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USN & USMC pilots in the PTO
- Thread starter Marv
- Start date
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
So what type of footgear were they issued?
Clyde from Carolina
Member
I have also seen photos of them wearing the common boondockers, so I am sure they were used often. (As they were apparently by all Marine and Navy Personnel in the Pacific.) Marine Raiders in Carlson's Raiders for example wore the special boots they were issued as well as the more common boondocker.
My father worked for a gentleman many years ago (my father was USMC retired himself) who was a Marine aviator who had won the Navy Cross at Guadalcanal. His name was Joe Renner. (My dad also knew some fairly well known Marine WWII heroes like Marion Carl, too.) I regret I didn't get to know those gents better now. I must admit I was pretty much in awe of them, being so much younger.
Anyway, Renner was a very nice gent whom I was fortunate enough to meet once when he flew in from California, and his wife put together a wonderful "press kit" style package of his decorations, service history, etc. for me when I was a kid. I still have it somewhere.
He has been dead quite a few years now; sure would have liked to ask him more questions about his time in the service. He probably would have thought it crazy to ask about shoes or boondockers, though. :lol:
My father worked for a gentleman many years ago (my father was USMC retired himself) who was a Marine aviator who had won the Navy Cross at Guadalcanal. His name was Joe Renner. (My dad also knew some fairly well known Marine WWII heroes like Marion Carl, too.) I regret I didn't get to know those gents better now. I must admit I was pretty much in awe of them, being so much younger.
Anyway, Renner was a very nice gent whom I was fortunate enough to meet once when he flew in from California, and his wife put together a wonderful "press kit" style package of his decorations, service history, etc. for me when I was a kid. I still have it somewhere.
He has been dead quite a few years now; sure would have liked to ask him more questions about his time in the service. He probably would have thought it crazy to ask about shoes or boondockers, though. :lol:
jack31916
Well-Known Member
According to the pictures I've seen I was almost sure that the navy and marine corps pilots wore the 'standard" boondockers.
Now see this listing on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-USN-NAVY-PILOT ... 3a6237c42e
Very similar in appearance to the boondockers especially when worn under coveralls
Now see this listing on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-USN-NAVY-PILOT ... 3a6237c42e
Very similar in appearance to the boondockers especially when worn under coveralls
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
jack31916 said:
I can't read all the numbers stamped inside the shoe, but I'm not 100% convinced those are of WW2 vintage. They could be postwar. That said, I agree that it would be hard to distinguish between these shoes and boondockers when looking at period photos.
These guys, however, are clearly wearing boondockers:
Clyde from Carolina
Member
Hmm, very interesting. Kind of a Chukka/Boondocker hybrid. Seems to have less eyelets than standard Boondocker and not have the classic corded soles of the Bondocker.
Very interesting indeed.
Very interesting indeed.
jack31916
Well-Known Member
watchmanjimg said:jack31916 said:
I can't read all the numbers stamped inside the shoe, but I'm not 100% convinced those are of WW2 vintage. They could be postwar. That said, I agree that it would be hard to distinguish between these shoes and boondockers when looking at period photos.
These guys, however, are clearly wearing boondockers:
I agree and in the pics you've posted it's obvious that these men are wearing boondockers. But it could be .....
watchmanjimg
Well-Known Member
jack31916 said:watchmanjimg said:jack31916 said:
I can't read all the numbers stamped inside the shoe, but I'm not 100% convinced those are of WW2 vintage. They could be postwar. That said, I agree that it would be hard to distinguish between these shoes and boondockers when looking at period photos.
These guys, however, are clearly wearing boondockers:
I agree and in the pics you've posted it's obvious that these men are wearing boondockers. But it could be .....
Of course, aviation-specific shoes could still have been produced and worn alongside standard boondockers. What has me unsure is the numbering beneath the "USN BUAER" script inside the shoe. Some Navy and USMC gear as late as the early '60s was surprisingly similar to that issued in WW2. Take a look at this deck jacket, and the discussion regarding its label:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7314&hilit=+deck+jacket
The more I look at the inscription inside the boots, the more I suspect post-WW2 manufacture. The soles also appear atypical for wartime production, although I'd gladly be proven wrong on this.
