Tanker boots

[TailendCharlie]

I just purchased a pair of these boots,they are made by H.H. Brown.They fit great and sure look swell. I was wondering if any of you here own a pair, vintage or new?

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I still have my tanker boots from when I was in the Army. Only Armor folks were supposed to wear them out of tradition, although Army Aviators in Air Cav units would were them too.

 

[Story]

As I understand it, the US Forces in Germany bogarted the Bundeswehr tanker boots (and black beret) ideas back in the 1960's.

I still have a couple of pairs of (black leather and FRH fluid-soaked) ones.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

We learned at tank school that the idea was borrowed from the French crewmen encountered during World War I when then-Captain George S. Patton, Jr. established the United States Tank Corps. So they go back much further than the 1960's.

Tanker boots are said to have originated somewhat by accident. The story claims that there was once a tank crew member whose boot's laces were burnt by an ejected casing. Another member of the crew took off his belt and wrapped it around the damaged boot as a sort of temporary fix, making it the first tanker boot.

And just in case people are not sure what we are talking about: