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USAF Security Police 1969 camo outfit


SARGE
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Gentlemen,

 

Here is an Asian tailored USAF Security Police camo outfit. The GI jungle jacket has been tailored with the sleeves shortened and the length shortened as well. All the insignia is what appears to be theatre made. Comments are welcome.

 

VN_AP_camo_jacket.JPG

 

The size tag indicates this jacket was originally a long and it has been carefully shortened to a regular length. The pockets have been moved up and one can see where the old pocket flaps were once sewn below the current placement on this left lower pocket.

 

VN_AP_camo_pocket_left.JPG

 

Interior view of the right lower pocket showing the alteration from the inside. Notice the hem is now sewn over the lower section of the 1969 tag These lower pockets were moved up when the length was shortened. Notice the old stitching next to the laundry marking.

 

VN_AP_camo_pocket_inside.JPG

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Closeup view of the theatre made insignia. The insignia is embroidered on OD ripstop. Notice that the embroidery machine tends to catch the white cheesecloth backing at the top of the first letter. Any idea where this insignia might have been manufactured?

 

VN_AP_camo_USAF_tape.JPG

 

Closeup view of the Security Police badge sewn onto the pocket. Interestingly, this patch is only sewn through the outer pocket and the billows have been carefully sewn shut beneath the patch before it was sewn into place.

 

VN_AP_camo_badge.JPG

 

Finally, a view of the Sergeant stripes. These too are made in the same manner as the other insignia.

 

VN_AP_camo_Sgt_stripes.JPG

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Nice uniform, probably Thai made insignias since they are made in Ripstop material. It would be a nice set to display with your ERDL Bush Hat

 

Cheers

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Hello,

 

Here is my only USAF uniform, I find a little wierd how the nametag and the USAF were sewn (neither horizontal nor slant). All the insignias are likely asian made (Staff Sergeant made in black velvet, nametag in OG107 material, Master Jumper and Aviation Badge in Poplin).

post-1523-1191271184.jpg

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Gentelmen,

 

The close up of the badges. I would like to have your opinions about this shirt ? are all the insignias legit ? I have some suspicions for the nametag since the quality of the material is quite bad unlike the VN era one, and the way it s faded seems unusual to me.

 

Thanks for you helps

post-1523-1191271494.jpg

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Sarge....good looking jacket and believe it on not i have one identical to yours right down to the Air Force tape made with rip stop material. The rank insignia is in good shape. Mine is also short sleeved which seems to be common with Air Force camo uniforms worn is SE Asia. Mine does not have a pocket patch but is in excellent shape. Is yours dated 1968? mine is and i ask because of the ID tape being made out of ripstop material

 

Copran,

I am NOT trying to trash your jacket. It is legit but the insignia makes me wonder. The name tape and the Air Force tape have different wear....the name tape is darker and the Air Force tape. is so much lighter.... is the thread(which the tapes are sewn on with) on the nametape and AF tape the same color? All the insignia is in black thread which was used on AF uniforms worn in SE Asia (now they are dark blue.) I question when the Air Force tape was sewn on the jacket not the other way around. It is a good jacket and I would not fool around with it. They are only my opinions and I am sure someone with much more knowledge may have the better answer. That is what makes this forum so great....the knowledge of its members and ho they are formal to each other. Steve

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Copran,

 

Thanks for the information on the ripstop insignia. This uniform actually came with the ERDL bush hat as a set, so Thai insigna seems to make sense.

 

Steve,

 

My jacket is dated 1969, so very close to your 1968 dated example. I would like to see your USAF tape in ripstop. Does the embroidery machine tend to catch and pull the backing like on mine? Can you show your ripstop insignia so we could compare it?

 

Here is a closeup of the tag.

 

VN_AP_camo_label.JPG

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Sarge....good looking jacket and believe it on not i have one identical to yours right down to the Air Force tape made with rip stop material. The rank insignia is in good shape. Mine is also short sleeved which seems to be common with Air Force camo uniforms worn is SE Asia. Mine does not have a pocket patch but is in excellent shape. Is yours dated 1968? mine is and i ask because of the ID tape being made out of ripstop material

 

Copran,

I am NOT trying to trash your jacket. It is legit but the insignia makes me wonder. The name tape and the Air Force tape have different wear....the name tape is darker and the Air Force tape. is so much lighter.... is the thread(which the tapes are sewn on with) on the nametape and AF tape the same color? All the insignia is in black thread which was used on AF uniforms worn in SE Asia (now they are dark blue.) I question when the Air Force tape was sewn on the jacket not the other way around. It is a good jacket and I would not fool around with it. They are only my opinions and I am sure someone with much more knowledge may have the better answer. That is what makes this forum so great....the knowledge of its members and ho they are formal to each other. Steve

 

 

Hello Steve,

The name tape and the USAF tape were sewn with differend threads (USAF, Airborne badge and aviation badge were sewn with the same faded khaki thread, nametape with another Khaki thread (but un faded) , and the 2 rank insignias with again another black thread). The nametape was made with a OG107 material, USAF made with an thick tan material (like the white band used for the name tape by US Army in the 50s but in light Tan color).

 

I don't know whether the AF guy returns his uniform to the supply center after his tour and it would be reissued to other guy like in the Army or he will bring them home, because the sleeves ranks were obivously replaced (previous ones seem bigger probably a Technical Sergeant) on this shirt.

 

I'd like to know whether this guy could be ParaJumper ?, I have also the pants with this shirt, which were tapered et shortened.

 

Cheers

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Sarge,

I will be happy too. One thing i need your help to try to get pics from one spot to the frum PM sent to you

Steve

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Hello Copran,

I don't know about the Air Force but the army did not usually reissue down range fatigues (jungle) because they were usually in pretty bad shape when turned in. I did keep two sets of down range with all insignia attached but these were worn in camp or when I went to the big city to see the "sights". Most fatigues used in the field did not have any insignia on them.....no need to.

In my personal opinion the name tape has been added after the other insignia......the ID (Air Force ) tape is one I have never seen before but as you said the thread is not a faded. It could have been added if the first tape was torn or needed replacement but I really have doubts about that. The khaki thread s a very good sign. As for the rank insignia the man could have been demoted ... who knows? Keep the jacket as is Copran.

I am sorry but I don't know if this airman was a para jumper. I am sure someone who is more knowledgeable about Air Force insignia could tel you. You could start a thread on that subject for I too am curious. In the army it would be a paratrooper patch .

 

Best regards,

Steve

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craig_pickrall

I agree with Beast that Pararescue is most likely but Combat Controller is another possibility. Other than those two I'm not sure if the USAF has other slots where someone can get a lot of chances to jump especially enough to be a Master Parachutist.

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Hello,

 

Thanks for all your opinions, I feel more confident about this shirt. I bought it because I thought it would be a parajumper uniform . I post another pics of an USAF shirt I had (but sold recently), you can see an local USAF tape beautifully embroided. The wierd things are the sleeve ranks which were stamped. I don't know when the USAF used ink transfered patches. The owner had sewn sleeves rank patches above them when he went to SE Asia, the patch looked like local AF Security Forces.

 

Cheers

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Copran,

The insignia embroidered on ripstop material is likely Thai made. I have a special forces officer grouping from Thailand and they are on ripstop as well.

 

CB

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