World War II Army Air Force Re-enacting Gear

All of the gear I use for re-enacting the Army Air Force during World War II.

[@BaldJohnnyRhythm]

I’ve started putting together gear to re-enact a 1942 Cactus Air Force USMC aviator that I plan to use conducting tours at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo NY. thanks for sharing your gear and your idea!

[@scottdunkirk6710]

Our group does ground crew and yes we actually do work on airplanes and also do an immersion camp for AAF.

[@JLTSoft]

Good stuff. I wish I had discovered this last year. I'm just finishing up my Army Air Corps pilot officer's uniform (with A-2 leather jacket) which I plan to wear for Halloween. I'm a real-life pilot (private pilot's license only) so of course I enjoy the attention to detail. Last year I did a pseudo fighter pilot outfit but the only thing I really had was the A-2, a leather repo skull cap, repo goggles, and (S) service pilot wings (cough). I had none of the stuff you've got here. I'm going to try and work on getting this stuff for next year.

[@landongoodwin6709]

Anyone got one of those old A8B oxygen masks from what price glory that they would be willing to sell

[@SteveMrW]

Have you noticed the inaccurate lettering on the B3?.........Inspected 21-11-1941? In the U.S do you not reverse the day and month on the date? Should it not read 11-21-1941? I have altered mine to read 1-11-1941.

[@wildbillkelso1946]

To be honest I have never given the lettering on my repro Mae West that much though. I've considered changing it but its so beat up right now and the lettering has faded a great deal since I made this video. And you can't really see it especially since I always wear a parachute harness over it.

[@Saledeco]

Hi can i contact you in Facebook you are the only one who can help me To build my uniform from the usaaf

[@wildbillkelso1946]

Mr. Saledeco Sorry for not responding sooner but if you have any questions message me on insta. It’s @flyboy1943

[@davidm9017]

How did the microphone work. Like they talk within formations in movies, but also with ground troops. So like how?

[@stokesjack]

Probably just for talking within the formation. Doesn't take much to figure that out. They're in medium to heavy bombers attacking strategic, not tactical, targets so there is no reason nor need to talk to ground forces

[@scottdunkirk6710]

The only ground forces that could talk to fighters would be the FACs in korea and later. Some were done in LATE ww2

[@Ghost141-o4b]

Where did you get this

[@steve320t9]

How about a fighter pilots equipment? Same flight suit? I’d love to do this as well. How do you get all this gear?

[@steve320t9]

Oh and do they make clothing for larger people? I’m working on my weight but I’d like to get some things now if possible

[@wildbillkelso1946]

Fighter pilots wore pretty puck the same gear as bomber pilots with a few exceptions. Fighter pilots either wore seat pack or backpack parachutes and didn’t normally wear electrically heated flight suits like the bomber crews did. The A4 Suit in the video was worn by bomber crewman and fighter pilots from the beginning of the war but started to be phased out in early 1944 with the arrival of the AN-S-31 suit and A-9 Flying Pants but you still see A4’s pop up right up until the end of the war.

[@wildbillkelso1946]

Steven Tamberino The gear was purchased from various makers. My flight suit, Mae West and oxygen mask were made by What Price Glory and my harness was made by The Rigger Depot.

[@scottdunkirk8198]

You still doing AAF?

[@hfdshrimp3973]

How does the re-enacting work?

[@wildbillkelso1946]

For Air Corps it involves bunch of different aspects. We wear full flight gear and interact with the public at airshows in front of original WWII aircraft, we set up a camp and portray life on a forward airbase, reenact mission briefings and debriefings.

[@Themanfuhreal]

I know a few people who re-enact at air shows in T-51 Mustangs. They wear these and make a big show about it on the ground.