Aero Medical Laboratory Experimental Tropical Service Coat Test Sample

[KingsMountainTigers]

I recently bought a large group of items from the estate of a retired Air Force Colonel. He served as a 2nd Lt. with the 98th Bombardment Group (Army Air Corps) during WWII. He was a recipient of the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Air Medal. I found this among other items that have been in his footlocker for over 75 years. I thought it was a dress shirt, but after closer inspection, it appears to be an expiremental tropical service coat test sample. It was obviously something he personally worn, and is very interesting. I can't find much online about the Aero Medical Laboratory and don't see another coat like this one. I wanted to see if anyone could tell me more about this jacket and when it would have been made. Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gwb123]

I think your research is being stymied by the military's irritating habit of giving multiple designations to the same organization.

 

Check out this document:

 

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a189875.pdf

 

It appears the term Aero Medical Lab dates back to the early 1940's while the service was still under the US Army.  Of course, the label on your garment says "US Air Force" which dates it to 1947 or later.

 

I don't know the full designation, but it was adopted as a standard uniform item in the 1950's.  I have seen it listed as USAF Air Force Summer Jacket Mans Cotton Tan Tropical.  As you can see, the design was inspired by British tropical uniforms of WWII.  Some refer to these as a bush jacket. 

 

Also see:

 

 

 

[KingsMountainTigers]

Thanks for the info! I did see quite a similarity between this one and British bush jackets, when researching. They may have had a few of these made before they actually issued out the examples in the 1950s. Definitely the same type of style. 

[gwb123]

You are welcome.  I was always hoping to find one of the issue ones in my size just to knock around in.

[Martinjmpr]

On 4/9/2021 at 5:29 PM, gwb123 said:

I think your research is being stymied by the military's irritating habit of giving multiple designations to the same organization.

 

Check out this document:

 

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a189875.pdf

 

It appears the term Aero Medical Lab dates back to the early 1940's while the service was still under the US Army.  Of course, the label on your garment says "US Air Force" which dates it to 1947 or later.

 

I don't know the full designation, but it was adopted as a standard uniform item in the 1950's.  I have seen it listed as USAF Air Force Summer Jacket Mans Cotton Tan Tropical.  As you can see, the design was inspired by British tropical uniforms of WWII.  Some refer to these as a bush jacket. 

 

Also see:

 

 

 

 

Very interesting.  So were they worn with patches, badges, rank insignia, etc?  Was it an officer-only item?  

 

By chance do you have any photos of it being worn?  It does look like a virtual clone of the Lord Kitchener "safari jacket."  

[gwb123]

There's a couple photos I found of these being worn on the internet.   I can only recall seeing them worn with rank insignia.

[mvmhm]

On 4/15/2021 at 10:09 PM, Martinjmpr said:

 

Very interesting.  So were they worn with patches, badges, rank insignia, etc?  Was it an officer-only item?  

 

By chance do you have any photos of it being worn?  It does look like a virtual clone of the Lord Kitchener "safari jacket."  

They were worn by both officers and enlisted; I have a nice one with Master Sergeant chevrons. Some years ago I had one from a two-striper.

 

Mark sends

 

[AK101]

I have a nice one that is named to a warrant officer that was a survival school instructor at Stead AFB. It has a sweet IX engineer command SSI on it as well.  I posted it here years ago. 

[AK101]