Pilots Uniform - 8th Air Force, 445th Bomb Group, 700th Squadron

[BigDogMilitaria]

With some help from a couple of great forum members (thanks to Kadet and Kalveni) I was able to pick up this really beautiful ID'd Pilots uniform. Original thread: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/206640-8th-air-force-pilot-info-request-captain-gabbe/

 

Kadet was correct in that i may have misread the writing. It is clearly marked MH Gabbe on the tag inside the pocket (outside just says Gabbe),

 

What i know so far is that Melvin Gabbe served with the 8th Air Force, 445th Bomb Group, 700th Squadron as a Pilot. The uniform has a great 8th patch, I have little patch knowledge but im thinking British made. it has bullion pilots wings as well. Everything is original to the jacket, I will have to replace the ribbons, of which I know he was awarded a DFC and an Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf clusters on it.

 

I am very proud to have added this to the collection and very appreciative to the forum members who helped me with some research!

 

 

[BigDogMilitaria]

2

[BigDogMilitaria]

3

[BigDogMilitaria]

4

[BigDogMilitaria]

5

[JDK]

Beauty! Love the bullion combat blue backed pilot wings and the bullion stubby 8th!

 

JD

[BigDogMilitaria]

Thanks JD

 

This is only the second Pilots grouping ive owned (got the first 2 weeks ago). Is there significance to the blue backing on the Pilots wings? And, as Kadet pointed out in the research thread, these can be a lot of fun to research!

[jguy1986]

The blue backing was used to signify an airman who flew combat missions, as opposed to those doing ferrying / transport missions, for example. Sometimes you see the blue rectangle behind the wings, and with the English-made bullion or embroidered wings, you often see the cut-out shape like you have on blue backing material. This is a terrific uniform, And once you find the right ribbon bar it'll look great displayed with the rest of your museum!

-- Jon

[501stGeronimo]

Blue Combat Crew Backings worn on the back of wings were used to "verify" being a combat flyer.

[Kadet]

That is a great uniform, and I am glad the research in panning out for you. Happy to help. BTW, I take a slightly different view of the blue backed wings. The old hands who had spent some time in England were able to get tailor made uniforms with Brit made insignia. Many of the British made cloth wings were simply made on a blue backing. You can even find blue backed jump wings. The blue wings became a symbol of veteran air crewman by association. I don't think they were specifically designed to represent combat missions. I think your 8th AF patch is also Brit made.

[501stGeronimo]

I disagree, I tend to believe that the practice was started by the pilots and crewman to be seen as Combat Aircrewman and not get confused with any others, many of the blue backed wings that are bullion that I own have had the wings sewn on after the wing was made. The padded cloth blue back wings that I think you are referring to were probably made once the practice of Blue Back signifying combat crew status became popular. The wings on the uniform being discussed appear to have been made by the tailor first THEN attached to the piece of blue felt and cut to fit the wing.

[AAF_Collection]

We have been through the debate on the origin and meaning of blue wing backings before, and both I and others posted scans of period regulations defining when and by whom they were to be worn(at least as far as 8th AF goes).

 

Nice uniform AirCorpsHJS!

 

Matt.

[Kadet]

If that is the case, I stand corrected! Do you have a link to the regulations?

[501stGeronimo]

[501stGeronimo]

Here they are:

[AAF_Collection]

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/171295-gwendyr-gunners-wing/?hl=lead&do=findComment&comment=1325818

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/187281-blue-backing/

 

[mattsmilitary]

Great uniform! Nice find!

[Kadet]

Thanks...I had missed the discussion on this, so am woefully behind the power curve

[AAF_Collection]

Thanks...I had missed the discussion on this, so am woefully behind the power curve

No worries!. It's always good to get into a discussion over such things, I'm still hoping to find something on 9th and 15th AF regs. but just haven't had much time recently due to another project taking over.

 

Matt.