Original Chance Vought Coveralls Acquired

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:05 am

Hey all!

I've been meaning to post this amazing find, but have been too busy as usual. This pair of Chance Vought coveralls were worn by Julie Hildebrand during World War II at the plant here in Stratford. I purchased them from her daughter. Along with the coveralls came her original work badge. Julie's daughter said she was a bonafied Rosie the Riveter on the assembly line. These coveralls are like gold to us, and will be treated as such. Like every other artifact my father and I have acquired, we share it with the Connecticut Air & Space Center for display so they just don't sit in a closet and gather dust.

Craig59 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:12 am

Superb find - congrats! I also endorse your choice in fine ale...

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:14 am

And collector Star Wars mugs from the original release! :lol:

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:17 am

Really, really cool!!! We have a set of Douglas Aircraft coveralls from just after WWII at our museum, and they are spectacular. I have had some replica Spartan Aircraft coveralls made up for some Spartan 7W owners and a Spartan C3-225 crew and they are fun to have. I can't imagine finding an original set. Congrats!!!

kevin

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:20 pm

Awesome! I wonder if those paint spots are that "salmon" primer that caused such a ruckus in the model building community some years ago (and amply confirmed by last year's recovery of the "birdcage" F4U from Lake Michigan.)

SN

K5DH · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:26 pm

What a great find, especially with the original family back story!

I recently learned that my grandmother (my Dad's mother) was a "Rosie" also. She worked at Curtiss-Wright in St. Louis, Missouri. They were building C-46s there at the time, so it's reasonable to assume that she worked on them.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:45 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

Awesome! I wonder if those paint spots are that "salmon" primer that caused such a ruckus in the model building community some years ago (and amply confirmed by last year's recovery of the "birdcage" F4U from Lake Michigan.)

SN

We were wondering (hoping) that too actually, but I believe they were from the daughter, since she wore these for painting :shock:

Can't blame her. She didn't realize they were worth something to somebody. They were just an old pair of coveralls to her. Makes me wonder what else is around this area. Bill Digney (the last Vought worker we have at the museum) has a pair of white coveralls that he uses to paint his house with. Were hoping to procure those soon for display as well.

TAdan · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:30 pm

Wow, very nice find. :drink3:

Glad to hear they will be shared with the CASC.

RobC · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:44 pm

Dang, is that blood? Are you sure she wasn't working on something British?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:53 am

RobC wrote:

Dang, is that blood? Are you sure she wasn't working on something British?

Ha! topical...

JohnB · **Posted:** Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:13 pm

Great find...thanks for sharing it with the public at the museum.

Ask the State police lab to do a test on them...and see if the paint is modern.
They might be willing to do it for some good PR...it would be a neat story on the local news.

Django · **Posted:** Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:40 pm

Very cool!!

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2012 11:45 am

what an awesome find Chris!

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Original Chance Vought Coveralls Acquired

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