WWI Aviators Clothing and Uniforms

Very good thread indeed!
Please allow me to add a clothing item.
This is a shop front for aviator apparel, WW1 era.
I found the selection of goggles interesting.
Center poster at bottom
"The Great War"
"Effects of German Shrapnel on a Triplex Safety Glass Wind screen"

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Welcome Reggiemon! And thanks for finding that great photo. Hey, look! There are my goggles in the lower left corner - the ones facing upwards with the light colored strap showing.

Any predictions what the Ebay uniform will go for? I'll venture a guess at $5000.

[Jim Bruton]

still at USD$600 with only 1 Bid... i would keep an eye on it! now if i only were size 8 in the shoe dept....

[AAC Cadet Leader]

http://www.themillenniummall.net/ShoeStretchers.jpg

Originally Posted by AAC Cadet Leader

Any predictions what the Ebay uniform will go for? I'll venture a guess at $5000.

It was up on eBay a couple weeks ago with a minimum of $800.00 and received no bids. It's a very complete outfit, but it's actually a composite of several uniforms that's been built up over time. The overseas stripe suggests the owner was likely in theater during hostilities, but the tunic itself was likely not delivered until after hostilities had ceased. The other items are anyone's guess. It's still a WW1 aviator's tunic, but it's not as appealing as if it had a date from some months earlier. Nor is it as attractive as if it were a single source uniform. It's all quite a nice collection, but I doubt it will go much higher based on what I've seen lately. If I was in the market I might go as high as $1000.00, but certainly no higher.

Reggie's storefront picture is a great source of information. A British dealer in Southern California has had that same picture in his shop for a number of years and it shows a lot of different goodies very sharp and crisp. He used to use it to help identify items he came by, but as the WW1 aviation market has dried up it became less and less useful to him so he finally put it up for sale. It also shows a couple of the goggles Gary Davidson was asking about earlier in this thread.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Originally Posted by Matt Witt

Reggie's storefront picture is a great source of information. A British dealer in Southern California has had that same picture in his shop for a number of years and it shows a lot of different goodies very sharp and crisp. He used to use it to help identify items he came by, but as the WW1 aviation market has dried up it became less and less useful to him so he finally put it up for sale. It also shows a couple of the goggles Gary Davidson was asking about earlier in this thread.

This from Rod Filan's Rosebud website:
http://204.83.160.230/archive/w/images/outfitters.JPG
The same window, but a bigger view, though cropped.

Interesting use of the store front picture!
I got mine from a gentleman who researches clothing for the scale pilot figures he makes.
They are more authentic than most for static & R/C aeroplanes.
Pete's Pilots. http://petespilots.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
Most of his WW1 figures are done with the Sidcot suit, worn by all sides, late in the war.
I have an excellent 1/4 scale figure suited up in what would be considered correct attire for a RNAS pilot before the Sidcot was available. He will be in a Beardmore built RNAS Pup.
Cheers!

[greatwarpilot]

Good day Ladies and Gentlemen,

Quite an interesting and wide ranging discussion that’s been going on here. I've only just registered here at the aerodrome, and hope to make an interesting contribution.

I've got some questions about RFC uniform details I'm rather curious about and am hoping that the great depth of knowledge around here might help shed some light on them.

The first relates to the text by M. Hobart - Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force - and its brief discussion of RFC uniforms. With respect to officer service dress and shoulder titles he says "Worn on the shoulder epaulettes of the jacket. These were brass capital letters 'RFC' connected at top and bottom" - P.9. Does anyone know if he is referring to these being worn on the epaulettes of the Maternity Jacket or of the 1908 Universal Pattern Officers Jacket? - This is something I've never seen in any photographs and which isn't mentioned in the Men-At-Arms text discussion British Air Forces 1914-18.

Next question comes to RFC buttons. Particularly when worn on the standard army officer's jacket. I've heard and read of RFC buttons being produced in 3 sizes (the smallest for the cap, middle size for the jacket pockets/epaulets, and biggest for the jacket closure), and in brass, bronze and leather. Generally as I understand it the brass would be intended for the enlisted folk, and the bronze for the Officers (as with the collar and cap badges). But in photographs I've seen examples of what appear to be brass buttons on officer’s tunics (http://www.kaisersbunker.com/rfc/rfc02.htm).

Does anyone know how common a practise this was? Or have thoughts on the matter of RFC Officers insignia on the whole?

Finally the discussion on jodhpurs vs. breeches at the beginning of this string was rather interesting. Related to that I'm curious about the boots that would have been worn with such an item. I often read and hear references to "field boots" when WWI Officers uniforms are discussed. Is there a standard issue pattern for these boots or are they basically any private purchase boots that come up to below the knee in brown leather? I've seen difference variations with laces at the front of the ankle, or laces on the inside or outside of the calf at the top of the boot. Any thoughts on this one?

I'll apologize in advance for the length of my first post, but I just figured I'd jump right in with what’s been on my mind. Hopefully it'll lead to some interesting discussion.

Cheers

Edward

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Originally Posted by greatwarpilot

Good day Gentlemen,

In my lowest voice, "Good day!"

Thank you for your interest and your challenging questions greatwarpilot. The details are beyond my technical expertise. But perhaps Dan San Abbott or Matt Witt would be able to respond with some information for you. How bout it gentlemen?

[AAC Cadet Leader]

While digging for other info, I stumbled upon this link about a WWI pilot for whom the Oklahoma field was renamed. Good info on him - and a nice pic in his WWI helmet, goggles and leather jacket.


http://www.omniplex.org/html/pagetrop.html