How accurate is Hogan?

[TheParkers]

I was watching an episode of Hogan's Heroes last night and I was curious how accurate is Hogan's uniform. I figured this would be the place to learn a thing or two...

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I've got several photos of Col. Hogan. I'd say that the accuracy of his kit is as close as anything I've ever seen on reenactors - right down to the shoes! The important thing to remember is that most POW's got there by jumping out of a moving airplane; they were wearing flying suits, boots and leather helmets.

We never learn how Hogan became a POW. He may well have been a passenger in a C-47, for all we know! Or flying a little 'Grasshopper'!

-dixon cannon

 

[Sunny]

Glad to hear that! fftopic: IIRC, he was a bomber pilot. One episode centered about his supposedly knowing all there was to know about the Norden bombsight. There are other cues I picked up on, but I can't bring any to mind at the moment.

 

[Fletch]

One jackethead's opinion

14. Does Bob Crane wear a vintage A-2 in "Hogan's Heroes," and is it the same jacket as the one worn by Frank Sinatra in "Von Ryan's Express"?

Second question first: Yes, the jacket is the same, and this has been confirmed by Bob Crane's son Bob in interviews associated with the 2002 film, Auto Focus. In this film about Bob Crane, Greg Kinnear plays Crane and wears the original jacket, which has remained in the possession of Crane's son.

Now, for the jacket itself. It is not a vintage A-2, but was likely made by a costume department. While it is certainly reminiscent of original A-2 jackets, a close examination will reveal that it is not.

There is no throat clasp.
There are no collar snaps.
The lining is very dark and appears to be rayon. For the early part of the Hogan's Heroes series the lining over the collar stand is a contrasting tan color. This is later changed to the darker color, perhaps because the jacket was relined.
The wind flap over the zipper is much too narrow.
Furthermore, the leather appears unusually thin and soft, likely to improve comfort under film lights, the leather color is very dark and not like most vintage A-2's, and the shoulder decal, which does not look quite like originals, lacks the "Army Air Forces" text.

source: Acme Depot A-2 FAQ

 

[Martinis at 8]

Anybody see that bio movie about Crane?

Creepy but at the same time hilarious. Probably one of the worst movies ever made.

M8

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Here is the best color shot of the jacket...

Col. Robert E. Hogan, USAAF

-dixon cannon

 

[Pink Dahlia]

fftopic:

I remember back in 2002/2003 (approximately) the condo Bob Crane was murdered in was auctioned off on eBay. It caught my attention because the condo is in Scottsdale (where I used to work) and now not too far from where I live.

What a nutty world!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

The knit portions are totally wrong, as I had heard they were. It has been speculated that they used socks for the cuffs and waist band. lol

 

[Fletch]

Of course those were the first things to give out on an A-2 in daily service. Some might well have been replaced, say with bits of an old sweater.

I'm more concerned that his cap appears to bear a silver US Air Force device.