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WW1 Aircraft Modeling => WW1 Aircraft Information/Questions => Topic started by: iwik on March 28, 2015, 08:16:25 PM

Title: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: iwik on March 28, 2015, 08:16:25 PM: Hi y'all!
On the famous pic of the American ace with a foot on his Spad XIII wheel, is he wearing a "borrowed" German flying suit or it a USAS issued one? It doesn't look british to me.
Anyone?
Ciao
Iwik
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: uncletony on March 28, 2015, 08:56:38 PM: This picture? It's not a flying suit at all. It looks like a standard US army officers uniform to me:

(http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/Rickenbacker_2_85AF9C1C4D123.jpg)
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: iwik on March 28, 2015, 09:08:02 PM: No, sorry, don't know (well, I know but... :o) why I spoke about his foot on the wheel..
I meant that one:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/auburnuniversitydigitallibrary/3019787140/
Sorry, not at home so can't post pics.
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: uncletony on March 28, 2015, 10:26:37 PM: Ah yes ... that is a flying suit :)
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: WarrenD on March 28, 2015, 10:28:20 PM: Iwik, I want to say I've seen Guynemer in a similar flying suit. What about this suit makes you think it is German? Granted, some, and only some aspects of the flying clothing of the period might be unique to this or that nationality, but by and large, they all share similar characteristics. They weren't as standardized as uniforms and equipment for the regular troops.

Warren
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: uncletony on March 28, 2015, 11:06:26 PM: Quote from: bstachel on March 28, 2015, 11:03:17 PM
sometimes lined with dog fur, which is a rather sorry episode involving the barbaric Chinese trade of dog fur (which still occurs today) where the animal is skinned alive.

That just ruined my morning.
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: uncletony on March 28, 2015, 11:59:34 PM: Quote from: bstachel on March 28, 2015, 11:56:29 PM
Sorry Bo - I did consider not sharing that, kinda put a weird spin on the project when I was researching our figures...the sort of thing you wish was left to history and "the times"....

No no, I'm glad you did, it's not your fault... but it is a depressing fact.
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: lcarroll on March 29, 2015, 05:18:49 AM: I share your pain, Guys. "Wonder Dog" gets an extra Milkbone this afternoon......
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: davecww1 on March 29, 2015, 05:33:57 AM: Hi Iwik,
Here is a photo of possibly the same flight suit today. I met a collector in the 1990's named Bill Dion from Massachusetts who owned it at that time, but he sold it about ten years ago, looks like it is now in New Zealand. I remember hearing at the time that the USAF museum expected him to donate it to them, and they were upset when he decided to sell it to someone out of the country.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k489/davecww1/ww1-flight-suit-belonging-to-eddie-rickenbacker.jpg)
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: RAGIII on March 29, 2015, 05:48:13 AM: That is a great photo. It will be very helpful when I get back to Aviattics excellent figures...soon!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: WarrenD on March 29, 2015, 09:28:47 AM: I'm sorry it left the country as well. :( :( :( :( However, having worked in the museum field, having seen what goes on behinds the scenes, and their "expectation" that it be donated (as opposed to the museum purchasing it), I can understand why it got sold.

Great image though!

Warren
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: Jamo on March 29, 2015, 10:28:46 AM: Acquired by Peter Jackson, now on display at The Aviation Heritage Centre along with Friedrich Christiansen's naval full dress uniform, Fonck's full dress uniform, Lt Walter von Bulow-Bothkamp's hussar jacket and cap, Major Walter Von Eberhardt's uniform and others

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Omaka%20uniforms/Rickenbackersm.jpg)

http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/library/Omaka%20uniforms?sort=3&page=1
Title: Re: Rickenbacker's flying suit question
Post by: iwik on March 29, 2015, 02:59:40 PM: Hi y'all!
Niiiice. That will be of great help. Guess I'll use a Kellerkind figure (the german pilot standing on a Fokker EIII wheel) and modify it a bit to turn it into the US Ace of aces.
Ciao
IWik
PS Thanks to all!