gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Share #1 Posted November 26, 2016 When I recently visited the National Museum of the United States Air Force, I had one special exhibit that I wanted to see and document. Many of the USAF patches that one finds for the Vietnam War were never worn on actual flight suits. Instead they were made for party suits, worn on informal social occasions. If you collect USAF patches from this period, this is an exhibit you will want to one day see in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted November 26, 2016 And more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted November 26, 2016 I will group these together by the placards that were in front of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted November 26, 2016 One of the most colorful ones on display was for 1LT Dale Hill, who apparently did everything a FAC could possibly do in theater at the time. Note the "brass balls" that have been awarded as some sort of decoration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted November 26, 2016 Next group: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted November 26, 2016 Houston and Lykens: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iron Brigade Posted November 26, 2016 Share #7 Posted November 26, 2016 Thanks Gil for posting the photographs. There are some rare party suits in this exhibit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted November 26, 2016 Another group led by another FAC: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted November 26, 2016 Five Star General Bob Hope and Cunningham: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted November 26, 2016 Next group, led off by a husband and wife set. (One can only guess what the wives at home thought about receiving these in the mail): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted November 26, 2016 Col. Naftel and a Pennsylvania Air National Guardsman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted November 26, 2016 Next group: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted November 26, 2016 This group includes a party suit made for a female officer... note the wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted November 26, 2016 Last Group: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted November 26, 2016 When I first went out to Dayton, I thought this was all they would have for patches and party suits. I was very wrong as there were another half dozen exhibits with similar items. I will post the photos of those as time allows. One thing that struck me in looking at these is how these represented real life experiences of the men and women who wore them. I am not sure we will ever understand the full context of what they represent by just looking at them in a museum, on-line or at a show. It's pretty overwhelming when you begin to consider what all of these document. I hope you've enjoyed looking at these, and for new collectors, I hope you are getting a better idea of what the real items looked like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F 106 Pilot Posted November 26, 2016 Share #16 Posted November 26, 2016 Thank you for posting these. They are quite interesting. I have been to the Air Force Museum but that was more than 20 years ago. They have added many new ones since I was there. Great display of these historic party suits. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted November 26, 2016 Share #17 Posted November 26, 2016 Awesome stuff Gil, looking forward to more! I gotta get back up there someday, have not been since the early 90s... Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted November 26, 2016 Share #18 Posted November 26, 2016 Great pictures. I posted some a few months back. I definitely will be heading back down there.I spent 4 hours there and still didn't see everything. I like see the 'brass balls' actually being worn, #4. Nice 31st USAF DISP patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy vs Spy Posted November 27, 2016 Share #19 Posted November 27, 2016 Thanks for posting these Gil. Looking at them you realize, every party suit telling it's own story. Best Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted November 27, 2016 Share #20 Posted November 27, 2016 Whew... thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 27, 2016 Author Share #21 Posted November 27, 2016 Thanks for posting these Gil. Looking at them you realize, every party suit telling it's own story. Best Martin That's why when you only have a patch or two, you do not have the full context of the previous owner. When seen together, you get a much bigger picture. That is why at one time I was collecting uniforms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsr71 Posted November 28, 2016 Share #22 Posted November 28, 2016 Mel Vojvodich flew the CIA's A-12 Oxcart (1129th SAS) during the Black Shield missions over Vietnam and North Korea before joining the 388th TFW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
468abnarm Posted December 10, 2016 Share #23 Posted December 10, 2016 OMG, fantastic presentation Gil. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 10, 2016 Share #24 Posted December 10, 2016 A very enjoyable thread, Gil. Thanks for posting. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted December 10, 2016 Share #25 Posted December 10, 2016 This was really outstanding to look at. Thanks for showing these photos and I'll be looking forward to your next installment of picture from the AF Museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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