Flying – Clothing

We’ve all seen images or films with World War II bomber crews clad in heavy leather suits, but why was such clothing necessary? Tune in to learn about the flying clothing involved in America’s strategic bombing campaign and the environments that aircrews endured.

Please feel free to leave comments or questions on the video, as well as suggestions for future topics. Thanks for checking it out!

(Also, apologies for the portrait mode video. We hope to get future videos in Landscape)

For further research on the addressed topics and Wendover, here are some recommended resources:

Historic Wendover Airfield, wendoverairbase.com

• 306th Bombardment Group Historical Association, https://www.306bg.us/
• Bateman, Ronald R. Wendover Winds of Change: A History. Wendover: R.R. Bateman, 2004.
• Bowman, Martin W. USAAF Handbook, 1939-1945. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 1997.
• Hawkins, Ian. The Münster Raid: Bloody Skies Over Germany. Blue Ridge Summit: Aero, 1990.
• Sweeting, C. G. Combat Flying Clothing: Army Flying Clothing During World War II. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 2002.
• Sweeting, C. G. Combat Flying Equipment: U.S. Army Aviators Personal Equipment, 1917-1945. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 2002.
• Webster, Philip D, and Charlotte B Webster. Thirty-Five Missions Over Japan. Lulu, 2017.