Acme Depot Showcase #3 (Filed: 23 October 1999)

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Type A-6 Flying Shoes Probably the most widely used and recognized flying shoe of the Army Air Forces in WWII is the Type A-6. This shoe was made of a sheep shearling upper similar to the Type B-3 jacket, and apparently designed to be paired with it and the accompanying A-3 sheepskin trousers. The sole, which wrapped up around the lower portion of the shoe, was rubber. Available sizes were Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. The A-6 could be worn alone but was probably meant to be worn with an insert which could include regular shoes or boots, matching A-7 shearling slipper inserts, or electrically heated inserts. While Service Tests began on the A-6 in 1930, they were not declared Standard until 27 March 1937. They were declared Limited Standard 7 August 1945. Beginning in November 1944, the A-6 was modified with the addition of buckled leather straps to help keep the shoes more secure on the foot. This modification was later declared as the Type A-6A Standard on 7 August 1945. The strap modification as such appeared rather late in the war and so the collectibility of them is not as great as the original A-6 configuration. The A-6A shoes also have soles with deeper tread for improved grip. Shown below are a pair of A-6 shoes which appear to be early WWII issue judging from the contract number and the Talon zipper which is the same size as that used on jackets. Many A-6 shoes have zippers with much larger teeth and puller which may indicate that the jacket-sized zips could not stand up to the stress imposed upon them. Note also the unusual inset sole which appears to be the classic Sperry Topsider sole. Most A-6 soles were entirely black and had a sparse and shallow herringbone pattern. At the top of each shoe, the original owner had placed stamped leather nameplates, the same type of which are often seen on flight jackets. References: Maguire, Jon. A., Gear Up!, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA 1995. ISBN: 0-88740-744-7. Sweeting, C.G., Combat Flying Clothing, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 1984. ISBN: 0-87474-898-4. U.S. Army Air Forces Illustrated Catalog, Class 13, September 30, 1943 (available in reprint).

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