I am currently building a diorama of a US downed fighter pilot evading some Germans.
What equipment would he have on him? Would he have a personalized leather flight jacket, with the squadron symbols on it? Or was it mainly the bomber crews who painted the jackets?
I know it was SOP to hid the parachute right away, and I can't imagine the leather helmet with all of its attachments stayed with a pilot for very long... But what else would he have with him?

Sorry if this seems but I figured you flyboys in Aeroscale would be more knowledgeable on this than in other forums. Thanks!

Steve

At a minimum, he would have a pistol (either .38 or .45 M1911) in a leather holster (usually an armpit or chest holster), a map of some kind, a compass, a small first aid kit, he would also have his Mae West preserver, but he'd probably ditch that with the parachute as soon as he'd land. A bomber pilot will have a flak vest and maybe his M1 helmet or some kind of steel helmet and would be wearing a lot of cold weather gear. The A-jacket may be seen on a fighter pilot but the chances of it having a unit logo on the back would be less than on a bomber pilot. Pilots now adays have a lot more stuff on them than back then. I'd do a search for WWII pilots bailing out (since there were not ejection seats, they'd jump out of the aircraft, if they could). HTH

Jeff

Hey Steve,
This may shed some light...WWII Pilot Gear

Joe

Thanks guys!

You two had more info that I could find in a few days!

Thanks again!

- Steve