued to the F-82 pilots.
> I really wish the Museum would do something about displaying the
> jackets so that the labels are visiable. This would make the whole
> experence much more educational for me. I'd like to be able to see the
> style and know for sure that it was a perticular maker and contract.
> Isn't education what going to a Museum is all about?
> Ken
Seems to me VERY few folk are actually interested who the jacket maker
is when it was worm by a war hero. In the overall context of WWII,
that's surely a very minor and insigificant detail, for God sake these
guys put their life on the line, this was not the "label obsessed
1990's, when Armani ruled, anyway a jacket displays better, and
preserves it's shape better on a dummy than a hanger. Some of us had
better be careful we don't turn into complete "trainspotters"
Ken@ Aero
Timbo
avg...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> > While visiting my parents last week, my father showed me a couple of
> > boxes of old Kodachrome color slides taken during the Korean War
that
> > he'd recently re-discovered (Dad flew night combat in B-26's). I was
> > amazed to see pictures of a number of his buddies sporting A-2's,
and
> > even some D-1's. Dad said if they could get their hands on an A-2,
it was
> > considered a prized possession, even if totally un-practical for the
> > climate in Korea . The color slides clearly show the different
shades of
> > brown, from russett to real dark seal brown.
> > Unfortunately, for me, Dad never did get his hands on an A-2, but
he did
> > come home with a D-1, which grandma gave away to Goodwill a number
of
> > years ago :(
>
> compilations he wrote as a magazine correspondent covering the "police
> action".
>
> There's a chapter in which he interviews some Navy jet pilots and
notes that
> they were veterans of WW2. After the war they signed on as reserves
then got
> called up for Korea. Is it possible the Air Force had a similar
program and
> the pilots brought along their trusty A-2s?
>
> What Jimmy Stewart movie portrayed him as a WW2 AAF vet (typecasting,
ya
> think?) who was called back as a reserve in the '50s? Strategic Air
Command?
>
> AVGFan
>
Timbo
ken...@my-deja.com wrote:
> In article <8kjefs$ko7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> ken_b...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > In article <8kihba$10k$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> > Timbo <timbo...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> > > In article <8kibcl$s6u$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> that
> > > your dad flew B-26's. I've seen A2's in photos, don't remember any
> D-
> > > 1's but I'm glad to hear you saw them. It was an
> interesting "jacket"
> > > conflict (literally) what with all those different jackets
serving.
> > All
> > > my books are packed away but I have one ("Air War Korea"?) that
has
> a
> > > photo of a few fighter pilots standing in front of a Sabre jet on
> the
> > > front cover in various flight gear including a handle bar
> mustachioed
> > > jock in an A2...great photo.
displayed jacket (or anything else) on file...I'd be very unimpressed
if they didn't. And yes, education is what museums are all about-from
the big picture to the smallest details.
If caring about detail makes me a trainspotter, I'm proud to be so;)
jd...@my-deja.com
Timbo <timbo...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> In article <8kk7ln$5vo$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> avg...@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > > While visiting my parents last week, my father showed me a couple
of
> > > boxes of old Kodachrome color slides taken during the Korean War
> that
> > > he'd recently re-discovered (Dad flew night combat in B-26's). I
was
> and
> > > even some D-1's. Dad said if they could get their hands on an A-2,
> it was
> > > considered a prized possession, even if totally un-practical for
the
> > > climate in Korea . The color slides clearly show the different
> shades of
> > > brown, from russett to real dark seal brown.
> > > Unfortunately, for me, Dad never did get his hands on an A-2, but
> he did
> > > come home with a D-1, which grandma gave away to Goodwill a number
> of
> > > years ago :(
> >
> > compilations he wrote as a magazine correspondent covering the
"police
> > action".
> >
> > There's a chapter in which he interviews some Navy jet pilots and
> notes that
> > they were veterans of WW2. After the war they signed on as reserves
> then got
> > called up for Korea. Is it possible the Air Force had a similar
> program and
> > the pilots brought along their trusty A-2s?
> >
> > What Jimmy Stewart movie portrayed him as a WW2 AAF vet
(typecasting,
> ya
> > think?) who was called back as a reserve in the '50s? Strategic Air
> Command?
> >
> > AVGFan
> >
It might be a long shot, but I know there were some aces like "Gabby"
Gabreski and Robin Olds who served in both WWII and Korea doing the
airshow/public speaking circuits recently. If you happen upon them,
they would be good people to ask about post-1945 A2 use.
aur...@my-deja.com
Jimmy Stewart never disappointed when he was typecast as Jimmy Stewart.
He was rather capable at playing himself.
ken_b...@my-deja.com
Timbo <timbo...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> In article <8kk7sn$695$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> ken...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > In article <8kjefs$ko7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> > ken_b...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > > Timbo <timbo...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> > > > In article <8kibcl$s6u$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> > that
> > > > your dad flew B-26's. I've seen A2's in photos, don't remember
any
> > D-
> > > > 1's but I'm glad to hear you saw them. It was an
> > interesting "jacket"
> > > > conflict (literally) what with all those different jackets
> serving.
> > > All
> > > > my books are packed away but I have one ("Air War Korea"?) that
> has
> > a
> > > > photo of a few fighter pilots standing in front of a Sabre jet
on
> > the
> > > > front cover in various flight gear including a handle bar
> > mustachioed
> > > > jock in an A2...great photo.
> > > > --
> > > > Tim
> > > >
> displayed jacket (or anything else) on file...I'd be very unimpressed
> if they didn't. And yes, education is what museums are all about-from
> the big picture to the smallest details.
> If caring about detail makes me a trainspotter, I'm proud to be so;)
>
> --
> Tim
>
You said it, Tim!!
In my opinion the label and maker of the jacket is nearly as important
as the jacket's history. One can only stare at a jacket worn by ace
pilot so and so just so many times before it becomes simply another
exhibit. I'm finding a lot of new interest in those old Museum jackets
by trying to determine who made it, as well as approximately when the
jacket was issued. It's interesting that a great many B-2 caps were
manufactured near here in Coschocton Ohio, which was then, and still
is, a relatively small rural farm town. Lately I've been doing some
research trying to find out where the original factory stood. Another
experence I've had recently is discovering that my father's A-2 is the
only one issued to a member of the class of Luke Field 43-C, that can
be traced directly back to that graduating class. This wouldn't be
significant except that Luke Field 43-C was also the class that
Charles "Chuck" Yeager graduated from for "basic," and where he too was
issued his original A-2. Yeager sacrificed his A-2 when he was shot
down over France, escaping the Nazis in disguise. Noone (not even he)
knew what style of A-2 he wore while piloting P-51's over Europe until
dad mentioned having graduated with him (they're both together in the
class photos). Dad recalled that all the graduating pilots got their A-
2s from the same box, and all were russet colored, so it's safe to
assume that they were all from the same maker (though this was not
always the case). Because of the photo records of dad in his jacket
alongside Yeager in his, and the fact that their jackets came from the
same box, it's finally possible to conclude that Yeager was issued a
Bronco A-2.
On the matter of the Air Force Museum supplying addional information on
their exhibits, I'm afraid that they agree with Ken@Aero in not caring
who made the jacket. None of their jacket records list any information
about the maker or label. I've told them that this is a serious
oversight, and that their records should be updated with label
information, but so far they seem uninterested. But what can you say
about a Museum that has allowed Jimmy Stewart's RW A-2 to develop a
severe mildew problem, and still allow it to sit on display without
being treated!! They're absolutely afraid to touch it. Any serious
collector would be heartbroken at seeing what's being allowed to happon
to this historic jacket. I've told them about it. I don't know what
else to do.
Ken Bigcat
avg...@my-deja.com
That's a great story about your dad's graduation. I've often tried to imagine
that moment and its significance to the pilots; passing training, getting the
coveted silver wings...then the big box is brought out, and the even more
coveted flight jackets are passed around! I bet that class picture has a lot
of proud faces in it!
The condition of Stewart's jacket is an awful tragedy, and the museum's
neglect (and seeming apathy) makes it worse. Maybe this society of Jacketeers
can do something to bring some more awareness of the significance of these
relics. Maybe we can flood the museum with e-mail of our concerns?
AVGFan
Timbo
imagine
> that moment and its significance to the pilots; passing training,
getting the
> coveted silver wings...then the big box is brought out, and the even
more
> coveted flight jackets are passed around! I bet that class picture
has a lot
> of proud faces in it!
>
> The condition of Stewart's jacket is an awful tragedy, and the
museum's
> neglect (and seeming apathy) makes it worse. Maybe this society of
Jacketeers
> can do something to bring some more awareness of the significance of
these
> relics. Maybe we can flood the museum with e-mail of our concerns?
>
> AVGFan
>
Thanks Ken Bigcat for all the info.
ken_b...@my-deja.com
Timbo <timbo...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> In article <8kmskr$5bu$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
to
> imagine
> > that moment and its significance to the pilots; passing training,
> getting the
> > coveted silver wings...then the big box is brought out, and the even
> more
> > coveted flight jackets are passed around! I bet that class picture
> has a lot
> > of proud faces in it!
> >
> > The condition of Stewart's jacket is an awful tragedy, and the
> museum's
> > neglect (and seeming apathy) makes it worse. Maybe this society of
> Jacketeers
> > can do something to bring some more awareness of the significance of
> these
> > relics. Maybe we can flood the museum with e-mail of our concerns?
> >
> > AVGFan
> >
> Thanks Ken Bigcat for all the info.
Charles, are you out there? There's a DEFINATE mildew problem going on
with Jimmy's jacket. When I last visited the Museum, about sixty days
ago, there was a pronounced and growing ammount of the nasty white
stuff, especially around the stiching and seams near the collar and
shoulder areas. I first noticed it about a year ago, and now it is very
noticeable. Judging from the fact that the folds in the sleeves are in
EXACTLY the same position as in photos that I took of the jacket
several years ago I'd say that it hasn't been removed from the case for
some time. When I pointed out the mildew to a Museum guide he said "Oh,
NOBODY is allowed to touch THAT jacket!!"
Charles, can you be of any help?
Ken