For the Bored's Newest Historian...

[tanstaafl2]

Oh, and I probably shouldn't mention the tie either...

No, it wasn't artistic license.

I'm ashamed to admit this, not only because it betrays my unforgivable lack of trust in ES's historical accuracy (particularly considering that he's an associate of Notebookboy) but also because my thinking got stuck in the the track of trying to connect an RAF plane with the (British?) red squirrel, instead of associating it with Flybrick. After all, Ms. Red Squirrel is most likely just borrowing the plane from his collection.

The plane is most definitely one the Beaufighters in the Night.

I was figuring at least FlyBrick would make that connection when he saw it....

lb13

Although if one did choose to pick a nit I would think the Beaufighters in this book would have had a USA roundel on the side given they were US Army Air Forces aircraft. And may well have been brown since they were stationed in North Africa, at least until they moved to France after D-Day. No doubt FlyBrick would know for sure!

Or perhaps this is a model of the original British Beaufighter before they were adopted by the US. Perhaps the only version of the model available came only with an RAF roundel. Which I think at that time had a gold outer ring, not white...

If historical accuracy is of interest!

And we probably don't even want to go into what appear to be eagles on the shoulder of his uniform given that he notes his rank on the book cover as Lieutenant Colonel. No doubt he appreciates what I am sure is a well deserved promotion...

Which brings another thing to mind. The book title is Beaufighters in the Night: 417 Night Fighter Squadron USAAF. I learned about the designation USAAF for US Army Air Forces. Had always thought it was the US Army Air Corps but that changed in June 1941 before the US had even entered WWII (although according to that highly authoritative source wiki, it was still the name of a branch within the USAAF).

Learn something new every day.

[ulysses5019]

Oh, and I probably shouldn't mention the tie either...

I was figuring at least FlyBrick would make that connection when he saw it....

lb13

Although if one did choose to pick a nit I would think the Beaufighters in this book would have had a USA roundel on the side given they were US Army Air Forces aircraft. And may well have been brown since they were stationed in North Africa, at least until they moved to France after D-Day. No doubt FlyBrick would know for sure!

Or perhaps this is a model of the original British Beaufighter before they were adopted by the US. Perhaps the only version of the model available came only with an RAF roundel. Which I think at that time had a gold outer ring, not white...

If historical accuracy is of interest!

And we probably don't even want to go into what appear to be eagles on the shoulder of his uniform given that he notes his rank on the book cover as Lieutenant Colonel. No doubt he appreciates what I am sure is a well deserved promotion...

Which brings another thing to mind. The book title is Beaufighters in the Night: 417 Night Fighter Squadron USAAF. I learned about the designation USAAF for US Army Air Forces. Had always thought it was the US Army Air Corps but that changed in June 1941 before the US had even entered WWII (although according to that highly authoritative source wiki, it was still the name of a branch within the USAAF).

Learn something new every day.

Is there something wrong with the Duke's tie pilgrim?

[Flybrick]

Sorry I'm late...

I am amazed! That is pretty darn cool - avatar incorporated, the Beau*, the USAF uniform*, the whole deal - thank you!

* The Beaufighter, being borrowed by the US from the RAF, came with standard RAF markings/camoflage - gray/green - and until the US groundcrews could repaint the planes, they were sometimes flown with RAF roundels. Also the yellow ring around the RAF roundel came and went, have to look up the dates, but there were numerous variations throughout WWII.

* Yep, thanks for the promotion, but Lt Col was it for me. As for the 'big boy clothes (that's one heckuva memory, pea!), I still have a soft spot for the uniform.

Finally, as noted, the USAAC, became the USAAF in 1941, before Pearl Harbor. It is US Army Air Forces, not Army Air Force as is often written - my pet peave, before becoming a separate service in 1947 as the US Air Force.

A final obscure fact is that 'regular' USAAF officers did belong to the Army branch called "Army Air Corps" in their commissioning certificate. In other words, they were specifically members of the flying branch and competed against other members of that branch for promotion (although the casualty rate often made 22-23 year olds go from a 1Lt to a Major or Lt Col in months and then be the squadron commander. Unbelievable!) just as "armored" or "infantry" officers competed within their own specialty back then. Unlike the wartime reservists who served for the duration (usually).

May I recommend reading up on Jimmy Stewart? One of America's heroes.

[tanstaafl2]

Oh, and I probably shouldn't mention the tie either...

Although if one did choose to pick a nit I would think the Beaufighters in this book would have had a USA roundel on the side given they were US Army Air Forces aircraft. And may well have been brown since they were stationed in North Africa, at least until they moved to France after D-Day. No doubt FlyBrick would know for sure!

Or perhaps this is a model of the original British Beaufighter before they were adopted by the US. Perhaps the only version of the model available came only with an RAF roundel. Which I think at that time had a gold outer ring, not white...

If historical accuracy is of interest!

And we probably don't even want to go into what appear to be eagles on the shoulder of his uniform given that he notes his rank on the book cover as Lieutenant Colonel. No doubt he appreciates what I am sure is a well deserved promotion...

Which brings another thing to mind. The book title is Beaufighters in the Night: 417 Night Fighter Squadron USAAF. I learned about the designation USAAF for US Army Air Forces. Had always thought it was the US Army Air Corps but that changed in June 1941 before the US had even entered WWII (although according to that highly authoritative source wiki, it was still the name of a branch within the USAAF).

Learn something new every day.

Is there something wrong with the Duke's tie pilgrim?

Nothing the Duke did could ever be wrong, could it?

However the uniform tie in the picture should be blue, the same shade as the uniform. For example:

[Flybrick]

However the uniform tie in the picture should be blue, the same shade as the uniform.

Dang! Maybe that's why I didn't make full colonel!?


I am impressed and honored by the artwork nonetheless.

[tanstaafl2]

However the uniform tie in the picture should be blue, the same shade as the uniform.

Dang! Maybe that's why I didn't make full colonel!?


I am impressed and honored by the artwork nonetheless.

Yeah, maybe that and the Naval Aviator wings...

[ulysses5019]

Do you have a problem with my avatar's uniform, or lack thereof?

[tanstaafl2]

Do you have a problem with my avatar's uniform, or lack thereof?

I don't have a particular problem with it but I do wonder if she finds having the vertical stabilizer in the crack of her butt to be a bit of a nuisance.

Although I guess if one can get used to a thong that might not be all that much different...

[Flybrick]

Yeah, maybe that and the Naval Aviator wings...

Space professional's insignia. These derisivily (sp?) dubbed "spings" took the place of the former space badge and missileers' badge (which I earned through 4 years under North Dakota - I think I'm still owed one medium-sized felony since I did the time, but I digress.).

I had a missile badge, and aircrew (not pilot or nav) wings.

But, the more I think about, the more I'm sure it was that dang black tie....

[tanstaafl2]

Yeah, maybe that and the Naval Aviator wings...

Space professional's insignia. These derisivily (sp?) dubbed "spings" took the place of the former space badge and missileers' badge (which I earned through 4 years under North Dakota - I think I'm still owed one medium-sized felony since I did the time, but I digress.).

I had a missile badge, and aircrew (not pilot or nav) wings.

But, the more I think about, the more I'm sure it was that dang black tie....

That wasn't the only name I had heard for the Space Professionals Badge or "spings" as you note! You guys in the missile crowd were apparently slightly peeved with the change to the "space wings" or "spings" and wanted your missile operations badge or "pocket rocket" back. I believe the spings (master spings it would appear) are what the LTC (my Army roots are showing...) in the picture is wearing.

But none of them are gold! That is a characteristic of badges that is almost exclusively the purview of the marine forces like the Navy and some Marine Corps and Coast Guard badges (and even the one lone PHS badge which just recently was changed from pewter to gold to reflect our marine service tradition).

I suspect evil squirrel was taking a pot shot at you and the Air Force by putting gold Navy wings on your picture instead of your silver spings.

Why else would he be called evil...

[littlebeast13]

Sorry I'm late...

I am amazed! That is pretty darn cool - avatar incorporated, the Beau*, the USAF uniform*, the whole deal - thank you!

* The Beaufighter, being borrowed by the US from the RAF, came with standard RAF markings/camoflage - gray/green - and until the US groundcrews could repaint the planes, they were sometimes flown with RAF roundels. Also the yellow ring around the RAF roundel came and went, have to look up the dates, but there were numerous variations throughout WWII.

* Yep, thanks for the promotion, but Lt Col was it for me. As for the 'big boy clothes (that's one heckuva memory, pea!), I still have a soft spot for the uniform.

Given that I had to do a lot more research for this pictura than probably any other I've done, I'm a little bummed I missed the little "Lt." there before the Colonel... and it's plain as day to me now. Oh well, I guess ES thought you deserved the promotion anyway....

And as to all the other little inconsistencies Tan pointed out, ES gives him a hearty , and would like to remind him that he may remember this when it comes time to do his picture.....

lb13

[tanstaafl2]

Sorry I'm late...

I am amazed! That is pretty darn cool - avatar incorporated, the Beau*, the USAF uniform*, the whole deal - thank you!

* The Beaufighter, being borrowed by the US from the RAF, came with standard RAF markings/camoflage - gray/green - and until the US groundcrews could repaint the planes, they were sometimes flown with RAF roundels. Also the yellow ring around the RAF roundel came and went, have to look up the dates, but there were numerous variations throughout WWII.

* Yep, thanks for the promotion, but Lt Col was it for me. As for the 'big boy clothes (that's one heckuva memory, pea!), I still have a soft spot for the uniform.

Given that I had to do a lot more research for this pictura than probably any other I've done, I'm a little bummed I missed the little "Lt." there before the Colonel... and it's plain as day to me now. Oh well, I guess ES thought you deserved the promotion anyway....

And as to all the other little inconsistencies Tan pointed out, ES gives him a hearty , and would like to remind him that he may remember this when it comes time to do his picture.....

lb13

Well, you would probably have a really tough time researching my uniform(s)...

Not that I would ever whine about my own picture or anything.

But I would be happy to serve as a consultant...