My other WW-I Retread uniform - a pilot this time

[USMCRECON]

As I mentioned when I posted the retread Ike jacket, I have one other retread uniform; actually just the blouse and trousers, and this is it. This guy apparently was a pilot in WW-I (or at some time). It came with the sterling pin-back wings that are on it along with the three sewn-on ribbons you see in the pics. I know the WW-I Victory ribbon and the Verdun that are on each end of the bar but have no idea what the center ribbon is; they're all a bit worn and dirty.

 

It didn't have any rank but there are ghosts of sewn-on (probably bullion) oak leaves on the epaulettes but I don't know if they were Major or Lt Col. It has three WW-I era overseas chevrons on the lower sleeve. It came with the tie shown but I don't think it's correct, even for an early WW-II uniform.

 

Anyway, as always, comments are welcome.

 

 

 

[JBFloyd]

The center ribbon is the membership medal of the Society of American Military Engineers.

[USMCRECON]

The center ribbon is the membership medal of the Society of American Military Engineers.

 

Now I'm wondering why that membership ribbon would be on his ribbon bar? Does anyone know if this society membership ribbon is an official and authorized military decoration or something he might just have stuck on there?

[cbuehler]

Nice uniform to a "retread". If the pilots wings are truly original to the uniform, my guess would be that he was no longer flying by ww2 or he may have obtained his certificate between the wars. Are they ww2 period wings? Often a man would retain his original wings that he first earned, but these look ww2.

Most "retreads" usually were reservists and were activated during ww2 for stateside jobs due to their age etc., although certainly not all them!

He must have been at least in his mid forties by ww2.

The tie color shades varied quite a bit and many officers had private purchase ones anyway, so I would not worry about that. It could very well be what he wore.

 

CB

[KurtA]

Bill-

In this age of "put togethers", this one gives off "good vibes" to me. Not overdone with "Christmas Tree ornaments" and a couple of strange ribbons that make sense. An engineer is a guy they'd want to call back in WW1. The 3 WW1 overseas chevrons are what you might expect of a guy having a WW1 Victory Medal with lots of stars.

I could see him wearing a "modern" (i.e., WW2) wing rather than an old embroidered out-of -date WW1 wing.

What size of the jacket? The old re-tread guys tend to have larger sizes (however certainly, not always)

I like the jacket.

Kurt