Hey Steve: Here is a all original A-2 leather flight jacket, also from the 15th A.F. in Italy. It belonged to my lifelong friend Sgt. John J. Cosby, New Monmouth NJ, who was

a B-24 gunner in Italy and given to me prior to his death a few years ago. It was made

during WW 2 by J.A. Burow. Right now it is on E Bay for sale. Jacket is a litttle big for

my daughter.

This is the nicest piece I have in my collection, a Tropical Kriegsmarine M1940 Helmet...

Jim

This WWII uniform I picked up yesterday @ the antique flea market I attended, and it is simply gorgeous. Very high quality tailoring by Brooks Bros., complete set with uniform jacket and matching trousers. All it needs is a good dry-cleaning to be mint condition!

a Tropical Kriegsmarine M1940 Helmet...

That is a keeper.

I have a Police M1940 that my Dad brought home. I don't have a clear photo of it. I will try to get a shot and post it this weekend.

Steve

You guys rock with your collections!

This is your plain "Ike" jacket that was very poplar and very comfortable. I bought this example in a shop in Glendale, CA, because it is not your typical example. This guy was trying to make an impression with the Top Brass in HQ.

"Ike Jacket" .................. SHAEF HQ, Signal Corps

This soldier was currently assigned to Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) and his previous service was the 15th Army Group HQ. This jacket has 4 brass collar discs: two "US" discs on top and two Signal Corps discs below them. (I'm currently displaying it correctly with only one US on RH and a Signal Corps on LH collar.)

It has 5 overseas stripes of bullion weave and a re-enlistment stripe.

What makes this jacket unique is the detail.

Every patch on the uniform is sewn with a white cross-stitching pattern.

This is a patch of the 15th Army Group which was top command of all troops in Italy.

The ribbons are not the standard cut ribbons mounted on metal. These are

hand-made using colored thread. The red has faded over the years. The

lower RH ribbon is for occupation forces, so this was worn after WW2.

And to keep his uniform neat, he sewed the pocket flap shut.

This example shows how uniforms can vary in condition, detail and quality.

Steve

a Tropical Kriegsmarine M1940 Helmet...

That is a keeper.

 

I have a Police M1940 that my Dad brought home. I don't have a clear photo of it. I will try to get a shot and post it this weekend.

Steve

Thanks Steve...I'm trying to cobble together a mannequin display, piece by piece. So far I have the helmet, a set of tropical Y-Rieman, belt,buckle and beltbag. I cannot afford a real tunic and breeches at this time, so I might have to substitute.

BTW...beautiful Ike jacket! That guy was a real Peacock (not Ike). I love those jackets, in particular the chocolate brown colored ones. Your collection must be a realb treat for your students. Nice work! Looking forward to seeing that Police helmet too

Jim

Well instead of adding pictures, you cancheck out our online musuem at:

http://thor.prohosting.com/hopp1945

There is some of our uniform pieces there. Still working on the site, so keep checking in!.

Thanks Mec. Will make sure to place your weblink on the main site later today.

Looked at all the B&W photos. Great! I hope everyone else takes the time to look. Can't wait to see more as the collection grows.

Lee is going to take a photo of me in my Ike jacket. I wore it to our local pub last night and everyone went nuts for it. I always get tons of questions and enjoy telling them the history behind my 48th Combat Engineers jacket. I hope I am making the guy proud when he's lookin' down from heaven.

I wore the jacket a few weeks ago and noticed an older gentlemen looking my way. I went up to he and his wife and said, excuse me sir, I noticed you were looking at my jacket, would you happen to be a WWII vet? Oh yes he was. They were great folks and I loved talking to them. The conversation only last about 6 minutes, but I guess I made a real impression because when Lee went back to Hank's about a week later, he would up talking to the same gentlemen. Lee didn't realize who he was at the time. He got into conversation and said, you should talk to my wife, she's writing a book about her dad's unit, etc. The gentleman smiled and asked, "Oh Marion? Yes, we've already had the pleasure of meeting." Lee was tickled to tell me that he not only remembered me, but knew my name. How sweet!

Yeah. My "teen" daughter said my IKE jacket would look in style with the short jackets they wear today. She said I should wear it and then thought maybe she should.

She will have to get her own.

Steve

This is a model 1934 Italian Bustina with an Engineer's badge I wanted to get the uniform too, but the sleeves were ripped at the seems from the arms being raised so quickly.. (only joking!)

Jim

That's a very handsome hat. Of course it's even cooler that it has an ENGINEER'S badge. Go to the head of the class!

I'll have to display my British visor cap for Royal Engineers(WW2).

Dogdaddy---with those lighting bolts radiating from around the center, that would indicate either Signal Corps or Signals (Radio), according to my book.

Steve