At the Chino airport this month they flew another particularly interesting plane, the Boeing P-26 Peashooter, so I thought that I would send you the event flyer and some pictures of the plane and the uniforms we wore similar to what the pilots who flew this plane back in the 1930s wore, to commemorate the event.
This P-26 commemorates one of the planes stationed at March Field in nearby Riverside, California, which were known for their colorful paint schemes designed to boost public goodwill, often featuring blue fuselages and yellow wings. It is painted in the colors and insignia of a fighter squadron based there from about 1933, when the P-26 first flew, to 1938. This was the 95th Pursuit Squadron ("the kicking mules") of the 18th Pursuit Group.
As for our uniforms, we are wearing jodhpur trousers, khaki dress shirts and black ties which US Army Air Corp officers wore up to 1942, tall leather cavalry-style boots, and A-2 leather jackets. My 2 friends' jackets have patches matching the insignia on the plane. One friend and I are both wearing A-8 green cloth helmets, and we're all 3 wearing Skyway or other brands of pre-WWII private-purchase goggles.
The P-26 Peashooter is a fighter developed by Boeing and operated by the U.S. Army Air Corps in the 1930s.
It is the first all-metal, single-leaf aircraft of the U.S. Army's state fighter, and it is also the last aircraft to adopt the structure of fixed main legs, open cockpits, and tension-wire main wings.
The nickname "Peashooter" means "bean gun" and is said to have been named by pilots.
Ben,
Thank you so much for sending me these wonderful photos from the event!
It’s been about four years since we first met, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these moments with you. I wish you continued success in the future.
Thank you as always.
