Turrets to toothbrushes.

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Turrets to toothbrushes. A private collection of USAAF equipment ranging from turrets to toothbrushes and everything in between.

About 15 years ago I decided to start collecting bits for the early B17F stinger turret with the idea of eventually havi...
11/10/2026

About 15 years ago I decided to start collecting bits for the early B17F stinger turret with the idea of eventually having one made.
I’m yet to find anyone willing to make the airframe for me but I guess the hard bit is collecting the internal parts and I think I have most of what I need.
One day it will all go together.

I’ve spent most of the afternoon trawling through P47 manuals and pictures looking for a picture of this in position but...
04/10/2026

I’ve spent most of the afternoon trawling through P47 manuals and pictures looking for a picture of this in position but I can’t find one.
The part number lists it as Turbo Shield on aircorps library.
Any P-47 experts out there happen to have a picture?

Is anyone a wiz at looking up laundry numbers? I added another 381st BG jacket to my collection this week but it’s compl...
03/10/2026

Is anyone a wiz at looking up laundry numbers?
I added another 381st BG jacket to my collection this week but it’s completely un-researched .
The jacket has clear station 167 stamps in it so we know the original owners were 381st men and it looks like it had three original owners first is F6402
The second is really hard to see but looks like F 6316
The third has been scribbled out so you can’t see it at all unfortunately.

Any help at all would be most appreciated.

My friend had the privilege of retrieving this B17 control yoke from a pond recently and was kind enough to put it in my...
18/09/2026

My friend had the privilege of retrieving this B17 control yoke from a pond recently and was kind enough to put it in my care.
80 years of corrosion and damage by agriculture has left it looking worse for wear but what a fantastic link to the past it is.
Unfortunately it can’t be linked to any particular aircraft.

04/09/2026

My collection of 381st BG leather. Ridgewell Essex collection jacket

I love a good swap!! ❤️ It’s always an exciting day when a package arrives and today was no exception. Last week myself ...
04/09/2026

I love a good swap!! ❤️
It’s always an exciting day when a package arrives and today was no exception.
Last week myself and another collector from the states managed to come up with a trade for this 381st bomb group uniform and A2 coming my way.
Once belonging to Meredith Lavon New who was a waist gunner with the 381st at Ridgewell. I’m yet to work out his squadron.
I just love the station 167 H stamp in the jacket.
If anyone would like the job of investigating his history please do.
The photo looks like it was taken stateside.
Really pleased to add another 381st uniform to my collection ❤️

Our stay at military odyssey was cut short I just couldn’t put up with the rain any more but regardless of the weather w...
29/08/2026

Our stay at military odyssey was cut short I just couldn’t put up with the rain any more but regardless of the weather we had a great time Friday and Today and managed to meet up with a couple of people to bring some bits home.
Some lovely long lengths of .50 ammo tracking, a fairly rare incendiary box, a D6a 2000lb shackle and an oxygen bottle.
Not really my area of collecting but I also bought a German practice 50kg from a stall I believe the practice version much much rarer to come across than a standard one.
Thank you Bob for your great company.

If anyone out there is off to military odyssey this weekend and has any 8th - 9th airforce items there thinking about pa...
27/08/2026

If anyone out there is off to military odyssey this weekend and has any 8th - 9th airforce items there thinking about parting with drop me a message.
Always on the look out for just about anything with the exception of uniforms unless they are 381st BG related.
Fair cash prices paid provided you have some idea of what price you actually want for an item.

27/08/2026

I’ve also just come across this old footage on VHS of the 416th BG at Wethersfield. Very distinctive tower in the background.

27/08/2026

Any 55th FG experts on here?
I’ve just been given a really old VHS of some 55th FG footage narrated by the chap who filmed it.
So far I’m yet to hear him tell us who he is.
So I’m just wondering if this footage is out there or if it’s a one off?
Excuse the footage i just filmed it from an old TV with my phone.

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