I've noticed quite a few members enjoy aviation related items mixed into our scene. Thought I'd share a little of my collection, which ranks right up there with my car sickness. The first pics are from my office in the house, the second set of pics are from the office in my shop.
I got a lot of that sort of stuff left from when I was in the service, a couple of trunks worth. A lot of high al***ude equipment and parachute gear, then there is hat much field equipment like packs, webbing, uniforms you name it I have mountains of it. So are you an ex fly boy? Doc.
I'm always interested in gathering more early 50's-60's high al***ude gear, mainly helmets and life support. Let me know what you might want to get rid of.
Mine is a little newer than that, in fact its still in use in some countrys. We finished up with this gear in 2000 and updated.
Outstanding collection, whats your flight experience & are you flying now (on wings)? im currently a RV4 driver and have a Waco project in addition to the hot rod stuff.
Most all of my stuff is p***ed along to me by my Dad..pinks and greens and authentic bomber jackets with hand painted mascots and logos..we were Confederate Air Force in the 70s and 80s..I still drive the 39 Chevy Staff Car and my buddy has a half-track thats been converted to rubber tracks for the street..it still has the armour plate and 50 caliber..As my Dads friends p*** along they usually leave all thier WWII stuff to him, he is a docent at the Smithsonian and Air and Space Museum..Dad still puts out a newsletter devoted to WWII aircraft and pilots and their stories If anyone is interested..
Born and spent the first 6,1/2 years of my life, 1956-62 at Ben****ers AFB England. Father served with the 91st FBS, he flew T-33, P-80, F-84F, rotated out after that and went to Collins Radio, Cedar Rapids Ia. I have been involved with flight related gear and related collectables pretty much since then. Didn't fly in the USAF, but had private lic. until 06, was a member of a group that flew a Stearman owned by our group.
Just a little Kansas/Aviation Fact. in 1891 my father(James Warner) was born close to Baldwin City KS. in 1928 he flew with Kingsford-Smith (Australian) in The "Southern Cross" the first flight across the Pacific. He was the Radioman, and that was also the first sucessful use of Radio on a long distance flight. I have trunk full of newspaper articles,medals,telegrams Pictures etc. and a bookcase full of books pertaining to the flight.
I worked on F-4 Phantoms in the Marines. Never got to ride in one. Wish I did. Sat in them and played with the radar and stuff tho.
The very cool F-4, in the Air Force it was lovingly named the flying brick. It was proof that, put enough thrust behind it, and anything will fly. I was lucky enough to take 2 aft seat flights in an F-4, once in the late 70's, and once in the mid 80's. Forever live the Phantom.
Did somebody mention an F-4? I was a jarhead with VMFA 212 working in the radar shop from 1980 to 1983. AN/AWG10A
Very cool! Although most of your collection is too new for me. Or as Kevin always tells me, "you know there was still an Air Force after 1946." Hahahaha! Here's some pics we took at Thunder Over Michigan. My friends let me borrow stuff I didn't have. Most of what I have isn't really on display. Me and olemulskinner
This is truly a collection you would want to see (legally of course). I was in pure amazement when I saw it.
Django, great pics! Frustrating though. I have some very nice WWII uniform groupings and flight gear, but can't wear them. Seams like must of the guys 30's-50's were quite abit smaller then us 6'3" 2 hundred and don't want to tell guys ;o)
Connman is a member of the Hamb and he has a picture of him smoking a Lucky Strike leaning on a nuke. I'll try and get him to post it. He was stationed in Alaska during the Cold War.
>>>>>,Ya ,,but that pic was taken when i was stationed at Walker AFB ,Roswell N Mex ,,a SAC base w' 45 B-52's ,,I/WE helped unload the Atom / Hydrogen Bombs outa the C-124's when they delivered em ,,those bombs were inert 'till activated in the aircraft ,,i lost that pic on the way to Elmendorf AFB ,,Anchorage ,Alaska ,,i werked on F-102's up there ,,they had missles but none were Nukes ,,our pilots just monotured the Beiring Straights to keep the Ruckies away ,, wish i still had that old pic tho ,,smokin' a Lucky leanin' on a Big Boy Atom Bomb might be werth sumthin' on Evil Bay ,,wish i could find my old room mate Norm Geyer ,,he took the pic and has a copy ,,oh well,,,Nice thread "OldFart36" ,,,i miss the Cold War,,,those were sum fun times
Thanks Connman, wow a smoke, and a nuke, would love to see those pics. SAC has always been in my life too, married under the belly of a static B-47. The true best of the best for many years. Think about it, Curtis LeMay may have had some issues, but was one of the best strategic planners in our history. I often think that if he was still the man, there never would have been a 911.
Well, at the very least if he was still the man, the war would have been over Sept 13th,2001! I miss the cold war,too, and I told folks as tense as that was that there would be more chaos without it. Any fool would have seen that; and I think events have proven that out. Nice collection. I gave my genuine wolf fur collared SAC jacket and an awesome photo collection to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum a few years ago. They were supposed to give me a couple of free p***es to walk through the place but never did.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=800 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD align=middle width=698 colSpan=22>[SIZE=+1]One of my favorite WWII collectibles is this sign That I recieved from one of my dads friends.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=9 height=30></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=15 height=51></TD><TD width=340 colSpan=9 rowSpan=5>[SIZE=+1]As early as 1936 the threat of another war was recognised and the effects of air raids on civilians during the Spanish Civil war led the Home Office to introduce a scheme of air raid precaution training and the Police, as one of the key services concerned, were a**** the first to be selected for training. In April of that year Sergeant George Hodges attended a month's course at the Anti-Gas school at Falfield, and on his return he set about the task of training members of the Es*** County Constabulary, a task that was to last him two years. From this small beginning grew the organisation of Police Civil Defence instructors, eventually comprising some 67 officers.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=9 height=51></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=4 height=239></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=350 colSpan=9></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=239></TD><TD colSpan=9 height=239></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=15 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=9 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=2 height=25></TD><TD align=middle width=353 colSpan=12>[SIZE=+1]Mine damage at Clacton[/SIZE]</TD><TD height=25></TD><TD colSpan=9 height=25></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=15 height=65></TD><TD colSpan=9 height=65></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=6 height=204></TD><TD width=694 colSpan=18>[SIZE=+1]With the onset of World War II in September 1939, the Police were considered one of the essential services at every air raid incident, where they had a variety of duties to perform. In order to co-ordinate this work control rooms were set up, at Headquarters and also at Divisional Stations throughout the county. The control room at Headquarters was in direct touch with the Royal Observer Corps and information received as to the course of enemy aircraft was of very great value 272 members of the Special Constabulary were taken on for full - time paid duty and in addition the numbers of part time Special Constabulary were increased, and at their height totaled nearly 2000.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=9 height=204></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=23></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=8 height=221></TD><TD width=695 colSpan=19>[SIZE=+1]In 1941 a training school was opened at Headquarters, in which more than 600 Auxiliary Police from most of the Police Forces in the district received basic training in police duties, civil defence and first aid. By 1941 the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps was formed with a maximum of 48 employed on full time work and 9 on part time duties. They worked at police stations carrying out clerical work, manning telephones as well as other miscellaneous tasks. In addition a Police Auxiliary Messenger Service was formed. These consisted of some 211 part time volunteers, all aged between the ages of 15 and 18, willing to use their bicycles to carry messages and they proved of great value, often working under difficult cir***stances[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=6 height=221></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=20></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=8 height=663></TD><TD width=693 colSpan=17>[SIZE=+1]Some 62 Police Officers were also trained as Bomb Reconnaissance Officers, their job being to make preliminary examinations in the case of every suspected unexploded bomb, and these tasks were carried out often at great risk to the individuals concerned. The work of Air Raid Wardens was placed under the control of the Chief Constable, Captain Peel, and the county was divided into 17 areas, each under the control of a Chief Warden, whose office was established in a local police station. In 1940 six Inspectors and seven Sergeants were seconded to act as full-time ***istants to the Chief Wardens. In 1940 the Local Defence Volunteers, (Dad's Army) were formed and it was at Police Stations throughout the County that the first enrolments took place. With the increased threat of invasion Police Stations were put on full alert and all Police Officers were given training in the use of firearms. Superintendent Sutton was appointed as full time liaison officer with the Headquarters of the Military Command in the county, a post he held until 1944. The period between September 1939 and April 1940 was known as the 'Phoney War' and the civilian population in this country was lulled into a false sense of security; however this was to change on the night of April 30, when the first civilian casualties to die through enemy action in England occurred in the popular seaside resort of Clacton - on - Sea; not however an intentional act, but as the result of a terrible accident. A Heinkel 111 H-4 belonging to a Luftwaffe coastal unit spe******ing in mine laying operations around the East Anglian coast had been intent on laying two parachute mines in the sea, when the aircraft became engulfed in a thick blanket of fog. The aircraft broke cover near Harwich and was engaged by an antiaircraft battery and so close did the shells explode that it was believed that extensive damage had been caused to an engine and steering gear. The Heinkel, still carrying the two parachute mines suspended beneath the belly of the aircraft, began flying in ever decreasing circles over Clacton. Eye - witnesses recall seeing flares fired from the stricken aircraft as if to warn the townsfolk of the impending danger. The aircraft circled the town until it eventually crashed in Victoria Road, near the junction with Skelmersdale Road, finally resting against no. 25, the home of a Mr and Mrs Frederick Gill and their 19 year old son, William.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=8 height=663></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=21></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=7 height=182></TD><TD width=697 colSpan=21>[SIZE=+1]For a while there was strange stillness in the night air until suddenly the whole area was devastated by a huge explosion, as one of the two mines detonated. Local people who had been running to the scene were injured by flying gl***. At Clacton Police Station Detective Sergeant E. Barkway (Later Detective Chief Superintendent and head of Es*** CID) and the Duty Inspector heard the noise and rushed to the area and were greeted with a scene of utter devastation. Some 67 houses were seriously damaged and 170 more received slight damage.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=5 height=182></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=22></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=7 height=80></TD><TD width=699 colSpan=23>[SIZE=+1]No 25 Victoria Road was completely flattened and beside the remains of the aircraft the charred remains of the four crewmen lay. A search was made of the rubble for survivors and eventually William Gill, badly injured but alive, was dragged out. Unfortunately both his parents had been killed in the blast.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=3 height=80></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=21></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=17 height=83></TD><TD width=340 colSpan=12 rowSpan=5>[SIZE=+1]During the night and much of the next day the emergency services worked to clear the area and house those made homeless by the explosion. Rescuer workers noticed what they believed to be a hot water cylinder lying a**** the rubble and Detective Sergeant Barkway remembered resting his foot on it on several occasions. But then someone more curious noticed German words stencilled on the side of the `hot water cylinder'. As a precaution the area was evacuated and two Royal Naval mine disposal officers, Lieutenant - Commander R. Ryan and Chief Petty Officer R. Ellingworth were called in and identified it as the new `C' type parachute mine. Miraculously the mine had not exploded when the Heinkel crashed and it was defused and taken away for further examination.[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=4 height=83></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=10 height=226></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=350 colSpan=6></TD><TD height=226></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=226></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=17 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=10 height=21></TD><TD align=middle width=353 colSpan=7>[SIZE=+1]Damage caused at Victoria Road[/SIZE]</TD><TD colSpan=4 height=21></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=17 height=89></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=89></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=33 height=22></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=10 height=860></TD><TD width=690 colSpan=16>[SIZE=+1]Sadly the two men were killed at Dagenham during the London Blitz whilst examining another parachute mine - both were awarded a posthumous George Cross). The four airmen who died were Oberleutnant and Flugzeugfuhrer Herman Vagts, aged 25 years, the pilot of the Heinkel, Herman Sodmann, 24, Karl-Heinz Fresen, 26 and Hans- Gunter Koch, 21. It was decided to bury the four airmen in the local cemetery and on May 4 crowds lined the streets as RAF lorries carried the ********- d****d coffins to their final resting place at Burrsville Park. Extra police were drafted in to the area as a precaution against demonstrations, but apart from an outcry from some of the popular press, all p***ed off peacefully. Many floral tributes from local people were laid on the graves. Just a week later Mr and Mrs Gill were laid to rest in the local cemetery. Apart from those who died, some 160 people were injured in the explosion. Despite the training in preparation for such an eventuality and warnings to take shelter during a raid, many of the injuries were caused by flying gl*** as local residents gazed on the scene from their windows. Inspector Sidney Smy from Clacton was commended by the Chief Constable for the able manner in which he controlled police involvement in the whole incident. Today the only lasting memory of this tragedy is a br*** plate on a memorial seat, opposite where no.25 stood. Sadly this was not the only tragedy during the war and Es*** Police History Notebook No 24 `The Luftwaffe versus Headquarters' tells of another incident when innocent civilians were killed. In total during the 1939 - 1945 War some 845 people were killed and nearly 6000 injured in Es*** alone. The following were targeted at Es*** during this time: 14000 high explosive bombs 1500 ****erfly bombs 680 oil bombs 142,000 incendiaries 530 parachute mines 511 V1 rockets 400 V2 rockets. During World War Two, some 291 members of the Es*** County Constabulary served with the armed forces and sadly of this number 24 were killed whilst on active service. A memorial service was held in their honour at Chelmsford Cathedral on the 19 May 1946 attended by many dignitaries and some 400 Police Officers and the relatives of those killed. Afterwards the Lord Lieutenant took the salute from the steps of the Shire Hall.[/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Sorry, copy and pasted my research supplied by fathers friend and the Clacton PD, forgot to include the pic.
Chris, You have a great collection man! Hope to make it down there to see it in person someday! Django..cool pics at Thunder Over Michigan. I'm on an Airborne Demonstartion Team and we did a low-level formation jump out of C-47's at that show in 2008. It was damn windy and I landed like a sack-o-**** but had fun! That show is well done and really brings in the WWII birds.
The Jalopy Journal
