Post-WWII 1950's & 1960's US Air Force uniform photos

[Bob Hudson]

I have noticed that there are very few photos online of the US Air Force personnel and uniforms from the early days of the service. There's lots of Army Air Force and a fair amount of modern USAF but not much of the early days. If we can get enough photos we might break them out into categories but for now let's see what we can come up with and provide create a reference source for early USAF uniforms.

 

I'll start with a 1949 USAF jacket:

 

[Bob Hudson]

This photo is seen in various places on the web and it's one of my favorite USAF photos: the 1956 summer uniform with khaki shorts:

 

 

As noted on the Air Force Association website at http://www.afa.org/magazine/1991/0691splendor.asp, the summer uniform also included long pants and the bush coat:

 

[Bob Hudson]

Here are two photos from 1952 and 1953 of WAF's ("Women in the Air Force," a distinction that was dropped in 1976).

 

 

[GLM]

Here is a set of USAF EM collar discs and possible early USAF hat emblem from the late 1940's or early 1950's. All three of these emblems came in the same box find from a local antique store here in Colorado. I've always had the understanding that the gold cut-out hat emblems were US Army WAC and not USAF, but since these came together, I'm now wondering if the hat emblem is USAF? The discs are without hallmarks and the hat emblem is KREW, G.I., STERLING marked. Does anyone know for sure if USAF wore these gold cut-out hat emblems before they switched to the silver cut-outs?

 

The WAF bugler photo from 1952 or 1953 shows her wearing the US collar disc on the left collar, so can anyone pinpoint a specific date the gold cut-out wing and prop discs were discontinued?

 

BTW - Bob, this early USAF thread was an excellent idea! Transitional and Korean War era USAF is one of the most undocumented and underappreciated areas of US military history and collecting. Maybe we can tie allot of their history together?

 

Gary

[GIl Sanow]

Here is a set of USAF EM collar discs and possible early USAF hat emblem from the late 1940's or early 1950's. All three of these emblems came in the same box find from a local antique store here in Colorado. I've always had the understanding that the gold cut-out hat emblems were US Army WAC and not USAF, but since these came together, I'm now wondering if the hat emblem is USAF? The discs are without hallmarks and the hat emblem is KREW, G.I., STERLING marked. Does anyone know for sure if USAF wore these gold cut-out hat emblems before they switched to the silver cut-outs?

 

The WAF bugler photo from 1952 or 1953 shows her wearing the US collar disc on the left collar, so can anyone pinpoint a specific date the gold cut-out wing and prop discs were discontinued?

 

BTW - Bob, this early USAF thread was an excellent idea! Transitional and Korean War era USAF is one of the most undocumented and underappreciated areas of US military history and collecting. Maybe we can tie allot of their history together?

 

Gary

 

I once saw an AF blue Ike jacket like that shown at the top, but with ARMY labels! Apparently made to same specs bu the same contractor, but now with new material. If I recall correctly, it was dated '48. Can't get much earlier than that!

I have also seen OD wool Ikes with the new AF chevrons -- definitely transtitional.

[Bob Hudson]

This is the Air Force sage green fatique shirt. This came from the same estate as the Ike and bush jackets above: this guy enlisted in AAF in 1944 and retired from USAF in 1964 and left two trunks of uniforms spanning the years. The shirt's labels were missing but I believe this was late 1950's:

 

 

Sage green remained a popular color for Air Force flight suits long after it disappeared from utility uniforms. This flight suit has a black label:

 

 

 

The label is undated, but I saw another pair with a higher contract number that was dated 1959.

 

 

I found a load of official US Air Force photos showing basic training classes dating back to 1948. It's an interesting glimpse at some of the changes in uniforms.

 

Notice the Army style visor caps in this photo (remember the USAF was established in Sept 1947):

 

 

Interesting to note that by April 1950 we see both the Army cap and a dark blue cap being work with the khaki uniform:

 

 

 

Here's a couple more from 1950 including one of WAF's:

 

 

This is from a Septemeber 1950 class photo:

 

 

Notice the helmets on these 1951 basic training instructors and the soft caps on the recruits:

 

 

In 1951 they could still give their visor caps the crusher look:

 

 

Notice the Ike jackets and boots on this 1952 class:

 

 

 

This is a 1952 WAF class:

 

 

A February 1953 class:

 

 

Here's a January 1960 class: notice how geeky the uniform looks compared to those from the 1950's. This is basically what they had when I went through Lackland AFB in 1968 and it was not a look that inspired esprit de corps:

 

 

Some 1950's officer's uniforms.

 

 

Here some officers meet with Eddie Rickenbacker in May 1951:

 

 

This photo dates from 1955:

 

 

Those khaki suits were sharp looking.

 

Some USAF uniform histories:

 

http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/duds.htm, which notes:

 

It wasn't until January 1949 when the Air Force adopted its shade 84 blue uniforms; however, most airmen didn't have a set of "blues" hanging in their wall lockers until late 1950. In the interim, officers wore the Army's "pinks and greens" and airmen wore ODs (olive drab).

 

and this one http://www.afa.org/magazine/1991/0691splendor.asp

[DMD]

Here is a K-2B flight suit with a December 11, 1959 date on the tag. The 4170th Strategic Wing was disestablished in 1963.

 

Dennis

[Lee Ragan]

The hat badge & collar brass in number 4 are "transition" brass. These were worn on the Army Ikes before the new blue uniform came out. The same hat badge was also used later for females in the Army, but originally were USAF enlisted .

I got this info from an old collector buddy who was in the Air Force during WWII and after. He has since passed away.

The 2 officers with Eddie Rickenbacker are Capt. James Jabara, the first USAF all jet ace from the Korean War. He finished with 15 kills over MiG-15's. On the right is General Hoyt Vandenberg who at the time of the photo was Chief of Staff USAF. I went thru USAF Basic at Lackland in April-May 1966 and served as a supply man till 1970. I issued specialized clothing (flight gear, firemans clothes & cold weather gear mostly), so I'm familuar with a lot of this stuff.

I noticed in one of the basic training photos from the ealry 50's, the TI is wearing a hashmark & overseas bars. These were silver (like the chevrons), on shade 1084 blue. They disappeared by the 1960s, and the blue Ike followed shortly.

The 1505's (short sleeve khaki color summer uniform), really didn't look all that great, but it was cool & comfortable.

Sorry for the rambling post... I have always been interested in the USAF "Transition era", from Army to blue USAF uniforms.

This is a great thread!

[Ricardo]

Hi,

 

My Korea War Era Sergeant uniform:

 

 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Bob Hudson]

Sorry for the rambling post... I have always been interested in the USAF "Transition era", from Army to blue USAF uniforms.

This is a great thread!

 

Ramble on my friend! Any details you can provide, feel free to do so.

[SARGE]

I see a mix of coats and Ike jackets in one photo but does anyone have a photo of a blue coat modified into an Ike jacket in wear?

 

 

The custom tailored jackets would show the front and epaulet buttons and would not have the buttons on the cuffs that the issue Ike jackets had.

 

[TSgt Mackey]

I have a nice collection of Air Force uniforms as well

 

At http://www.tsgtmackey.com

[Bob Hudson]

I have a nice collection of Air Force uniforms as well

 

At http://www.tsgtmackey.com

 

 

I have visited your site many times: an excellent resource for USAF uniform and security police info. Maybe you could start a new topic about SP collection and that might prompt some other collectors to add their photos to the topic.

 

I was at SAC missile in the late 60's and because of the security requirements of the missile launch sites it seemed like half of the base personnel were SP's (and the other half were cooks to feed them).

[USMCR79]

Transition uniforms approximately 1947

[Bob Hudson]

Would this have been an enlisted 505 khaki shirt from the 1950's? I believe they stopped wearing this style of shirt about 1960 or so and the Air Materiel Command - shown on the shirt label - became the Air Force Logistics Command in 1961. My best guess is that these were embroidered and worn in Japan or Korea very early in the 50's.

 

 

There are no chevrons but I had thought the officers collar insignia did not have the circle around the the US.

 

I am going to move this to a thread dealing with early US Air Force uniforms and maybe that will help us get some more answers.

[Wailuna]

Would this have been an enlisted 505 khaki shirt from the 1950's? I believe they stopped wearing this style of shirt about 1960 or so and the Air Materiel Command - shown on the shirt label - became the Air Force Logistics Command in 1961. My best guess is that these were embroidered and worn in Japan or Korea very early in the 50's....There are no chevrons but I had thought the officers collar insignia did not have the circle around the the US....

Nice shirt. It is an commercial version of the standard issue long sleeve khaki shirt worn in USAF until about 1960 (light weight shade 505 uniforms were approved in 1961 to replace heavy cotton khakis). The 67th Recon. Wing officer shown in post #22 above is wearing a similar commercial gabardine uniform vs. issue khakis worn by the enlisted men.

 

The ring encircling the bullion "U.S." insignia on the collar points makes the owner of this shirt an enlisted man. However, the absence of chevrons is puzzling, as this would have been an expensive uniform for an Airman Basic to own. Nevertheless, the shirt shows signs of wear: Is there any sign that chevrons were removed? I agree with Admin as to worn in Japan in 1950s: The red stitching in the collar band above the "Creighton" label is a Japanese laundry mark (probably the shirt owner's name).

[dan]

Here are two Army Air Corps/Air Force transition IKE's I have. Please see related post in the uniform section titled '1950's Air Force Uniform Question'.

 

 

The first IKE is dated with a March 1945 QM tag. As you can see it has a right sleeve 8th AAF patch and left sleeve 1st AAF patch with Air Force Staff Sergeant stripes. This IKE has two Army hash marks on the left sleeve.

 

 

 

The second IKE has a 1944 dated QM tag. It has a Military Air Transport Service patch on the left sleeve with Air Force Tech Sgt stripes, no other marks. This IKE has the name and serial number of the owner which I have not researched. Walter L Hustus, 31153044.

 

 

Neither jacket had any brass or ribbons when I aquired them, which has been over 20 years ago from an antique/junk shop in New York.

 

Dan

[ehrentitle]

Here is a transitional Ike style blue AF wool jacket with the patch for the 581st Air Materials Assembly Squadron which served during the Korean War providing aerial delivery of supplies and equipment used to support guerrilla operations and distribute psychological warfare propaganda materials.

[CW4AFB]

Wailuna--love the photos---nice work and a great tribute for these guys:

 

heres my contribution to the topic---first up is the trunk lot I picked up a while back---must have been right on the cusp of the transition because the guys set included the Ike with the wing stripes and then his blue jacket with the next rank---I have blotted out his name and serial number on the lid of the trunk out of respect for his privacy. You can see his set also included both blue and olive overseas hats and garrison hats.

 

And here's one more ---- as you can see somebody got to the patches on both sleeves but left the other stuff---from the shape of patch remnants it might have been 8th AAF and USAAF or other round ETO patches. AFB

[dan]

Fantastic, I love those Army IKE's. Nice group.

 

Dan

[CW4AFB]

Fantastic, I love those Army IKE's. Nice group.

 

Dan

Dan---I'm headed back home on thursday to visit my folks and I'll try to get my dad to dig into his memory banks and see what he can remember about the transitional period and why they wore the combinations they did...fascinating period to study...and the uniforms are really an undervalued area of miltaria...

AFB

[dan]

CW4AFB,

 

Yes the transition uniforms are underated. I for one will be waiting to hear what your dad remembers about them.

 

Dan

[f4cweasel]

Here is a set of USAF EM collar discs and possible early USAF hat emblem from the late 1940's or early 1950's. All three of these emblems came in the same box find from a local antique store here in Colorado. I've always had the understanding that the gold cut-out hat emblems were US Army WAC and not USAF, but since these came together, I'm now wondering if the hat emblem is USAF? The discs are without hallmarks and the hat emblem is KREW, G.I., STERLING marked. Does anyone know for sure if USAF wore these gold cut-out hat emblems before they switched to the silver cut-outs?

 

The 1948 USAF Instruction which authorizes the gold colored Enlisted "Transition" Collar Insignia that are shown in the photo also authorizes a gold colored Enlisted Cap Badge of the type shown. The Instruction indicates that the Badge is 1 3/4" in diameter and slightly convex. The "Spec Sheet" for the production of the Cap Badge indicates that the Badge is 1 11/16" in diameter and that it has a screw post on the back.

 

 

The WAF bugler photo from 1952 or 1953 shows her wearing the US collar disc on the left collar, so can anyone pinpoint a specific date the gold cut-out wing and prop discs were discontinued?

 

Still looking, but probably sometime in 1950. Has anyone got any info on the Enlisted Transition Collar Brass in silver? I have several.

 

 

BTW - Bob, this early USAF thread was an excellent idea! Transitional and Korean War era USAF is one of the most undocumented and underappreciated areas of US military history and collecting. Maybe we can tie allot of their history together?

 

Gary

 

The 1948 USAF Instruction which authorizes the gold colored Enlisted "Transition" Collar Insignia that are shown in the photo also authorizes a gold colored Enlisted Cap Badge of the type shown. The Instruction indicates that the Badge is 1 3/4" in diameter and slightly convex. The "Spec Sheet" for the production of the Cap Badge indicates that the Badge is 1 11/16" in diameter and that it has a screw post on the back.

 

Also tried to answer the following question about when the Silver US replaced the Transition Pieces. I'm still looking, but probably about 1950. They show up quickly once the blue uniform starts getting into the field, but so far I haven't been able to find a reference.

 

Check 6,

 

Bill

[CW4AFB]

CW4AFB,

 

Yes the transition uniforms are underated. I for one will be waiting to hear what your dad remembers about them.

 

Dan

Dan---It was an experience---He and one of his buddies---B24 radio Operator shot down over Ploesti and went on to serve 25+ years in the USAF--sat down with me and we looked at all the uniforms on this string and other places here to discuss...when I get some time this weekend, I'll transscribe my notes and give you what they told me...

Al

[USMCRECON]

Some 1950's officer's uniforms.

Here some officers meet with Eddie Rickenbacker in May 1951:

 

 

This photo dates from 1955:

 

 

Those khaki suits were sharp looking.

 

The guy in the middle, between Rickenbacker and the Generalm, looks like J. J. Jabarra who was one of the top Aces of the Korean War.