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Which M422/M422a Jackets Were Worn by AVG Pilots?

Teddy

Well-Known Member
Hi all, I have been searching for high-quality images on AVG pilots and so far I could only see them wearing ones that I guess are not Gordon & Ferguson contracts. On FTL someone commented a few years back that the Chinese government bought many W&G jackets and provided them to some pilots. But others have said that they saw G&F design on some photos. So I'd like to ask if anyone here knows which specific contracts were worn by AVG members?
 

stanier

Well-Known Member
0
Hi all, I have been searching for high-quality images on AVG pilots and so far I could only see them wearing ones that I guess are not Gordon & Ferguson contracts. On FTL someone commented a few years back that the Chinese government bought many W&G jackets and provided them to some pilots. But others have said that they saw G&F design on some photos. So I'd like to ask if anyone here knows which specific contracts were worn by AVG members?

Hi Nahua, I thought it was w&g and this http://www.billkelsomfg.com/store/en.php?p=productview&prod=20 seems to say the same. Not definitive at all clearly but I don’t recall seeing g&f anywhere myself.
 

Skip

Well-Known Member
G&F's did seem to feature, but I can't find evidence to suggest that it was one maker. AVG being formed in 1941 I would imagine all USN intermediate flight specs would have been more likely m422 rather than m422a (correct me if I'm wrong but the m422a were mostly manufactured from 1941, as most of the pilots already being in service may have already been supplied with jackets already made prior to 1941?). A pic in the Book American Flight Jackets by J. Maquire shows Tex Hill's jacket, but its not a G&F, maybe a Church? has a more rounded tipped blond collar and is missing the G&F vertical stitched in pencil pocket on the left patch pocket. The image also shows dull purple colour waist knits and what looks to be replacement brick red sleeve knits. W&G and G&F had more pointed collar tips, both using the dull red rayon lining. I can post a pic if you need it, although its hard to see much detail.

From memory of reading the AVG History, the pilots were a mix of USAAF, USN/Marine units and would have taken with them the jackets they were given when successfully completed their training program. Of course nothing is concrete that I can find out apart from the year the lads joined the AVG, there maybe more detailed resources out there and more detailed USN people here.
 

Teddy

Well-Known Member
Guys, I found this image on https://campsmoke.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/willis-geiger-make-it-better/, in which W&G claims to have outfitted American Volunteer Group in 1939 and then US Army and Navy from 1941 to 1945. Among other things, such as winning the contract for A-2 in 1931, W&G also outfitted Teddy Roosevelt, Jimmy Doolittle, and Ernest Hemingway.

Given that it's a renowned brand back then, I'm rather persuaded that W&G was among the initial outfitters for AVG. I have yet to see a G&F design and would appreciate it if someone could scan a photo from one of those sold-out books on AVG :)

wg_history.jpg
 

Brettafett

Well-Known Member
Interesting question, and great find nkang! But how does one 'lock' this one down. There are not many detailed or close-up pics of the AVG and their jackets...
Skip's point about the M422 makes a ton of sense... Potentially the Monarch M422 also?
What about the HL Block?
 
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