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TCUNC76
4/8/2015 1:05:03 AM |
Greetings 401st BG members.. a long time student of the Eighth AF here and in particular a keen interest in the Nose art of that WW II era and the A-2 flight jackets worn by those brave young men in WW II. I meet Mr Dan Knight years ago at his home in Flordia and had a A-2 jacket painted up like his original one I saw in the book by English Eighth historian and author Roger Freem...titled "B-17 at War". I will put some links to a post I did on my facebook page showing myself , Capt Knight and our jackets ! I know and have seen his original at Duxford in the UK at the Imperial War Museum .
On your website is a link to some photos showing somone wearing a "Mary Alice " A-2 and a cotton shirt with the design on the back of the shirt. How can I fine out how to get a shirt like this ....a marvelous idea indeed ! I just joined your website tonight and its an honor to do so. I visited Deenathrope a few years ago and of course had a wonderful visit with Mr Knight . If one could steer me in the right direction as to where or who had that shirt made that would be most welcomed. Love the marvelous nose art A-2 jackets of the 401st !
Once contacted all living crew members of the "Diabolical Angel" crew because of their fantastic A-2 nose art jacket they wore ! Thanks for any help and assistance you can offer here !
Tom Colones
tcolones@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/#!/tcolones
/forum/yaf_postst998_B-17-Mary-Alice -- What-have-I-got.aspx#post4583
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donaldbyers
4/9/2015 12:42:56 AM | Tom was very nice to speak to you last night and glad you called. Acknowledgement for the forum sake.
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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TCUNC76
4/10/2015 2:15:56 PM |
Don:
Thanks so much for the talk we had on the 40st...feel free to post those photos of my tribute A-2 jacket I had done in honor of Dan Knights Mary Alice crew . I did get a nice email from a man who flew with Dan Knight and hope to hear from him soon. The A-2 jckets worn by members of the 401st are truly remarkable and what a great art form this was.
I have been collecting photographs of these jackets for years and now if you go on face book you can see various artist who are now doing these jackets and keeping this great WW II art form alive and well. In looking at many real ones from the war one can see the men where a bit smaller ( or in better shape) than todays folks who wear them.
My favorite one of all time is the marvelous "Diabolical Angel"... In the late 1980's I managed to contact several members of the crew and they sent me some photos of them wearing their jackets ! Both door gunners had the angel on the back as seen on this forum site . Just a stunning looking A-2.
I had a great visit with Mr Knight back years ago and I am sadden to learn he passed away a few years ago. I have seen his jacket again now on display at the Imperial War Museum's American building just outside Cambridge in the UK. Fitting the jacket would return to the soil from which he and his brave crew during the war !
The historical topic of nose art and A-2 flying jackets has long been of great interest to me in my studies of the Eighth Air Force ! Those worn by members of the 401st were among the best in the ETO during WW II !
Long live the memory of the men who served in the 401st during WW II.....
A salute from : Tom Colones !
tcolones@yahoo.com
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TCUNC76
4/10/2015 2:23:22 PM |
Nice link to some A-2's worn by the 401st......... fantastic looking A-2's for sure. Wish I know the name of the artist who painted these jackets. Many done by the same individual. If anyone knows who like to know who it was !
TC
http://a2jacketart.tumblr.com/page/7
Here is a link to the facebook page of a great Dutch artist who now keeping this great art form alive and does marvelous work !
https://www.facebook.com/#!/anneke.helleman?fref=ts
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