Famous People in Flight Jackets

TPD166 · Feb 2, 2016

We’ve seen lots of WW-II pictures of GEN Jimmy Doolittle in his A-2. How about a few earlier pics of GEN Doolittle in his A-1 flying jacket?

Here he is with some other pilot.

This one does not look like leather when compared to other photos.

Doctor Damage · Feb 2, 2016

Great photos!
I hadn't realized how old Doolittle was... he looks old in these photos, well before WW2.

TPD166 · Feb 3, 2016

Doolittle was 45 when the U.S. entered WW-II. Born - 1896; Died - 1993. The photos are likely late 1920s.

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographi...le/107225/general-james-harold-doolittle.aspx

Stearmen · Feb 3, 2016

TPD166 said:
Doolittle was 45 when the U.S. entered WW-II. Born - 1896; Died - 1993. The photos are likely late 1920s.

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographi...le/107225/general-james-harold-doolittle.aspx

The first photo is Jimmy in 1931 when he won the Bendix Trophy flying the Laird Super Solution. The last photo was taken during the 1925 Schneider Cup races, which he won flying an Army Curtiss R3C-2 floatplane.

Doctor Damage · Feb 3, 2016

Tahnks for the info on Dootlittle, I don't know much about him.

Doctor Damage · Feb 3, 2016

skinhead in a CWU jacket? strange, but not the only such photo I've seen

Cocker · Feb 4, 2016

Not strange at all. Here in Europe, "bombers" jackets, such as the MA-1/CWU-36/CWU-45, or even an L2 are know to be "skinhead" jackets, especially if they are in black or sage green. You can see lots of skins, be they "red" or "white", with them.

Stearmen · Feb 15, 2016

Marilyn Monroe, on a tank in Korea, plus a small number of fans!

Stearmen · Feb 15, 2016

Doctor Damage · Feb 15, 2016

Doctor Damage said:
Here's someone everyone loves to hate in a modern day Alpha.

Some of you will be pleased to learn that the individual in this photo now claims to be $53 million in debt. How is that even possible???

UPDATE: Now he claims a bunch of rich people have offered to help him out.
= idiotic publicity stunt by an attention whore

Trenchfriend · Feb 15, 2016

But one question on flight-jackets.

Why these big fur-collars? To stop wind around your neck?

Deacon211 · Feb 15, 2016

Trenchfriend said:
But one question one flight-jackets.

Why these big fur-collars? To stop wind around your neck?

Yes. If you look at most of these collars, they have closures to fasten the collar closed and are pretty warm that way. I had always heard the old rumor that the fur also reduces neck chafing a bit, but I'm not sure if that is one of those old pilot's tales.

Doctor Damage · Feb 15, 2016

Deacon211 said:
Yes. If you look at most of these collars, they have closures to fasten the collar closed and are pretty warm that way. I had always heard the old rumor that the fur also reduces neck chafing a bit, but I'm not sure if that is one of those old pilot's tales.

I'm pretty sure the jacket in the photo below is a reproduction, but it shows the collar tab well. With the collar flipped up and tab holding it closed, your neck will be kept warm.

Trenchfriend · Feb 15, 2016

Because of the correct shirts and ties, military-pilots are/were not allowed, to simply wear turtleneck-pullovers? Anyone knows?

Doctor Damage · Feb 15, 2016

Trenchfriend said:
Because of the correct shirts and ties, military-pilots are/were not allowed, to simply wear turtleneck-pullovers? Anyone knows?

Of course they were allowed, but when you're standing on a wind-swept airfield in Korea or Alaska in January you need the collar flipped up!

Deacon211 · Feb 15, 2016

Nice,

Flying clothing is and was always something of a grey area. You generally couldn't just go trouncing around the flight line looking like a ski enthusiast! LOL! Now, when you were out at the aircraft, if you threw on a pullover (or twelve) that was mostly between you and the aviation gods. Naturally, in wartime everything was more relaxed.

As far as one or the other in collars, don't forget that you lose about 2 degrees C for every 1000ft you gain in altitude up to about 36,000ft. It gets cold quick and that's not including 50-100 knots of wind in the face. As closed and pressurized cockpits became the norm, you see less fur or fur for mostly traditional/ornamental purposes.

devilish · Feb 16, 2016

hpalapdog · Feb 16, 2016

pilot error said:
Gene Kelly The Devil Makes Three 1952

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Strange photo, tiny left hand and large head !

He wore another shearling jacket in this British military film. It was to big for him

I can guarantee most have never seen this rare film. You can watch or download it here:

http://www.rarefilmm.com/search?q=+Seagulls+Over+Sorrento+(1954)

HoosierDaddy · Feb 16, 2016

devilish said:

How bout that...'The Donald' got a haircut...!!

Sloan1874 · Feb 16, 2016

Stearmen said:

If my memory serves me correctly, Ken C sourced some vintage military jackets for Jimi.

Famous People in Flight Jackets

One Too Many

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

Practically Family

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

A-List Customer

One of the Regulars

I'll Lock Up

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