Vietnam era Air Force Jacket Need Help

[SoulMan91]

Hi guys,

 

This is my first post on the forum! I really enjoy looking at everything on here.. I picked up this Vietnam era Air Force jacket at a garage sale and I was wondering what all the ribbons are for as well as the patch? What rank is that? I looked online and couldn't figure out where to look. Thanks so much!

 

 

 

[SoulMan91]

[SoulMan91]

[uniformcollector]

Nice uniform! The rank is an obsolete version of First Sergeant. The oak leafs and award claps on the ribbons stand for multiple awards. The ribbons from top right to bottom left mean and are:

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (for exceptionally meritorious service, accomplishes specific acts of outstanding achievement, excels in combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or conducts with distinct military operations involving conflict with, or exposure to, a hostile action by any opposing foreign force)
• Army Good Conduct Medal (for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service) *also, this probably means that the individual was in the USAAC in WWII before moving to the USAF.

• American Campaign Medal (for serving in the armed forces between between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946, for military service, in the American theater area)

• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (for serving in the armed forces between between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946, for military service, in geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East)

• WWII Victory Medal (for serving in the armed forces between the dates of December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946)

• Army of Occupation Medal (for 30 or more consecutive days of duty in one of the occupied territories after World War II)
• National Defense Medal (for military service during periods of national emergency)

• Air Force Longevity Service Award (for four years of creditable service)

I hope this helps!

 

[Mark1]

The ribbons are:

 

- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with bronze oak leaf (awarded 2 times)

- Army Good Conduct Medal with silver knot (awarded 6 times, after 1963 would have been awarded a USAF Good Conduct)

- American Champaign Medal (WWII medal)

- European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (WWII medal)

- World War II Victory Medal (WWII medal)

- Army of Occupation Medal (could have been for Germany, Berlin, Austria or Italy, no way of telling)

- National Defense Service Medal (most likely awarded for service from 1950 to 1954)

- Air Force Longevity Service Award (16 years of service)

 

The rank is a E-7 1st Sergeant.

 

My guess is this Airman served at the end of World War II and probably not past 1963.

 

Mark

[bakchos215]

I agree with the above with one small point. The rank is Master Sergeant with a 1st Sergeant Diamond. In the Air Force the 1st Sergeant is a job title not a rank.

[SoulMan91]

awesome! thanks so much for the help guys!

[KurtA]

Probably dates from 1960 give or take a couple years.

[firefighter]

Probably dates from 1960 give or take a couple years.

 

 

I agree with Kurt on the date.Probably served 1941 (American Defense Medal pre-WW2) - 196?.The AF Logevity award was created in 1957 but was retroactive to 1947.Ribbon plus 3 OLC's is 12yrs.The AFGCM was not created till 1963 and the AF still used the Army GCM till then.

[Senator57]

Great jacket! I love transitional AF uniforms!

 

Senator57

 

[Mark1]

The US Air Force Longevity Ribbon thats on this rack is for 16 years. The ribbon is 4 years and each bronze oak leaf is 4 years which equals 16 years.

 

If the Airman served all 16 years in a row, like 1941 to 1957 or 1945 to 1961, but also could have had a gap in service like 1942 - 1946 the reenlisted in 1951 - 1963 or any combination in-between. Also this Airman would have had to serve in 1957 or after to get the USAF Longevity Ribbon. The Airman probably did not serve after 1963 because of the Army Good Conduct Medal and no USAF Good Conduct Medal.

The rank of E7 Master Sergeant serving as a 1st Sergeant started in 1954. This is a nice example of a 1950's early 1960's USAF uniform.

 

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (1954 - present)

Army Good Conduct Medal (1940 - present)

American Champaign Medal (1941 - 1946)

European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1941 - 1945)

World War II Victory Medal (1941 - 1946)

Army of Occupation Medal (Germany 1945 - 1955)(Berlin 1945 - 1990)(Austria 1945 - 1955)(Italy 1945 - 1947)

National Defense Service Medal (1950 - 1954)

AF Longevity Service Award (1957 - present)

 

Also what color are the enlisted insignia on the collar gold or silver. If gold colored that is a nice example of a transitional uniform. Enlisted had to change over to the blue uniform in 1955.

 

Mark

[firefighter]

The US Air Force Longevity Ribbon thats on this rack is for 16 years. The ribbon is 4 years and each bronze oak leaf is 4 years which equals 16 years.

 

If the Airman served all 16 years in a row, like 1941 to 1957 or 1945 to 1961, but also could have had a gap in service like 1942 - 1946 the reenlisted in 1951 - 1963 or any combination in-between. Also this Airman would have had to serve in 1957 or after to get the USAF Longevity Ribbon. The Airman probably did not serve after 1963 because of the Army Good Conduct Medal and no USAF Good Conduct Medal.

The rank of E7 Master Sergeant serving as a 1st Sergeant started in 1954. This is a nice example of a 1950's early 1960's USAF uniform.

 

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (1954 - present)

Army Good Conduct Medal (1940 - present)

American Champaign Medal (1941 - 1946)

European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1941 - 1945)

World War II Victory Medal (1941 - 1946)

Army of Occupation Medal (Germany 1945 - 1955)(Berlin 1945 - 1990)(Austria 1945 - 1955)(Italy 1945 - 1947)

National Defense Service Medal (1950 - 1954)

AF Longevity Service Award (1957 - present)

 

Also what color are the enlisted insignia on the collar gold or silver. If gold colored that is a nice example of a transitional uniform. Enlisted had to change over to the blue uniform in 1955.

 

Mark

 

 

You're right.I meant 16 years.12 years for the OLC's and and another 4 years for the ribbon.