Recent content by Theo J.

There's an eBay retailer, SM WHOLESALE STORE, who offers replica RAF flying boots in both black and brown. They mainly serve the film industry, but the price isn't too bad and the boots look okay. Anyone dealt with them?

Ummm...okay. I think you're proving the existence of cyber-glossolalia...but, whatever.

Christmas present to self: a NEW Eddie Bauer B-9 parka (XL Long), on closeout due to a minor fabric issue. Someone got careless w/ a box-cutter while unpacking, inflicting a 1/4 inch cut EXACTLY where a WW2-spec nametag would go. Parka cost just over $100, nametag from FlightJacket.com cost $25...

That's a really nice restoration! Helps when the original garment's fairly intact (one of my A-2s had apparently been through a fire of some sort---yet it still came out nicely, albeit with a hint of 'character'). Cheers!

Patton Stories... My late Dad served in the 3rd Infantry Division during WW2, and was under General Patton's command several times. Watching the film PATTON on television w/ Pop was interesting but unnerving---I kept more of an eye on his blood pressure than on the TV screen! (Just as well that...

1936 Pattern Flying Boots... I'll purposely avoid the phrase "I HATE YOU SHOW-OFFS!!!", and simply admit how much I miss my Avirex '36 Pattern boots (w/ the Vibram soles; they may have been inaccurate, but I got all over the place even in deep snow thanks to those lovelies). WPG's '36 boots...

I'd appreciate any feedback re: ATF's B-10 bomber jackets. I've got one of their early-pattern HBT jackets and two caps (all of them well-made, and I'm quite happy with 'em). The B-10, however, is a birthday gift for my partner's dad, a former B-24 crewman. His original B-10 was confiscated...

Definitely---most peoples' choices in wartime are limited to what's immediately before them; the massive scale of events doesn't give most the time, information, or incentive to do otherwise. The "right side/wrong side" component can only really be applied in retrospect.

re: 'family on the wrong side'... A very good friend, born in 1969 in then-West Germany, nursed her surviving grandmother through the old lady's final days. The grandkids wanted Grandmother to translate her letters to and from her late husband, written in a now-obsolete form of German script...

Thanks for the thought---I got drawn into Warbird flying via a T-6 formation flight in 1971, and collected old flying jackets/helmets/flight suits for years (all of it museums now). My posting was intended to help another guy who clearly hadn't prowled all the archives yet. But I appreciate your...

alternate AAF flight jacket for re-enactor Thanks for your posts, everybody---I think the original bloke was looking for something light enough to wear while earthbound, yet eye-catching because everyone else doesn't have one (but AUTHENTIC, mind you). What Sherlock Holmes called an "admittedly...

Sometime back, there was a posting inquiring about an acceptably authentic flight jacket which wasn't as heavy as an A-2 or an M-41. The best bet is a first-pattern HBT jacket (which you can get from At The Front Militaria). They're light, comfortable, and w/ suitable decorations would look like...

The Jacket In Question... Thanks for the posts/advice/perspectives. This particular jacket lived a pretty advanturous life; it was issued to Ross McCleod (sp?), who was a Naval aviator in the North Pacific and possibly in the Battle of the Aleutians. Afte the war, he was a bush pilot, and he...

response to suggestions re: flight jacket... Thanks for your thoughtful replies. The particular leather conditioner (Peckard's) is new to me; in truth, I'm thinking of advertising on eBay with full-disclosure warnings re: condition. Mostly, I'd rather not have a salvagable historical item (even...

Just this morning I was 'gifted' (still not sure if that's quite the word) w/ a Navy M-445A flight jacket, which belonged to a friend's uncle. The good news: IT'S ALL THERE! Only hardware missing is one pocket button,\. The Bad News: it's damned-awfully fragile, dried-out, the zipper and...