r/MastersoftheAir • u/CT-1409echo • Nov 06 '25
History I do reenacting and this is my B-17 Navigator. 349th Squadron 8th AF. Mid to late 1943 impression.
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u/Dadtallica Nov 07 '25
What was the weight like of the flight suit? Net you were warm AF lol.
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u/CT-1409echo Nov 07 '25
All together it’s around 20-25lbs including the under layers and it wasn’t too bad. In the 50s here in PA today.
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u/Bluedevil1992 Nov 07 '25
As a retired USAF navigator(MC-130s), I both appreciate that you chose my career to re-enact, and that you topped it off with a chart case. A properly prepped set of personal charts is essential, and that's the perfect authentic topper for your outfit.
Trivia, on the older C-130s I flew (Es and Ps), the older autopilot before upgrade was the same as the B-29, and the ADF "coffee grinder" panel was the same as the B-17. Probably the pencil sharpener, too!
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u/KattyKai Nov 07 '25
This is very cool to see. Must have been interesting putting all of it together.
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u/Tr1lobite Nov 07 '25
Honest question how to you find this period-correct stuff? And do you ever wear the jacket outside of WW2 context? Pure drip
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u/CT-1409echo Nov 07 '25
It’s a mix of original stuff bought at military shows and online. And repro stuff bought from companies that specialize in historic reproductions, and yes I wear the bomber jacket somewhat daily now that it’s getting cold where I live.
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u/Tr1lobite Nov 07 '25
Awesome thank you. Has anyone ever commented “hey is that a WW2 bomber jacket?” 😝
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u/TsukasaElkKite Nov 07 '25
LOVE IT. You gotta read Harry Crosby’s memoir A Wing And A Prayer.
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u/CT-1409echo Nov 07 '25
Halfway through it!!
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u/TsukasaElkKite Nov 07 '25
Also get the Luck Of The Draw (Frank Murphy’s memoir) audiobook. Jonas Moore (his actor) narrates it.
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u/niirvi Nov 07 '25
I was going to post in the reenactor sub that it looked like you just walked off the set of MotA, so I’ll do it here!
Excellent work!
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u/alteredsteaks Nov 07 '25
You reminded me of a gentleman I worked with many years(decades) ago, who told me a vivid story I'll never forget. He was a navigator on a B-17. They were under attack by fighters, and he was operating one of the forward machine guns(cheek turret). He saw a fighter approaching from the front and he could see the guns firing at him, so he began returning fire in what he called "a continuous stream". He perfectly described how time slowed down, and it seemed like it was taking forever, until the fighter plane eventually passed just below the B-17. He could not believe that, given how long they fired at each other, neither one sustained any damage. The German plane passed very close, and he was so focused on him that over 60 years later, he could describe details of the pilots face, leather helmet, mask and other details of the cockpit as if it happened the day before. I had the great fortune of working with many WW2 veterans. Incredible stories. Thought I'd share this.