WWII Army Air Corps Holster

[Lee Barner]

I was cleaning all my military holsters today and had forgotten about the markings on this one. it is a Boyt 44 with the following written inside the flap:

Lt Earl A. Weaver
AO 736429
U. S. A. A. C.
Class 43-A
Luke Field
Arizona

class 45 A could have been in 44 depending on when the fiscal year started back then. lee

 

[murphydog]

Cool holster and inscription...not the baseball Earl Weaver, but they were probably within a few years apart.

 

[Texas Star]

Think that's Class 43-A. Check to be sure, please, Lee. Have you traced this officer? Is that possible?

Interesting that it's a belt holster, not a shoulder rig. For a pilot... But I know that some pilots wore belt holsters, like this M-1916.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

From what I can see in your photo the holster is a US M1916 Dismounted Pistol Holster for the M1911A-1 .45 caliber service pistol of the period. Many officers of that time were issued sidearms at the time they went through branch-specific qualification training and retained those sidearms throughout their service (quite a few kept the pistols after leaving the service or retiring). At that time (1944-45) just about everything being issued was brand new from the manufacturers. Pistols were in cardboard boxes with VPI paper wrapping and two new magazines. Holsters were provided by about a dozen different contractors, including Boyt (one of the largest providers).

Nice set, well worth keeping in a good collection. Hope you have as much documentation (provenance) as possible, as that enhances market value considerably.

 

[Watchdog]

I was cleaning all my military holsters today and had forgotten about the markings on this one.

I love old things like this. Tell us about the pistol, too, if you have time.

 

[Lee Barner]

Texas Star, you are correct. my old eyes ain't what they used to be. thanks. it's weird that someone in class 43 A had a holster dated 1944. maybe he got it later.

the pistol is an early WWII Colt made in the Ithaca ser range. somewhere out there is an Ithaca with the same ser nr. lee

 

[Memphis]

Wow Lee, this post really caught my attention. My father (died in 1991) was at Luke Field back in the day! I just pulled out a bunch of the stuff I have in an album and Dad was in Class 45-C. I see where your holster was actually from 43. Dad's graduation invitation says "Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School, Luke Field Arizona Class 45-C.
I also have a yearbook from Luke Field that would be near when your holster owner would have been there. My yearbook is for class 43-D. I'm looking through it now to see if there is any mention of this fella by chance.
P.S. If for "ANY" reason you ever want to move that holster just a little lower in TN please keep me in mind.

Roger

 

[Lee Barner]

Roger, that is cool. let me know what you find. lee