What Did WW2 USAAF Pilots Wear? - Fighter Pilot Equipment From WW2

Part 2 in the P-51 Mustang Series is an in-depth look at the flying equipment worn by pilots of the USAAF during WW2.
From the uniform worn by officers of the USAAF, to kitting up for a mission before heading into enemy held skies this will give you a great insight into what was worn by fighter pilots from WW2!
#p51 #p51mustang #p51d #wwii #warbirds #usaaf #ww2planes #mastersoftheair
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[@fredsalfa]

My dad was a P51D Fighter Pilot fighting the Japanese in WW2. It’s interesting to see what he would have worn. I remember he kept his leather helmet piece which I saw for the first time in the 1970s it was old with holes in it and very used. We still have it in our family today

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Do you which Fighter Group he flew with? If you still have his helmet it would be worth getting a display head for it and using some good leather treatment on it to help preserve the leather. Eastman Leather clothings website has some good stuff which I recommend as it’s what I use on my flying helmets and boots once a year to help preserve them

[@fredsalfa]

@@WW2Wayfinder My brother has it in another state. It just sits in a box unfortunately with all his other memorabilia. Like his wings and a lot of civil aviation stuff. I remember him taking me up in Cessnas in the 70s and he used to wear it. I was 5-10 years old or something

[@charlespapineau5428]

Terrific presentation! You are literally bringing the everyday life of a P-51 pilot to life. The detailed description of each item and their specific functions are greatly appreciated. Looking forward to the next one!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks Charles! Really appreciate your kind words! It was fun to do and the USAAF/RAF is my passion so was a really good day!

[@stevevalley2784]

Great series on the awesome P51 Mustang. I've never seen a video on the P51 pilots clothing & flight gear. Also, I never knew there was a pee tube on the P51. Always learning new things on WW2 Wayfinder!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you Steve glad you’re enjoying g the series! And nice to be able to show something a bit different too!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

These videos are brilliant. Thank you.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you JD! It was a lot of fun to film!

[@afewminutesofhistory]

Love it mate. What a great and unique video, unlike anything i've seen before.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks mate! Hopefully provides a bit of education and realisation as to what the guys wore back in the day! Far removed from the guys who fly fast jets these days!

[@afewminutesofhistory]

@@WW2Wayfinder Yeah defo mate! Really good video as always. The old stuff just looks absolutely quality!

[@ryanmoeller3308]

GREAT video good sir! Thank you so much for giving us all the details and information that you do! I'm an Aircraft Mechanic, and I love seeing these video's on the ol' birds and the men that flew them! Much respect and support from Yuma, AZ. 👍👍

[@WW2Wayfinder]

You’re welcome Ryan! Glad you’re enjoying it! These old aircraft just have so much character to them, and Louisiana Kid is a beautiful P-51, you’d love the Packard Merlin up front on her!

[@ryanmoeller3308]

@WW2 Wayfinder I'm excited to see what you make! I love to see the technical specs and definitely the Merlin!!

[@MrSilver261]

Absolutely brilliant I really enjoyed this very informative

[@tallyho8841]

Amazing episode! So good to see the gear actually worn and explained! Keep up the amazing work!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Always great to talk about flying kit, especially with a P-51 in the background!! Thanks for watching!

[@m1m3rmedia]

Well made and very informative, thanks!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks! Next one will be the cockpit tour but before that my last Battle of the Bulge video will be out next week 😃

[@TribeTaz]

This video was perfect. The details you gave for each piece of equipment was amazing. You look like you belong in that gear

[@SondraD7676]

Outstanding Part 2 of the P51 Mustang and the men who flew them. I have never seen a breakdown of the uniform and equipment before. Incredibly cool and interesting! Eighty-two years later and the uniform has not lost its appeal. As they say, "there is something about a man in uniform." I wonder if that saying started in WWII? I really enjoyed the details and learning more! Thank you for a great presentation - and in the cold! 👍👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you Sondra, it was a lot of fun to film despite the temps! And you’re right, the uniforms from WW2 definitely had a real style and class about them which has been lost today sadly! Thanks again for watching!

[@richardmardis2492]

Funny how little I know about the uniform and equipment- thanks so much for standing out in the cold and show us all this🫡

[@WW2Wayfinder]

No worries Richard, it was fine when I got my B10 jacket on, well almost!

[@19Monts44]

Looking good Sir! Like the info about the escape boots. Well done!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@inixio11]

Great stuff. First time detailed presentation for the Mae West and the boots. keep up with the good job!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@iambicpentameter7177]

Gloves were a special design, knit wool inner and a leather outer, very warm.

[@quirkygreece]

Perfect follow-up to part 1. I didn’t know about the boots. Cheers.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! the 43 pattern boots were a great idea, and ultimately very simple too!

[@georgerobartes2008]

Another piece of vital equipment worn and used in flight was the bladder relief tube which was 'plugged in' like the O2 mask on entering the cock pit . The chutes were particularly comfortable as there was no padding in the seats of course . All in all a pretty comfy and normal situation even if on occasion it was " all f...ouled up ".

[@A14b19]

Brilliant 🤩

[@gerardoramoncesarreynaldo9469]

Great pieces of information throughout. Bu what about aviator Ray ban sunglasses?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Ray Bans were a civilian off-shoot of Bausch and Lomb who did supply the USAAF during the war by Ray Bans never appeared until post war. Other companies also supplied sun glassess as well but B&L is the main comnay I can think of.

[@notarokescientist3003]

well done

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@TheCristo68]

very interesting

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@johnvaluk1401]

Thank you for video. The WW2 spec watch was the A-11. Which was made by Elgin and Bulova also

[@WW2Wayfinder]

On my list to get a nice original one day, but my reproduction one keeps immaculate time as long as it’s wound up everyday. Glad you enjoyed the video and there’s another couple to go on the P-51 but next week is my last Battle of the Bulge episode filmed in La Gleize.

[@836dmar]

The watch worn appears to be an A-17. Not nitpicking but not an A-11 IMO. Of course the movement must be seen to determine. Looks like you know this stuff. Do you collect it as well? Great stuff!

[@johnvaluk1401]

@@836dmar I have a few original A-11’s an A-17 then a few 80’s Hamilton military. I like military timepieces

[@alantoon5708]

Pinks and greens are back as the Class "A" uniform in the modern U.S. Army. Many British items were obtained by the resourceful pilots and ground crews. These included goggles, oxygen masks, footwear, and even rear view mirrors! By the way, another invention that gave the P-51 edge was the G-suit for pilots, which came along in late 1944...

[@WW2Wayfinder]

I love the eclectic mix of wartime USAAF flying equipment in photos. It’s so unique and the fact each pilot has their own unique setup speaks to the individuality of the fighter pilots who flew and fought in the Thunderbolts and Mustangs!

[@33rdusa]

Very interesting! Every detail was no doubt useful when needed. Must have been a tight fit in the cockpit and very restrictive to movement. It makes me wonder how it compared to what German pilots were wearing. Probably harder to find surviving examples of that though.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

The P-51 isn’t too tight a fit and it’s helped by it being really well designed! Can’t speak from the German point of view but I believe the 109 cockpit was more cramped than that of the FW190.

[@jacmaclar]

Great video, but you have some strange horizontal stitching on your A2 jacket above the pockets. I’ve never seen that on an A2 jacket. Could you explain why it’s on yours?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Its an Eastman A2 based upon the tpye worn by the 352nd Fighter Group who had rigger pockets sewn on the inside of their jackets so they could carry more items such as maps in case they were show down over Europe.

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

Outstanding Video...⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Except while listening to this every time I looked up for a split-second, I thought Billy-Bob Thornton was playing a British chappy dressed and dressed in Yank Pilot garb and gear. Kept thinking Drabbit he's got the accent down. If you think that's a shot Mate Thornton slayed women here in the States.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

@@WW2Wayfinder 😎😎😎

[@richardmardis2492]

I would have stayed “in” if I could have worn a uniform like that!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

The wartime USAAF and RAF uniforms are some of the most stylish uniforms ever made in my opinion! Definitely an air of class about them that doesn’t really exist anymore sadly.

[@richardmardis2492]

@@WW2Wayfinder You looked sharp in the P-51 Regalia

[@steve320t9]

Thanks so much for this! I’m looking to reenact and portray a P-51D pilot in 44-45 so this helps a lot to see these things in color and on video. I do have a question though regarding flight suits. I see you’re wearing your “pinks and greens” but did these pilots wear flight suits as well? I’ve seen images of them doing so but since you’re not does that mean that it was more common not to? If so, how would they wear flying boots and would they fit well under the pants legs? Please let me know. Thanks.

[@edgaraquino2324]

Good video! I think what you are talking about in the cap is called a "grommet"...a small matter, but many pilots also wore silver I. D. bracelets...

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks for the info!

[@edgaraquino2324]

​​@@WW2Wayfinderyou are most welcome! Did the pilots wear unlined tight or skin tight gloves so they could feel the controls better, or were they lined? Thanks!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

@@edgaraquino2324 they had the option depending on choice/conditions to wear a thin silk glove with thicker leather gauntlet type gloves over the top. The RAF 1941 pattern was a favourite amount fighter pilots but the USAAF also had its own issue glove that more closely resembles a ski/snowboard glove today if that makes sense. I can’t remember the official designation but I think they were A-10 gloves but not 100% sure without looking

[@edgaraquino2324]

@@WW2Wayfinder Cool! Thanks for the info!

[@33rdusa]

Did I miss mention of a side arm (.45 cal) being issued?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

It was personal choice to carry one. I think most who flew escort missions didn’t bother as it took up space and ultimately would only be a gift to the local German officer in charge! I think the men who flew with the 9th AAF in the closed air support role especially after D-Day were more inclined to carry them as they stood a far better chance of making it back to friendly lines.

[@Pandrnchicken]

Many pilots would have a knit cap for higher altitudes. I always wondered how they would pee during flight, I mean did they have Gatorade bottles? Lol

[@WW2Wayfinder]

When I filmed it, it was so cold I need a warm cap! May has been really cold this year annoyingly! I wouldn’t want to try and go through the hassle of using the relief tube in flight, not with everything else going on in the skies above Europe or over Japan! Thanks for watching Garrett 😃

[@juanpabloaravenariquelme5461]

sou good

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@SPANKA.]

Naw he looks pretty cool; not gunna lie.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@Thereisalwaysmore]

Links to the A2 leather jacket?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Eastman Leather Clothing

[@kylegoldston]

I think that the Oxygen mask was actually for breathing pressurized intake air from the engine. In other words, I don't believe they were loading compressed pure oxygen on fighters during WW2.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

The oxygen tanks were located behind the fuselage tank and radios. Breathing oxygen has to be of a certain purity otherwise the effects could ultimately be fatal, the air also needs to be the same mix that would be breathed at ground level to avoid hypoxia. So yes, the P-51 and other fighters of the era had pressurised breathing oxygen cylinders for the pilot.

[@behindthespotlight7983]

Survival kit?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

I don’t as yet have one in my collection but it’s slowly coming together and there will be more warbird related content over the coming months 😉

[@davedocker1195]

Was the cockpit heated?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

It was, it took bleed air from the engine which provided sme heat, although for high level escort missions especially in winter, cold weather flying clothing was essential for the pilots.

[@billotto602]

Really cool ! And interesting. Thank-you for doing this. 🫡 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

[@WW2Wayfinder]

No worries Bill, glad you enjoyed it! Was a huge privilege to film with such a cool Warbird! Thanks again for watching 😃