Author Topic: Fug boots  (Read 2428 times)

Offline Alan Roffey

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 19
Fug boots
« on: May 12, 2013, 03:35:01 AM »
How did Fug boots get their name?

Offline Des

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 9325
    • ww1aircraftmodels.com
Re: Fug boots
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2013, 08:12:30 AM »
I found this written by Michael Skeet in Oct 2004 and it was posted on The Aerodrome on the same date.

"Fug" boots are generally considered to have been invented by Lanoe Hawker (who, since he was flying a DH-2 with no warm engine between him and the cold, probably had a lot of incentive working for him). They were basically a kind of hip-wader, but lined with fur or fleece (and sometimes covered that way as well). Even after the introduction of the Sidcot flying suit, pilots continued to wear them for added protection against the cold, especially in the non-summer months.

"Fug," by the way, is a slang term meaning close and fusty, as in the warm stuffiness of an RFC mess (in which, we are told, the windows were never opened, even in summer, because pilots treasured being warm).
Late Founder of ww1aircraftmodels.com and forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Offline kornbeef

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 961
  • U.K. Carpet monster genocide squad leader.
Re: Fug boots
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2013, 05:08:30 PM »
**"Fug," by the way, is a slang term meaning close and fusty, as in the warm stuffiness of an RFC mess (in which, we are told, the windows were never opened, even in summer, because pilots treasured being warm).**

Unless of course it was a WWI typo or he was Dyslexic and meant "Fur"  :o ;D ;D
Never too old to learn sumfink noo

Offline Alan Roffey

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 19
Re: Fug boots
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2013, 03:58:13 AM »
Thank you very much indeed gentlemen.  Do  you know if they were ever RFC/RNAS/RAF standard issue, or were they purchased by pilots. If they were standard issue, what colour were they? As you may have guessed by now, I am painting the Cockpit Wings figure of the RNAS pilot wearing Fugs.