The USAAF at the Battle of Leyte Gulf

[Colkid]

Yes, that was the reasoning.

I was in eight years, on flight crew six years. When I left I took nothing but sonarbuoy parts which were scrap. Turned in my leather
flight jacket, etc. It was a good thing, when i went to buy a leather flight jacket i needed a much larger one then i used in the Navy. I bought one just like I wore for six years in 2015 for about $220. Thats not bad. I bought some flights suits for $25 off of Ebay each but none fit me.

 

[MIflyer]

I was never issued a leather flight jacket but bought one at Sears in 1988 for $59 (WW II A-2 Style). The local Sheriff dept was throwing out some military surplus Nomex flight suits and I got about a dozen of them for free. A friend there told me a 38R would fit me. I tried it on and it was almost a 911 situation to get it off. The 40R fits fine.

But my favorite jacket is a genuine US made new MA-1 nylon jacket in a medium blue I got from a mail order place for $20 in 1995. I also got a new dark blue L-2A there for $15.00.

 

[elbmc1969]

The USN still has a USS Samuel B Roberts in its fleet, and its crew had to save their ship when it was attacked in the Persian Gulf.

I got to meet the senior Chief of the Roberts when it hit the mine. He went through the damage and damage control with us.