What does the well dressed waist gunner wear?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I have question for the bomber fans. What Would a B-17 waist gunner where over the full sheepskin suit that keeps him warm? I am building/painting a 120mm figure that does not come with any painting refs other than the picture on the box. Sound familiar? I won’t say whose it is but it rhymes with Merlinden. In the front, that is not seen to well in these scans is a yellow Mae West. What is the piece the is over his back? Flack jacket of some sort? And would khaki be the correct color?

2

I am not sure, but that big, rectangular panel on the gunner’s back does look a lot like something for bullet or shrapnel protection.

Darwin, O.F. [alien]

3

Looks like it’s part of a parachute harness.

4

http://www.303rdbg.com/uniforms-gear.html

http://www.303rdbg.com/uniforms-gear4.html

It was more or less a pad…To keep the straps in place and make it a little more comfortable to wear.

No one had parachutes on them when in flight…They had to get them and hook them up before jumping.

http://www.390th.org/museum/gallery/Exhibits/DP6.htm

Here in Phoenix Az. I had the chance to get in side ‘Sentimental Journey’…I dont’ know how those guys did it with all that gear on in such a confined space!

Jeff

5

The leather suit your figure is wearing is sheepskin lined which formed the outer covering. According to my father (a B-24 bombardier) a complete set of clothes consisted of underwear w/socks, long johns, wool pants & long sleave shirt, 2nd set of wool socks, fleece lined leather flight suit, fleece lined leather boots, silk gunners gloves and fleece lined gloves, all topped off with the parachute harness. The head was covered either with a fleece lined baseball type gunners hat as on your figure or a leather, fleecelined pilots cap. Goggles and oxygen mask were required, but according to my dad, frostbite was a problem around the edges of these items.

6

Thanks for the responces guys.

Great links Jeff. Got the answers to another pile of questions.

7

There is a wonderful description of what he typical crew member wore in “the Wild Blue” by Stephen Ambrose. It matches what qmiester wrote

8

What’s that I hear in my head? Ah, ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.”[{(-_-)}]

9

What’s that I hear in my head? Ah, ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.”[{(-_-)}]

10

I know it might be a little late but I just found this picture and thought you might find it usefull.

Soulcrusher

11

Thnaks SC but yup… got that one all odne. he looks like he is gonna be cold.

12

I can only assume this waist gunner is somewhere in the South Pacific. He is only wearing a flight jacket and slacks. No flak suit no heated suit only a life vest. The text gives no clue just says a waist gunner at his postion. Though you still might be interested though so I posted it anyway.

Soulcrusher