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No1Mustang
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USAAF Foot Lockers

Hi, Does anyone know if USAAF crews made their own foot lockers? I heard that some airmen chose to build their own and take them with them rather than be issued one.....
Also does anybody know if there were any rules opposing what servicemen wrote / painted on them, i.e whether nose art was permitted to be painted on them etc....
Thanks :D
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    25Kingman49
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink) ☄ Helpful
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    Karl,
     
    From this link http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8681 it would appear that a great amount of discretion was allowed in decorating ones footlocker. With regard to making their own is unclear as most of these examples appear to be military issue, with perhaps one exception.
     
    Regulations regarding this may also have been subject to the individual group command.
     
    Scott
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    Bob Gilbert
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink) ☄ Helpful
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    Hi Karl,
     
    When we flew to the UK to join the 8th AF, we carried all of our issued and personal belongings in the added bomb bay baggage rack.  No officer or enlisted man had a foot locker in his possession.
    Upon arrival at our base, Ridgewell, UK we were not issued any footlockers.  We were instructed to improvise using empty bomb boxes.  Most were not painted in any manner.  Most (?) had padlocks added for security, but many didn't.  I don't recall seeing a stateside issued footlocker while in England.
    I have a small discussion on the subject in my book.
     
    Bob 

    Bob Gilbert
    S/Sgt, 35 missions 
    Ball Turret Gunner, Goldin crew
    381st Bomb Gp., 533rd Bomb Sq.
    US 8th Air Force
    Author: "The View From The Bottom Up" memoir
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    Yunch
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink)
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    Karl,
    John, a tent resident in Madna, Italy did have a foot locker. After he went MIA, all his belongings were sent home in it. No
    artwork on it. My guess it was issued to him at Madna. 

    Fair Winds and Following Seas,   John
    GM 3/C USS Snowden DE246--Frost DE144

    Kin to LT. John W. Farnkopf  
    15th AF, 52 FG, 4th FS
    MIA 11/11/44 remains found 12/8/53
    "Freedom is not free, it is paid for" 
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    No1Mustang
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink)
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    Thank you all for your feedback, reason for asking was that as part of my USAAF impression I made a "footlocker" ( looks more like a badly made tool box ) for all of my kit etc. it does look the part but upon reading the above I will need to repaint the lid as I put my name + squadron etc, 
    Thanks Guys, 
    And Bob I'm loving your book, its going to be read time and time again :D
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    RSwank
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink) ☄ Helpful
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    Here is an interior barracks photo- 359th BS 303 BG showing a couple of "footlockers".
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32042450
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32042451
     
    You have probable seen these already, but they are an interesting series of photos for a reenactor.
    In each case when you look at the photo the full description follows it on fold3, i.e. these are all page 1s and the page 2 description is next on the list.    I think I got these in the right order.  It looks like a couple of steps may be missing, e.g. donning the flight boots, but still ..interesting.  You could download these for free from fold3. 
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041564
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041570
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041575
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041580
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041586
         
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041596
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041591
     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32041601
     
    This same series of photos is on the 303rd BG website.  They have a little more info on Fleming.  Go to the "Uniforms" section and then follow on the "Dressing for a Mission".
    http://www.303rdbg.com/
     
    Here is Fleming with his crew.
    http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-southworth.html
    post edited by RSwank -
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    No1Mustang
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink)
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    wow this website is amazing, saved to my favourites  :D
     
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    k9iua
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    Re:USAAF Foot Lockers (permalink)
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    My dad, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War, at one time was issued two foot lockers.  When it came time to be discharged, they had record of only one, so he kept the other.  This was a well-built foot locker with metal on the edges and the removable two-part lift-out shelf inside.  It has been a while since I have seen it (he still has it, and someday I hope it will be mine), he had his name and serial number stenciled on the top, but that is it.  This one, similar in many respects to those shown in the usamilitariaforum site, did not have the built-in lock, but instead the middle clasp was set up for my dad to use his own lock.  The locker is painted dark green even though it was Air Forced issued.   When I was in high school back in the 1970s, the foot locker was even used as a prop in our school production of "The Teahouse of the August Moon."
     
    Kevin Anderson
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