bargain kilts?

[Riverkilt]

Bubba's dead on with What Price Glory military reproductions. My waist at my naval is 46" and they had one for me....just can't afford it just yet, smoked my plastic...gotta let it cool down some.

I did order some reporduction RAF fighter pilot gauntlet reproductions from him ($25 on sale..would guess I'd normally pay $50 up for similar gauntlets). Sent a pair to my brother who's a motor cop too. Our father was a flying sergeant with the RAF back in 1942 and he brought home a pair of originals that got lost over the years. These were just like them.

So if he does his kilt repros as well as his gauntlets they're a good deal.

Ron

[Colin]

If you're looking for a great deal on a handsewn traditional, I'd highly suggest the sale page of Burnetts and Struth. The one I got from them is amazing, and only cost me $300USD. It's handsewn, 16oz wool. A beauty of a kilt.

http://www.burnetts-struth.com/sale.html

It mainly just depends on if they have your size in a tartan that you like.

Cheers!

But where are the pictures Rufus??!

[macwilkin]

I agree with Rufus: Burnett & Struth are top-notch when it comes to their kilts. You get what you pay for, and B & S is worth every penny. Same with Hector Russell and MacIassac in Cape Breton.

Our father was a flying sergeant with the RAF back in 1942

I am impressed, Ron -- what did your father fly? Spitfires, Hurricanes, Typhoons (my fav), or was he on a bomber crew? You should get a RCAF tartan kilt to honour your Dad.

Check out this link for RAF & Kilts:

http://www.pether.pwp.blueyonder.co....and_frame.html

Cheers,

T.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks,

He'd been discharged honorably from the US Navy for some drinking escapade in 1939...he'd taken that civilian flying training in University in Montana. He enlisted with the RAF in Spokane, Washington, trained down in the Imperial Valley of California, then took a train to Canada and ship to Scotland. He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

When the U.S. got over there in Sept 1942 they took him into the Army Air Corps. He flew a P-39 from England to North Africa (they'd been in crates on the way to Russia, Mechanics assembled them in England). He flew the P-39 in North Africa, got shot down at Kassarine Pass. Walked out with the 1st Armored.

They sent him stateside to train pilots. Seldom talked about it, but left a treasure of notes and records when he died.

Ron

[Riverkilt]

Thanks, he seldom talked about the war except when drunk, then didn't make a lot of sense. Family kept his letters home but the censor's butchered them.

He kept his flight records, so between that, his unit history, the regular history books, and the notes he kept after engagements I've been able to piece together a lot for the family.

He was eager and "in it" early when we were learning the hard lessons of Dieppe and Kassarine Pass. Ran into a Navajo guy in a jacket with a 1st Armored patch on. Thanked him...he's kind of puzzled looking until I explained that my dad was shot down at Kassarine Pass and was able to hook up with the retreating 1st Armored and not get kilt so he could get back stateside and give me life. As soon as I said Kassarine he knew what I meant about his old unit's history.

Only thing this has to do with kilts is that I'm alive to wear one today because one of Rommel's gunner's wasn't a better shot.

Ron

[Jerry]

Just my opinion, but going from flying Spits to P39s must have been a bit like giving up your sports car to drive a truck. Anyhow, your dad sounds like he was a great guy.

[macwilkin]

He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

Your Dad must have been one heck of a man, Ron. The Dieppe Raid was nothing to sneeze at. Too few Americans know about the gallantry and loss at Dieppe. They should make a movie about it like "Saving Private Ryan".

A lot of those P-39 Aircobras ended up in Russia on Lend-Lease. Not the most attractive plane.

My grandfather was in the 14th Air Force in the China-India-Burma (CBI) theatre.

Cheers,

T.

[Rufus]

But where are the pictures Rufus??!

There are little bitty pics of my tank in my gallery. Sister's digital camera had issues (actually, grumpy brother-in-law was having issues.)

I'll finally get some decent pics of it one of these days!

[Riverkilt]

Thanks, he seldom talked about the war except when drunk, then didn't make a lot of sense. Family kept his letters home but the censor's butchered them.

He kept his flight records, so between that, his unit history, the regular history books, and the notes he kept after engagements I've been able to piece together a lot for the family.

He was eager and "in it" early when we were learning the hard lessons of Dieppe and Kassarine Pass. Ran into a Navajo guy in a jacket with a 1st Armored patch on. Thanked him...he's kind of puzzled looking until I explained that my dad was shot down at Kassarine Pass and was able to hook up with the retreating 1st Armored and not get kilt so he could get back stateside and give me life. As soon as I said Kassarine he knew what I meant about his old unit's history.

Only thing this has to do with kilts is that I'm alive to wear one today because one of Rommel's gunner's wasn't a better shot.

Ron

[Rufus]

But where are the pictures Rufus??!

There are little bitty pics of my tank in my gallery. Sister's digital camera had issues (actually, grumpy brother-in-law was having issues.)

I'll finally get some decent pics of it one of these days!