Famous People in Flight Jackets

[Treetopflyer]

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.

Not to mention the preflight in frigid temps and blowing wind. Of course those tend to go more quickly as compared to preflights on nice summer days.

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ I suggest posting those pics of your jacket in the thread on blousons (yes, we have one here somewhere, and I don't mean flight jackets), or in another thread, and you'll get some discussion. Most members don't read this thread.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Sure, I'm not a famous person.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Sure, I'm not a famous person.

Here's a possible thread for your jacket... actually jacket"s", because I believe you've got a bunch!
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/post-pitures-of-your-jacket-collection.84142/

 

[Doctor Damage]

I can't find a general USAF shearling/sheepskin photo thread so I'm going to post this jacket porn here. Apologies if they've been seen already... actually, I take that back -- like real porn, if it's good it has replay value.



...and here's the woman who took those photos: Margaret Bourke-White.

 

[Capesofwrath]

This is a nice picture in its own right. I love the warm tones of those old colour pictures.

 

[TPD166]

Capt. Ed McMahon, USMC Aviator – Korea, 1953. Well, I suppose this is actually his flight “vest” and not a flight jacket, but still worth a mention.



From a 2009 obituary:

Ed McMahon wanted to be a Marine fighter pilot and took his primary flight training in Dallas and then Pensacola. He was carrier-qualified and was a very good pilot, but the Marines needed flight instructors. Ed never went to sea and he left active-duty with the Marines in 1946, but stayed in the USMC as a reserve officer. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and flew the Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, a single engine slow-moving unarmed plane. He functioned as an artillery spotter for the Marine batteries on the ground and as a forward controller for the Navy & Marine jet fighter/bombers. McMahon flew 85 combat missions over North Korea and earned several Air Medals. McMahon stayed with the Marines as a reserve officer and retired in 1966 as a Colonel.

 

[Treetopflyer]

Capt. Ed McMahon, USMC Aviator – Korea, 1953. Well, I suppose this is actually his flight “vest” and not a flight jacket, but still worth a mention.



From a 2009 obituary:

Ed McMahon wanted to be a Marine fighter pilot and took his primary flight training in Dallas and then Pensacola. He was carrier-qualified and was a very good pilot, but the Marines needed flight instructors. Ed never went to sea and he left active-duty with the Marines in 1946, but stayed in the USMC as a reserve officer. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and flew the Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, a single engine slow-moving unarmed plane. He functioned as an artillery spotter for the Marine batteries on the ground and as a forward controller for the Navy & Marine jet fighter/bombers. McMahon flew 85 combat missions over North Korea and earned several Air Medals. McMahon stayed with the Marines as a reserve officer and retired in 1966 as a Colonel.

I knew he was a Marine, but didn't know he was an Aviator.

 

[scottyrocks]

Harrison Ford in an oversized A-2.

I prefer roomy outerwear, so I like this.

 

[nick123]

The Bongos. Rare to see bands in genuine flight jackets.

 

[Trenchfriend]

I prefer roomy outerwear, so I like this.

Harrison is getting older, but he still appears young.

 

[nick123]

I prefer roomy outerwear, so I like this.

Most of the pilots I've seen wear their jackets on the roomier side. It's like this unspoken fashion rule amongst general aviation or commercial pilots. Next time you're at an airport, check out the fit of the flight jackets of the captain and co-pilot!!

 

[Trenchfriend]

Navy smells like ocean-water, Army smells like ground-water and

Aircforce smells like SHAVING-WATER.

 

[Doctor Damage]

more Blue Angels in G1 jackets

 

[CBI]

I think Harrison Ford is gonna look good in any leather jacket!

 

[TPD166]

Cary Grant wearing a painted 37J1 jacket in "Only Angels have Wings" (1939) - great movie.

 

[TPD166]

Clark Gable – the first one is from “Night Flight,” not sure about the other one.

 

[Stearmen]

Sabu Dastagir, second from the right bottom row. He was a tail gunner on B-24s in the Pacific. If you have never heard of him, I guarantee you have seen him in countless old movies, from Elephant Boy, to A Tiger Walk!

 

[Capesofwrath]

Sabu Dastagir, second from the right bottom row. He was a tail gunner on B-24s in the Pacific. If you have never heard of him, I guarantee you have seen him in countless old movies, from Elephant Boy, to A Tiger Walk!

Sabu The Elephant Boy, as I live and breath. He became very well known after that eponymous picture. I had no idea he joined the US Air Force. If it was called that then. I suppose he ended up in Hollywood and got older.…

The real stars were usually - but not always - given cushy numbers if they joined up at all. Because obviously it would be bad for civilian morale if a box office heart throb went down in flames. But a tail gunner’s job was the most dangerous in a crew. In the European theatre their life expectancy was very short. Probably not so short in the Pacific though.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Last night I watched a great documentary on PBS called "Space Men". It was about the USAF's early space program with balloons and medical testing which culminated in the jump from 102,000 ft by Captain Kittinger. The USAF doctor who was the prime mover behind the program developed the medical testing regimen which was used by NASA to select the first seven astronauts. It's a great documentary and there's some colour L2B porn if you watch closely.

I think people in the U.S. can stream it here:
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365678797/