About
This is a blog dedicated to USAF pilots and test pilots, there flight gear and jackets. I am mainly focusing on the years 1946 through to 1969, I aim to share many images found on the web, that otherwise would just be sitting on my hard drive!
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Great photos! Looking forward to seeing more.
Grant
October 17, 2010 at 1:54 am
Nice idea Stu, a great selection of shots. You’re inspiring me to do something similar.
October 18, 2010 at 5:11 am
Fantastic ! Great view! Thank you very much !
November 11, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Nice job,
thank you!
David
November 12, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Absolutely love this blog, I’ve added it to my favorites. Much appreciate your work!
dean
November 15, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Ronca was a pilot on the F-86 and the F-100 at Eglin Air Force base during 1953-56 at AFAC. I was the crew chief on some of the planes he flew. A lot of good memories, including getting my butt chewed for leaving a fuel cap loose
November 25, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Great site !
Was that photo of the pilot in front of the F-100 from the cover of “Jet Pilot Overseas” by Henry Lent and is “Ronca” the pilot shown in that photo ?
Takes me back to the 7th grade (1963) LOL
Later I was a crew chief on F-4s in England.
November 30, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Fantastic ! Just like what i like… US pilots in flight gear of the 50’s with their supersonic (or not) aircraft….
From a French enthusiast…
Photos of pilots with the protos XF3H Demon, F3H-1N, F4H-1, Skyrocket and Skystreak, XF-92, YF-102, XF-88 A and B and so on are welcome !
Thanks
December 9, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Fantactic photos collection of what I like since always: US postwar era aviation. Hoping that it will be continued…
But where is the Navy?
Franck (France)
December 11, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Amazing collection of photo’s, keep up the good work!
January 3, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Thanks for the great site!!
January 15, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Great site with rare photos- especially the color shots. Interested in this period of USAF history since my father was a pilot on F/RF-84F, RB-57A and F-100. Thanks.
January 21, 2011 at 3:51 am
Absolutely The BEST Aviation Find I’ve Come Across In YEARS…
1 Monte Cristo #1 And A Bottle Of Cold Chard Later…
I’m Compelled To Write – “YOUR Blog Is Is A Treasure Trove Of Aviation History…
I Can’t Thank YOU Enough For Sharing…
I Just Happened To Stumble In, Because I Was Researching Flight Jackets…
Specifically An L-2A From The Korean War That I’m Contemplating Putting On eBay..?
As I’m Parting With My Flight Gear Collection…
I Found YOU About 26Pages Deep On My Yahoo Search Of “Flight Jacket L-2A”…
For Sure YOU ARE LOCKED Into My Favorites…
Thank YOU Once AGAIN, I’ve Had A Fantastic Evening Tonight…
January 28, 2011 at 8:20 am
Hi Remo,
Thanks for the review! Have you tried joining the vitage leather jacket forum at http://www.vintageleatherjackets.org they are really helpful and also have a forum on Nylon jackets and would be pleased to help you with information on your L-2a.
Best wishes
stu
January 28, 2011 at 9:12 am
Great Site!
I came upon your blog through a Google image search for Ray Ban g-15 aviators in an aviation context for my own wordpress blog. Good looking page If I might say, haha, I also am running the Modularity lite theme.
Anyways, I was messaging to see if you would mind me using three photos from your archive to use on mine? I also wanted to know if you mind adding you to my blogroll.
My blog is also 50s and 60s themed heritage items meshed with the throwback well-made items of today. I also do have a great interest in aviation, as it pertains to my profession. Anyways, I just wanted to ask those things, and give you a big thumbs up on your site.
Keep up the good work.
Fernando
http://www.thegentlemanstopcoat.com
March 3, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Hi Fernando,
That fine with me, use what you want, check out my other blog
I like our blog and I’ll add it to my blog roll to, looking forward to our future posts
all the best
stu
March 4, 2011 at 10:05 am
Added!
March 5, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Very good website. Thanks :o)
March 11, 2011 at 9:42 am
This is better than any of the published books on Flight Helmets I have!
An absolutely fantastic source for researchers and collectors.
March 27, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Great site. I was wandering if I may use some photos in veteran video interviews I do as a hobby. I noticed that a lot of them are from “Life”, so I wasn’t sure if that was possible. Any help would be appreciatied.
March 28, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Beautiful job! Many thank. Wayne
March 28, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Absolutely superb photos. I am very interested in early USAF , and have yet to find a better resource than this.
Amazing, keep up the good work.
Cheers………John
April 23, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Great Photos! The Webb photos that were just posted are very rare. Any other UPT photos from that era would be really great. Do all of these come from LIFE?
-John
April 26, 2011 at 6:48 am
Excellent website!
I am fond of this era of aviation history – the golden age!
Many great pretty rare pictures of fine quality!
I have some questions I would ask the webmaster directly by e-mail, if it is possible.
Thanks in advance for your reply / help.
Regards,
Fabrice
July 6, 2011 at 9:15 am
I am hooked! Very nice work. I also really liked the recent Astronaut postings. Many happy moments have now been frittered away sipping coffee and rummaging through this site in the last few weeks. Thanks!
July 13, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Stu I am currently, MAking a documentary about apollo Astronaut Stu Roosa. and would like to ask your permission to show a couple of pictures from your blog .
If there are copywriter issues, please let me know.
Sincerely
Francisco Gonzalez
PS: I really like your blog
October 3, 2011 at 1:59 pm
This is a fabulous website. If possible do you sell the pictures or high resolution jpeg images? My father is in one photo and I’d like to buy it for him. Also I am trying to find out about a crash that happened in Ohio in the 1960s. No one was hurt, and the pilots were able to eject. If anyone has information I would appreciate it.
October 9, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Hi Jessica,
I don’t sell the images as they are all to be found on the web somewhere, If you let me know which one your father is in I’ll see if I can find out where I got it from and send you the information, they will probably be able to help you.
All the best
stu
October 17, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Stu, thank you again for all photos you find and share on this fabulous blog.
My blow (in french of course!) about 50/60’s US flightgears and stories: http://flightgear50.blog4ever.com
Best,
Franck
October 29, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Don’t know why it posted the same video 3 times. Here is a link for th other one
November 18, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I’ve been sharing your website with everyone on my email list. Absolutely great stuff. I would also like to share some of the photos in the book Into the Blue, USAF Uniforms 1945 – Present. I have vol 1 out there and can be purchased through Schiffer Publishers or Amazon.com. May main purpose for the books is to share with other vets and historians. I feel as you do that these photos should be out there and not hidden away from the public. I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you for all of your hard work!
Lance
November 28, 2011 at 5:13 am
Lance, I love your book, when is vol 2 coming out?? Thank you for your hard work!!!
August 30, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Here is another video I did using photos from your website here. I hope you like it. Let me know.
February 18, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Hi Erik,
That looks great, Thank for taking the time and effort to put something together.
All the best
stu
February 18, 2012 at 10:44 pm
I love your web site and visit it frequently to see new photos. You have some really excellent photos here—not just the subject matter, but the quality of most of them is fabulous…. I was amused by the latest photo of the Air Force Academy cadet standing on the boarding ladder of the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star, because I have the exact picture of myself, taken January 23, 1969, at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, CO. I don’t recall Cadet Abernathy, but there were 1,407 cadets who entered with the Class of 1973.
April 3, 2012 at 4:33 am
Hi Bryan,
Come on don’t be shy, let see it and immortalize you here! Love your blog to, hope to but a blog to a face soon!
All the best
stu
April 3, 2012 at 8:40 am
Please contact me through my email address – thank you.
April 4, 2012 at 1:46 am
Hi Steve,
How can I help you
April 4, 2012 at 4:16 am
I’d like to use some Korean War Mustang photos from your blog in my upcoming Mustang book and need to know how best to credit them – also I need your name.
April 4, 2012 at 4:31 am
I’m new to this blog. How do I post photos? My dad, Gene Ray Johnson, was an F-84 pilot in Korea with the 16th FIS of the 51st FIW, the 111th FBS of the 136th FBG, and the 69th FBS of the 58th FBG. He later served with the 559th and 560th Strategic Fighter Squadrons at Randolph AFB. I would love to hear from anyone who knew or flew with my dad. Thanks for the great website.
June 30, 2012 at 10:55 pm
It’s a very impressive collection. Fantastic photos! BTW, I remember there’s a olive green color B-15C jacket in early 1950s, but few photos that we I can find at that period, so if possible, would you share some with us. Thanks
September 23, 2012 at 3:45 pm
The Pilot on the Jacket cover of the book Jet Pilots Overseas is Lt Col. Louis R. Batson Jr. RET.
October 26, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Any back story on the Chuck Yeager / Barbara Eden I dream of Jennie photo? I know one of the NASA Dryden buildings served as Cape Kennedy but not sure where the photo came in.
November 1, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Can you tell me anything about the image labeled 1-ladd-fld-crew0001-paul-warner1 SAC ? I recognized my father in it. He never spoke much about what they were doing in 55th SRW. Sealed orders, arctic gear, long missions,etc. He is 88 and I’d love to prod him with some questions.
November 16, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Great concept!
December 18, 2012 at 12:12 am
Love your site! I first read Jet Pilot Overseas as an AF brat living at RAF Lakenheath in the early sixties! Checked it out numerous time from the base library! It was my favourite book! Definitely inspired my decision to become a USAF Navigator/WSO and a pilot. Keep up the good work and I will try to dig up some photos of my dad from his days at Furstenfelbruck AB, Kelly and Luke AFBs plus Chaumont AB, RAF Lakenheath and Langley AFB.
January 2, 2013 at 2:19 am
Being new to the site, I can only congratulate you on it’s excellence. As a former F-84F pilot in the Royal Netherlands Air Force I always had a special liking for the first Jet I flew operationally. Thanks for a great website.
February 2, 2013 at 10:36 am
Incredible site! I’m following it now and look forward to visiting often! KUDOS for your efforts, and thanks to all former military personnel for their service! 🙂
April 9, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Hi I really enjoy receiving the updates.
Could you include some C-45 stuff please.
restoring a Beech 18 over here in the UK http://www.beechrestorations.com
May 9, 2013 at 11:32 am
Great website, glad I found it. Oh, and thanks for putting a picture of my Dad on your website! He looks good here.
May 20, 2013 at 12:37 am
I am an old Laos Air America associate of Lt. Col Louis Batson jr. and would like to get touch with him. jameslmullen@comcast.net
June 18, 2013 at 1:22 am
Hi, My name is Yuma Shishido looking for Flight Jacket collector for Japanese Magazine shoot July 15-18, Around East Coast area.
Ohio, Washington DC, Norfolk.
If you have any Info, Please send me a email to yuma@tk-digital.com
We want to go visit them and take Collection and Collectors Photo.
Thanks.
Yuma
July 14, 2013 at 2:13 am
Nice color pics of the RF-51. They were lifted from my website without permission. Nice use of them though.
August 29, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Gentlemen and Ladies,A pleasure to locate this site…Wishing,all well…Just a moment of your time…Interested in any info,on test pilot,Ronald Stuart Kent…have always,beleived,died during traing mission,in Ga.early 1950’s…F-84-F…as always a pleasure….Ronnie is my Uncle…thanks,again…
December 14, 2013 at 4:11 pm
I cannot thank you enough. Absolutely stunning pictures. Simply treasures.
December 27, 2013 at 11:32 am
Excellent pictures! Thanks for putting all these up.
FYI – the F-100 pilot on the far left of the seventh picture is James F. Low, Korean War ace.
January 22, 2014 at 4:53 pm
Here’s one for you: Lt. George Lindsey, 430th FBS, K2 Tegau, Korea, 1952. http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w202/birdysauce/037_zps0b3d1624.jpg
February 1, 2014 at 5:23 pm
I have that exact book with an autograph of the man on the cover, Lou Batson
March 9, 2014 at 12:55 am
Stu,
Happened on your site by accident – very cool. There are a couple of pictures of my Uncle Don (NDANG) where he appears as unkown or misnamed; would be pleased to assist by providing his details. He and three others perished in 1969 while flying the Happy Hooligans’ C-54.
March 18, 2014 at 1:24 pm
thanks for the web site. Found a old photo of my Dad in 1967.
March 24, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Top notch site. A real pleasure to view such great aviation photos.
April 19, 2014 at 4:20 am
Stu,
What a fantastic collection! I’m publishing a book on SAC’s first twenty years, and am interested in using some of the photos you have here. If I identify photos, can you tell me where you got them so that I can pursue permissions?
Thanks!
June 3, 2014 at 8:40 pm
Simempre me gusto la Historia Aeronautica Mundial y en especial la de EEUU, mis felicitaciones por esta pagina, mi especialidad es el Vuelo Termico, en si volar es lo que cuenta, sentir el Vuelo
Un saludo desde Villa Mercedes San Luis Argentina y que sigan esos muy buenos Vuelos..!!!
September 6, 2014 at 5:38 pm
The unknown pilot in the 97th FIS in the F-94C aircraft is Lt. Clifford Bizek I was in the 97th as a Crew Chief on a T-33 51-9176
December 3, 2014 at 1:07 am
Hola.! Muchisimas gracias por la informacion, interesantisima.! me dedico al Vuelo Termico y siempre me ha gustado la historia de la Aviacion en gral.
Los saludo con un gran abrazo..!
Adrian Felipe Geliot
Villa Mercedes San Luis
Argentina
LV – AAPP 006
http://www.termicasmercedinas.blogspot.com
November 8, 2015 at 12:21 pm
As President of the B-58 Hustler Association, I would appreciate having our site listed.
September 30, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Hi Stu, both this and the Navy Pilot Overseas are fab blogs, with incredible material. Many congrats! Is it possible for you to contact me by email, I have some ideas I’d like to run past you. Thanks, Duncan
February 24, 2016 at 9:37 am