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

[Pip]

Great uniform

[seanmc1114]

WWII veteran of the 82nd Airborne but note he doesn't have parachutist or glider wings.

[patches]

WWII veteran of the 82nd Airborne but note he doesn't have parachutist or glider wings.

Probably was in one of the support companies, to wit Divisional HQ Special Troops, Ord or QM, Sigs etc, remembering that the overwhelming majority of these units in the WWII Airborne Division had people that were not jump qualified or glider trained, nor undertook any combat air assaults, parachute or glider which might of gotten them a badge.

[seanmc1114]

Left is General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, wearing the Ninth Air Force combat patch, being administered Oath of Office as the second Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force - April 30, 1948. Right is Gen. Vandenberg wearing the Chief of Staff cap with his blue Ike jacket.

 

Here is a link to a page with lots of great infro on the transitional uniforms: http://usafflagranks.com/usaf_service_dress_ike_jacket.html

 

 

[Konig]

Here is a nice 1st Sgt's Uniform for the Topic.

 

[Konig]

Here is another one guys... Not strictly from the 60's but close enough. Interesting ribbon rack on this one. I actually don't know who it belonged to. Any help would be appreciated. Has a set of nav wings.

 

Cheers

 

[seanmc1114]

Here is a nice 1st Sgt's Uniform for the Topic.IMG_1680.JPG

 

IMG_1680.JPG

 

Interesting ribbon rack. You don't see the Soldier's Medal very often. And notice there are no knots on his Good Conduct ribbon. Hard to imagine someone getting to be a peacetime first sergeant without multiple awards of that one.

 

[patches]

Here is a nice 1st Sgt's Uniform for the Topic.IMG_1680.JPG

 

IMG_1680.JPG

Whats that ribbon on the bottom row, our left, the one with the 4 Oak Leaf Devices? That one escapes me.

[seanmc1114]

Whats that ribbon on the bottom row, our left, the one with the 4 Oak Leaf Devices? That one escapes me.

 

Air Force Longevity Service

 

[patches]

 

Air Force Longevity Service

 

Thank You sean, perhaps then he opted for the devices on this AF ribbon to show his long service rather than the loops on the AGM?

[seanmc1114]

Thank You sean, perhaps then he opted for the devices on this AF ribbon to show his long service rather than the loops on the AGM?

Maybe, but they really don't represent the same thing. The Longevity Service Ribbon is basically the equivalent of the service stripes worn by the other branches although it is also worn by officers and not restricted to enlisted men.

[Konig]

Might the knot have fallen off the rack?

[Konig]

Just got home and checked ribbon rack... there is a large hole at right hand side off the edge of the embroidered good conduct ribbon...you were right sean... didnt even think of that one. Will have to find me a replacement. Cheers.

[patches]

Maybe, but they really don't represent the same thing. The Longevity Service Ribbon is basically the equivalent of the service stripes worn by the other branches although it is also worn by officers and not restricted to enlisted men.

Thanks for explaining that.

[Konig]

Hi Guys,

 

Had time to take a photo of another of mine. An Ike that belonged to Col. RICHARD N. ELLIS. Enjoy.

 

 

[seanmc1114]

Major General Robert B. Landry wearing the Presidential Aide aiguillette on his right shoulder. He served as Air Force Aide to President Harry Truman from 1948 to 1953. Hard to tell if it's silver or gold, but most likely silver for Air Force by this time.

 

Airman circa 1950. The tie and cap appear to be brown. The cap device looks silver to me but the collar devices look gold. It's so hard to tell in these black and white photos.

 

The following four pictures came from the Air Force Historical Studies Office website

 

http://www.afhso.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123302388

 

 

Two NCOs

 

Enlisted men

 

Women's summer uniform

 

Gen. Thomas Dresser White, fourth Air Force Chief Of Staff from July 1, 1957 to June 30, 1961, shown with his Chief of Staff cap

 

Air Force officers and enlisted men in a variety of uniforms pose before the last flight of the Berlin Airlift takes off - September 1949. I believe the officer on the left is Major General William H. Tunner who was in overall command of the Berlin Airlift effort.

 

Two pictures of Air Force Military Policemen wearing olive drab Ike jackets at Barksdale AFB in 1949. Note that in the first picture, you can just make out the new Air Force enlisted chevrons poking out above the MP brassard of the first airman while the man behind him is wearing the old Army style chevrons.

 

[seanmc1114]

A twofer of one Horst W. Tittel, M/Sgt, he apparently was in the Army/Air Force forever.

 

This one taken 1945 ( note he does not wear at this time the quadruple collar discs ( the sets on the upper and lower lapels ), note the Hashmarks.

phpsa3jx5PM.jpg

 

As Hooper told Quint in JAWS: "I got that beat."

 

[seanmc1114]

Gus Backus of the Del Vikings wearing a bush jacket during his Air Force service circa 1957.

[seanmc1114]

The following four images are taken at Taipei Air Base around 1952. The officers are assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan. In the first picture, the officer with his hand on his hips is Col. Ed rector who was an original Flying Tiger.

 

Another couple of pictures taken at Taipei Air Base around 1952. The second one shows Col. Ed rector on the right.

[seanmc1114]

The first Air Force Combat Controller Team c. 1953. Note the airman on the right with the Pathfinder Badge on his lower sleeve.

[patches]

 

As Hooper told Quint in JAWS: "I got that beat."

 

 

 

He gonna have to wear his shoulder patch on the top of his shoulder

[patches]

Airman circa 1950. The tie and cap appear to be brown. The cap device looks silver to me but the collar devices look gold. It's so hard to tell in these black and white photos.

Nah Sean, this is a colorized photo, as per usual not done very well.

[seanmc1114]

This photo of an Airman 2nd Class was taken in 1962. It seemed odd to me at first because of the placement of the Distinguished Unit Citation. I thought either the negative had been reversed or he was incorrectly wearing it over his left breast pocket when it should have been over his right breast. Then I realized he was properly wearing the smaller version of the unit award adopted for wear among other ribbons over the left breast. He just doesn't have any other ribbons to wear it with. I don't think I have ever seen that.

 

1955 photo of Gen. James H. Doolittle with a Master Sergeant sporting the rank chevrons worn 1950 to 1992 with three stripes below the star.

 

Anyone who grew up reading C.B. Colby's books as a kid surely remembers this picture from his "SAC" book

[seanmc1114]

The existence of The Bunker is Top Secret.

 

But your original question was about collar discs on the 1970s Blue long sleeve shirt and the answer is "No."

 

Here is the evidence from one unit album published in 1976 showing no “U.S.” discs but with chevrons on both sleeves, ribbons above left pocket and name tag above right pocket, and “Clark Kent” style eyeglasses (optional).

 

Blue shirt 1.jpg

And here is another one (w/o ribbons and the “Clark Kent” eyeglasses).

 

Blue Shirt 2.jpg

Your out-of-step Staff Sergeant might simply have been in a part of the Air Force that didn’t get the word.

 

 

This photo appears in C. B. Colby's book "SAC" which is copyrighted 1961. Note the wear of the collar insignia on the blue shirt.

 

[patches]

I posted a bunch of scanned photos from the CB Colby books I got, there spread out in various forums.

 

Here's a topic I started on Colby himself and his books.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/175016-the-books-of-c-b-colby/