WWII Uniforms and Flight Gear (1)

WWII Uniforms and Flight Gear
Ed Nored Private Collection
photos copyright ©2006-2008 by Ed Nored, used by permission
Photo Shoot F-2 Booklet F-3 Booklet Fighter Pilots
Bomber Crews 1 Bomber Crews 2 Bomber Crews 3 Bomber Crews 4

(2-1) In the above photo can be seen the 4 lines of survival that ran from the crewman's fight gear and plugged into the airplane. The large green hose is for oxygen. One black communication line runs from his A-11 flight helmet earphones. The second black communication line runs from his push-to-talk switch. The push-to-talk switch is plugged into the internal microphone of the A-14 mask. The 4th line runs from his F-3 electric suit. The lead cord or extension cord is shown unconnected. Hanging from the sleeve of the left wrist is the connector for the gloves, and just below I've opened the glove to expose the connecting points. The flak helmet is the type M-3. This flak helmet was the same as the G.I. steel pot worn by the infantry, but altered slightly with the addition of ear flaps to fit better over the flight helmets. The M-3 did not have a separate liner that slipped in and out. When you run your hand over the top of the M-3, it feels like fur. A flocking was sprayed over them to keep the guys bare hands from freezing to them. It showed up in 1944. Much of what is displayed here can be seen in the photo of 1Lt Ted Misthal. Examples of the M-3 flak helmet and a flak vests can be seen here.

(2-2) Above is the backside of previous crewman. Many air crewman would tie their service shoes to their harness, just in case they would have to '"walk back home" from their mission. The flight boots type A-6 or the F-2 felt were not practical for long walks and or running from German soldiers and angry civilians.

(2-3) Sometime time during the first half of 1944 and probably in conjunction with the issuing of the A-3 harness, the 8th AAF began requiring that the older type Q.A.C. harnesses and the newly arrived A-3 harnesses be color coded, as well as each corresponding parachute. This was to eliminate any chance one might find himself trying to attach a red group parachute to a yellow group harness. I make no claim that I know the exact date when the order came down to mark the parachute equipment and can only speculate based on photographs here at the 303 website, other 8th AAF websites and related books. So keep an open mind to time periods that I may associate to flight gear or events that happened.

(2-4) Above is the A-3 harness constructed with olive drab webbing. On each side of the leg straps of all the A-3, red group, QACs and B-8 chute harnesses you find 2 "D" rings. They are there to attach to the C-2 type one-man life raft/dinghy.

(2-5) The A-3 harness.

(2-6) Above are two authentic WWII, A-3 type QACs. The harness on the right still has its risers tacked down. Once a man connects the chute, bails out and pulls the rip cord, the force and weight of the man acts against the opening shock of the canopy. This sudden jolt pulls and breaks the tacking, allowing the parachute container and risers to be in the position you see above on the left. One veteran described how, after the canopy opened he was relieved, but thought he was falling out of his harness when the risers popped free a few seconds later.

(2-7) A closer look at the tacking used to hold down the risers.

(2-8) Shown above are four examples of the A-3 parachute, with their original yellow paint. The top left pack is dated Feb. 10, 1944 and the top right pack dated Nov. 29, 1944. Both were made by the Reliance Company. The bottom left pack is dated Sept. 22, 1943 and was made by the Simmons Company. The bottom right pack is dated Feb. 22,1943 and was made by the Atlantic Rayon Company. All four have their canopies correctly packed. There are two examples of the A-3 chute in the 358th Garrett Crew photo.

(2-9) Shown above are three examples of the AN-6513-1A parachute and one AN 6514-1 (bottom, right). Three of the packs have their canopies correctly packed. The top right pack does not. The top left pack is dated Aug. 1943. No exact date is shown. It was made by the Hayes Manufacturing Company. The top right pack is dated Sept. 1943 (no day date) and was made by the Standard Parachute Corporation. The pack on the bottom left is dated July 9, 1943 and made by Fashion Frocks Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio. The bottom right pack is marked Jan 1943 (no day date) and made by the Pioneer Parachute Company. This chute is marked AN 6514-1. I can't determine what the difference is between this one and the other packs. If you can help, please let us know. These red group chutes are hard to find and the airborne collectors are driving up the price because the AN-6513-1A was also utilized as a reserve chute for the Troop type harnesses used on D-day.

(2-10) Shown above on the left is an un-issued AN6513-1A Q.A.C. (quick attachable chest) harness. On the right a veteran brother of the same type.

(2-11) Shown above is a closer look at the additional webbing and tacking applied to the harness on the right. Note the addition of the two D-rings added to accommodate the life raft container at the bottom of the harness. The piece of white material sewn onto the back pad was used to indicate the pilot's name and/or the air field it was from. It's rare to find this example, so consider its presence the exception and not the norm for the thousands of harnesses that were issued to the men of the 8th and 15th AAF overseas.

(2-12) Shown above are two examples of the manufactures inked markings, which included the makers name and date. Both harnesses were made in 1943. On well used harnesses, the markings are usually worn off or faded. The back pads shown are the correct ones for the A-3 harness and the AN6513-1A, red group, Q.A.C. I have seen recent books about AAF gear showing the seat pack back pad with these 2 harnesses, which is incorrect.

(2-13) Shown above from top to bottom; The B-8, A-3, and AN-6513-1A parachutes. Visible are the log book pouch and log books that all parachutes had. Repairs, repacks and alterations made to the parachute were noted and initialed by the person doing the work.

(2-14) Above are two examples of the HBT coveralls worn by the ground crew . The short billed HBT hat shows on the mechanic who has the 4 buckle overshoes under his right arm. The other suit hanging on the right is the early AAC B-1 flight coveralls. It should be pointed out that some of the aircrew at times would wear any of the HBT coveralls.

(2-15) Shown above is the D-1 jacket and B-2 cap worn by many of the ground crew and support personal. Sometimes the jacket will have pockets. The D-1 weighs about half that of the B-3.

[photos and comments copyright and courtesy of Ed Nored]

The uniforms and gear presented here are from the private collection of Ed Nored. Any reproduction or other use of these photographs is strictly forbidden. 303rdBG.com was granted exclusive rights to these photographs solely for historical purposes. These items are not for sale on eBay or elsewhere.