Too Fat to Fly?

Fletch · Jan 22, 2013

Not a wartime pic, but half military. Here is petite, winsome aviatrix Bettie Lund - presumably at the National Air Races in the early 1930s, where she was a steady competitor - with an unidentified Air Corps officer who is just about the out-of-shapest flyboy I have seen from that rawboned, suntanned era. Could Col. Blimp even have fit into a standard flightsuit of that day?

Guttersnipe · Jan 23, 2013

Ha, I thought this was going to an Observation Car thread of some sort!

I'm pretty sure that in the era, once awarded, Army Air Corps officers didn't need to maintain their active flight status in order to keep thier wings.

I know in the late 60s, my grandpa maintained his active flight status for his last several years in the Air Force only to keep receiving flight pay (he had two kids in college afterall). At that point he was a full colonel and wore glasses ... other than his minimum monthly cockpit hours, the only thing he flew was a desk.

Atticus Finch · Jan 23, 2013

Col. Blimp might not look so rotund if he wasn't wearing those silly boots.

AF

dhermann1 · Jan 23, 2013

Slightly off the subject (and I know there are threads on this subject elsewhere around here), but another reminder that the US Army had a perfectly excellent looking uniform for decades before they started mucking about with it. Being approximately the same shape as this gentleman, I find him absolutely perfect in silhouette.
Fletch! When ya comin' to NY again?

Sprinkles · Jan 30, 2013

Yea, regardless of his "roundness" the US Army had great uniforms in WW1-WW2 periods.

Dudleydoright · Jan 30, 2013

Easy to mock a guy past his prime. I wonder how you'll be when you are a similar age. At least he had actually been there and done something rather than just worn vintage clothes ...... Better to be a tired old has-been than a slim never-was.

I haven't read you mocking equally ridiculous people on here. You know: the fat, the old and those who have been nowhere and done nothing types who like to post photos of themselves on here. Is that because you would have to look them in the eye ?

Live and let live, eh ?

Besides, you don't get to chose what you wear with what in the military.

Fletch · Jan 30, 2013

Sorry gents. I really thought the comment would be taken in context of that "rawboned, suntanned era," not applied to Loungers in the here-and-now. Not my intention.

I'm 5'11" and somewhere north of 200#, okay with my shape, but maybe a little too okay with it.

BTW dhermann1, I will be in NY Feb. 10-15. Anything going on?

Peacoat · Jan 31, 2013

Fletch said:
Not a wartime pic, but half military. Here is petite, winsome aviatrix Bettie Lund - presumably at the National Air Races in the early 1930s, where she was a steady competitor - with an unidentified Air Corps officer who is just about the out-of-shapest flyboy I have seen from that rawboned, suntanned era. Could Col. Blimp even have fit into a standard flightsuit of that day?

From the looks of the pilot, he is about 20 years older than most of the rawboned youngsters we are used to seeing of that era. Age will normally do that to most of us. In his youth he probably carried thirty pounds less than he does in the photograph. I imagine he was more desk jockey than stickman when that picture was snapped.

Sprinkles · Jan 31, 2013

Also...remember the infamous Hermann Goering. He was a fighter pilot in WWI and then we all know he got a "little" large.

Stearmen · Jan 31, 2013

Dudleydoright said:
Better to be a tired old has-been than a slim never-was.

.

To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid! Don't ask me how I know.

Story · Feb 1, 2013

Peacoat said:
From the looks of the pilot, he is about 20 years older than most of the rawboned youngsters we are used to seeing of that era. .

Actually, look closely at the National Guard yearbooks prior to WWII - you'll see alot of 1) really old/older LTs/CPTs/MAJs/LTCs and 2) the older they are, the fatter they look.

Marshall (IIRC) had to flush alot of brass when the war started, or put them in stateside positions.

Mystic · Feb 1, 2013

Fletch said:
Not a wartime pic, but half military. Here is petite, winsome aviatrix Bettie Lund - presumably at the National Air Races in the early 1930s, where she was a steady competitor - with an unidentified Air Corps officer who is just about the out-of-shapest flyboy I have seen from that rawboned, suntanned era. Could Col. Blimp even have fit into a standard flightsuit of that day?

Not to fat to fly....

Just needs more horsepower. lol

Edward · Feb 1, 2013

Sprinkles said:
Also...remember the infamous Hermann Goering. He was a fighter pilot in WWI and then we all know he got a "little" large.

Ha! I'm sure that was the weed. I heard he also came to enjoy wearing a dress; I'd dearly love to see a photo of him in drag.

vitanola · Feb 2, 2013

Atticus Finch said:
Col. Blimp might not look so rotund if he wasn't wearing those silly boots.

AF

What boots?

The Officer in question appears to be wearing the 1917 russet Marching Shoes with the customary russet leather gaiters.

The combination was common for officers who wanted to add a bit of panache to their uniform. It was in fact the preferred
standard with breeches, high riding boots being optional.

Would you have preferred rolled leggings? [huh]

Of course, rolled leggings were largely an enlisted man's thing. Few officers would be seen in them.

matrioshka · Feb 2, 2013

Edward said:
Ha! I'm sure that was the weed. I heard he also came to enjoy wearing a dress; I'd dearly love to see a photo of him in drag.

I can't answer to the drag, but if you look around, there's a photo of him in leather shorts wearing a silk shirt that would do Liberace proud. The story goes, that he wore said get up hunting.

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