Youthful Enthusiasm...
While attending the Battle of Britain Airshow last month, I was quite surprised at the number of young people dressed in American uniforms. Several young lads were proudly sporting A-2 jackets, and looked like they had just stepped off a movie lot. I must say that I was quite impressed with the attention to detail they displayed.
Of course, there were re-enactors sharply dressed in Royal Air Force (RAF) uniforms as well, which really helped to underscore the multi-cultural effort it took to win the war. Seeing it at Duxford, all at the same time also helped cement the history of the facility in my mind.
Upon hearing that we were in the American Air Museum with a book filled with A-2 jackets...and stories about the men as well, a rather enthusiastic group of young people came to speak with me, and several copies were purchased. I learned later on that when not otherwise occupied, they spent the rest of the weekend eagerly poring over the book.
To say that they really got into it would be an understatement. My guess is that they felt so much more connected to the war because it literally happened in the towns they live in, and was directly experienced by their grandfathers. One of them had even adopted the persona of Larry Goldstein, a B-17 radio operator who I had photographed for the book.
In all, it was very heartening to see the history, and sacrifice, remembered so vividly. I hope to see them next year!
The jacket is from the collection at the 390th Memorial Museum in Tucson, Arizona and is one of over 100 jackets that were photographed for the book "Bomber Boys: Flight Jacket Art." Contemporary portraits of many of the veterans, and their stories appear in the book, which has already won two international design awards.
Available now, it's not too early to begin thinking about Christmas! The book is also available at these fine museum gift shops across the USA, with the proceeds benefitting the museum.
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