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Don’t remember this!
- Thread starter johnwayne
- Start date
Shanghai-Mayne
Well-Known Member
Major Winters, this jacket is US army Air Force property, maybe it doesn’t mean anything to you, but … 
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Anyone in the Army who flew in planes as part of their job description was cleared to be issued an A-2 (or other FJ) -- including paratroopers. Maj. Winters isn't breaking any regulations -- many images of paratroopers in WW2 wearing A-2s.
Many scenes of paratroopers wearing flight jackets in Band of Brothers -- check out General McAuliffe in the Bastogne episode.
Many scenes of paratroopers wearing flight jackets in Band of Brothers -- check out General McAuliffe in the Bastogne episode.
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Chandler
Well-Known Member
Lots of bomber crew NCOs issues A-2s.Officers only … not enlisted troops.
Not sure about paratroops.
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
Yep .. spot on with NCOs in bombers but that was the Army Air Corp. not in the airborne units . It was rank has it privileges .
johnwayne
Well-Known Member
Ironically me starting this thread, my original Dubow 27798 has stitch holes that suggest it was once owned by an 82nd Airborne guy. It’s the square with the arc above on the left breast above the pocket where the squadron patch normally goes and given its size, I don’t see it could be anything else. Did contemplate getting an original patch to retro fit but crazy money for what it is plus hitting same stitch holes a bit above my ability with a needle!!
Enigma1938
Well-Known Member
Simply cool to see the same jacket in ww2 and many decades later. The replaced knits indicates that Mr. Winters took good care of his Jacket.
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Chandler
Well-Known Member
Just thinking about other ranks in the AAF -- weren't there a lot of fighter pilots who were Warrant Officers? So, not really officers, per se, but issued A-2s (just thinking beyond bomber crews).
Didn't Yeager start out just below Second Lieutenant?
Pa12
Well-Known Member
I think you’re right. Also seen lots of liaison pilots in a-2s. Weren’t most of them sargents?
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I just brought up crews other than bomber crews because it got me thinking.
Shanghai-Mayne
Well-Known Member
Enlist-men in FSSF issued A2s.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I sort of wonder how those guys "acquired" their A-2s.
I know they were issued jump boots, but I think some QM sergeant pulled a con job for that too.
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
SM
Are you sure about that?
I don’t ever remember seeing a 1SSF enlisted guy or non com wearing an A2 other than in the movies.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
I can't remember the book I read on the FSSF* that really got into the troubles they had outfitting their unit at the beginning -- but there was a lot of "midnight requisition" going on.
*Sorry, I need to correct myself -- that was a book on the founding of the WW2 Rangers I was remembering. I have another book on the FSSF, "A Perfect Hell," I need to re-read for some reference.
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B-Man2
Well-Known Member
A little off the subject but…I can't remember the book I read on the FSSF that really got into the troubles they had outfitting their unit at the beginning -- but there was a lot of "midnight requisition" going on.
When the 1SSF was first recruited and sent to their training area in Montana there was nothing there. They had to build their own barracks and support areas and infrastructure. In the process of doing that they used all of the “innovative procurement skills” that their unscrupulous members possessed. So I’m sure a few of them acquired A2 jackets … but once again … they weren’t issued to the enlisted or non coms .
I’m not trying to be OCD about it, so I’ve been searching the web trying to find some but nada .
Pa12
Well-Known Member
Sounds reminiscent of the dirty dozen.
