Quote:
Originally Posted by Aceman001
I am looking for pictures of  Lothar Von Richthofen in a flight suit. I have browsed on the internet and found some, but I believe there are more than what is actually on the internet.
I am curious pilots of WW 1 did not have a standard flight suit so many improvised. So did they fly with their long, heavy coats? |
Surprisingly, for a branch of the Services, the uniform requirements were very lax when airborne. Some were strict whilst on the ground, but it appears that you could improvise to increase your comfort whilst aloft.
An Australian, Sidney Cotton, was working on his aircraft when scrambled from his airfield. Other pilots took to the air half dressed in their pyjamas etc, with a coat thrown on over the top, maybe a scarf around their necks. Most returned half-frozen, and many suffered for some days afterwards. Sidney Cotton had on only his overalls, that were smeared with oil and grease, and he didn't suffer any discomfort at all.
He began experimenting with impregnation of oil into cloth, and so was born the Sidcot flying suit. This became a prized item amongst both sides, with German pilots who were victors over English pilots wearing the suits "confiscating" them (well, they wouldn't need them any more would they?), and wearing them as a badge of honour.
Tom, there's a funny story about how one pilot played a practical joke on Stan Dallas, impersonating a General (I think) and insisting Dallas take the Breguet up immediately, with Dallas trying to explain to the "General" that the aircraft had no propellor, and wasn't going anywhere. When a dumbfounded Dallas tried to relate the unusual request to his fellow pilots, one of them replied (in the General's voice) "Well, take it up anyway, Dallas". (This was the origin of Dallas's nickname of Breguet). Apparently, the entire flight fell about laughing at the sight of the pilot dressed in their full flying gear (full length fur lined boots, fur coat etc) running across the airfield, Dallas in hot pursuit with the same clothing, totally unsuited to athletic activities such as this.