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

[seanmc1114]

The following pictures show men of the 2466th Air Force reserve Training Center at Atterbury Air Force Base in the 40s and 50s

 

http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/2466th.htm

 

First up is a shot of a staff sergeant wearing the new Air Force style chevrons on his khaki uniform along with a 10th Air Force SSI and what may be the transitional gold cut-out collar discs. The hat device also looks gold but appears to be the solid Army type to me.

 

Next we see a master sergeant wearing what appears to be a brass nameplate. The officer is not wearing the Longevity Service Ribbon so this is probably dated before 1957 although the trophy is dated either 1055 or 1958.

 

Good view of the brims of the officer's service cap on these two colonels.

 

Two officers wearing Ikes

 

The master sergeant on the left is wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge but no Army SSI

 

The staff sergeant in the center has "U.S.A.F." stenciled in black on a white tape on his fatigues.

 

Enlisted semiformal evening dress.

 

Women's Mess Dress

 

Here's someone with an interesting career. Livingston J. "Bill" Williams, Jr. enlisted in the Army in 1940, attended Infantry OCS at Fort Benning and was commissioned a 2LT in 1943. He served with the 93rd Infantry Division in the Pacific during WWII where he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge. After the war he reverted to inactive status as a 1LT then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1946 as a master sergeant. He was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in 1968 and retired in 1970 with 30 years of service.

 

http://www.everworld.com/tuskegee/enlisted.htm

 

 

LTG Frank A. Armstrong, commander of the Alaskan Air Command, at Elmendorf AFB in 1960. Note the overseas bars on his left sleeve and the badge on his pocket. I can't tell if it's the Alaskan Air Command or Strategic Air Command.

[patches]

Next we see a master sergeant wearing what appears to be a brass nameplate. The officer is not wearing the Longevity Service Ribbon so this is probably dated before 1957 although the trophy is dated either 1055 or 1958.

Believe the guys in the AF in the 50s, if they wore the metal name plates, wore them in Nickle rather than Brass. I got this idea from one of those Insignia Ads in those 1950s National Guardsman magazines I got, here along with a whole lot of other stuff, the Leather name fobs and Metal Name Plates along with the early runs of the Black background with White lettered plastic name plates were offered to National Guardsmen and Air Guardsman (probably had the same Ads in some Active componant magazines of the period too).

 

With the metal they came in two types, Brass and Nickle, while it was not stated in the Ad it can be assumed that the Nickle type would be for AF, and as a guess those Army Troops who wore those Domed Nickle Collar Discs, in fact I have a 1950s Khaki Shirt of a AAA GI with Domed Nickle Discs and he has a Small-ish Nickle Name Plate.

[seanmc1114]

If the writing on the picture is correct, this is a photo of an enlisted man of the Fourth Air Force in 1948.

[seanmc1114]

Nothing about this photo or the soldier's profile suggests Air Force service to me, yet this soldier appears to be wearing Air Force enlisted collar discs. He served in Korea with the 3rd Infantry Division from 1952 to 1953 so the picture would be from that time frame. Being a black and white photo, I guess he could be wearing a blue Ike, but if so, would he be wearing the DUIs' and leadership tabs? Any thoughts?

 

http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=Profile&type=Person&ID=8231

[patches]

Nothing about this photo or the soldier's profile suggests Air Force service to me, yet this soldier appears to be wearing Air Force enlisted collar discs. He served in Korea with the 3rd Infantry Division from 1952 to 1953 so the picture would be from that time frame. Being a black and white photo, I guess he could be wearing a blue Ike, but if so, would he be wearing the DUIs' and leadership tabs? Any thoughts?

 

http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=Profile&type=Person&ID=8231

A curious one for sure, like he's got leadership tabs, or at least that's what they seem to be, but he ain't got no rank, a Private.

 

Unless their actually these, with the 7th Inf DIs obscuring the map of Korea?

 

[seanmc1114]

Airmen celebrating Christmas in Alaska - 1948.

[seanmc1114]

Two shots of a female Air Force post-WWII PFC

[seanmc1114]

Captain Rosemary Luciano, one of the Angels of Bataan who served as a nurse during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and was taken prisoner for the remainder of the war. She served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to 1961. I'm not sure if this is an Air Force uniform although it is definitely post-WWII. Was the Army Nurse Corps branch insignia ever worn after the Air Force became a separate branch in 1947, or would that date this picture to before then?

[americankraut]

My great grandfather Frank Gluth enlisted in 1931, Here are some pictures of him durring the Korean war with what I think are his WWII Class A's but with 1949 and later Insignia.

-Ben

 

 

Here is one towards the end of his career still with his WWII Ike

 

He actually was contracted at least into 1971 so he saw WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. I started collecting after I recieved his B-15 jacket when I was 12

[Justin B.]

Here are some pictures of him durring the Korean war with what I think are his WWII Class A's but with 1949 and later Insignia.

Those are great photos! I'm pretty sure those are USAF blues, you can tell by the wide notch at the lapel. Thanks for posting,

 

Justin B.

[seanmc1114]

Here is one towards the end of his career still with his WWII Ike

 

He actually was contracted at least into 1971 so he saw WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. I started collecting after I recieved his B-15 jacket when I was 12

 

What is the badge below his wings? Combat Aircrew?

 

[americankraut]

 

What is the badge below his wings? Combat Aircrew?

 

 

I think you are correct.

Although Im not sure on if he would have had it , He "retired" in 1961, and the badge was approved in 64. But he was contracted by the government to work in the 604th transportation unit through at least 1971. I am not sure if he would have updated his uniform still. The only picture I have of him in 1971 is in uniform in Vietnam but he was a civilian?

[americankraut]

Thanks Justin, do you think the Ike is blue as well?

[bluedog007]

Was searching for some info to do a colorization and found this great thread you have going here .

 

Any info on colors of these uniforms would be greatly appreciated . The one in the middle is Elmer Schalk ,my father in law who recently passed .

 

I don't know the exact date or location but the beer they have on the table is called Holsten Pilsner a German beer that wasn't made until 53 , So my best guess is this was taken in Germany sometime around 53 to 55 .

 

[patches]

Was searching for some info to do a colorization and found this great thread you have going here .

 

Any info on colors of these uniforms would be greatly appreciated . The one in the middle is Elmer Schalk ,my father in law who recently passed .

 

I don't know the exact date or location but the beer they have on the table is called Holsten Pilsner a German beer that wasn't made until 53 , So my best guess is this was taken in Germany sometime around 53 to 55 .

 

Well the two on the left will be AF Blue, with silver collar discs. The one on the right since he's wearing solid domed collar discs,which would be Brass, would be a Army soldier, a Pvt? Note he also has Khaki socks, AF wore Black, so his uniform would be OD. You got the date right, as the GI has his Brass only on the collars and not on both the upper collar and lower lapel, this went out of wear in the Army in late 1951, so the 53-55 dates would be correct.

 

Sorry for your recent loss, as a thought, since your late Father in Law was in the 1950s USAF, you might enjoy this book on AF uniforms, a book highly praised and owned by many members interested in uniforms, to include myself, this will also, apart from being a excellent book, give you concrete full color views of these type of uniforms, the AF service coat as seen being worn on the guy on the far left, and the AF IKE as seen on your Father in Law.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Into-Blue-Uniforms-United-Present/dp/076433512X

[seanmc1114]

Airmen (sailors?) of the 7th Crash Rescue Boat Flight stationed in Tripoli, Libya - 1954

 

http://www.stripes.com/news/wheelus-airmen-sail-over-wild-blue-1.73087

 

[seanmc1114]

Airman in 1954 still wearing the Air Force SSI

[seanmc1114]

Anyone recognize this skinny Airman?

[Justin B.]

I do, but I picture him as a major!

 

Justin B.

[patches]

I do, but I picture him as a major!

 

Justin B.

Major Tom, the Future Astronaunt???

[sigsaye]

Airmen (sailors?) of the 7th Crash Rescue Boat Flight stationed in Tripoli, Libya - 1954

 

http://www.stripes.com/news/wheelus-airmen-sail-over-wild-blue-1.73087

 

. When I first saw this pic, I thought, "Wonder how many of these guys were former Sailors?" I was noticing how they were wearing their white hats. The AF at that time was actively recruiting from the Navy. My father swapped over in '56. It seemed like many of the guys he served with were also former Sailors. Dad left the AF at the end of that enlistment and returned to the Navy

[Slobo]

Major Tom, the Future Astronaunt???

Looks more like Maj. Tony, with a Cocoa Beach address.

[patches]

Looks more like Maj. Tony, with a Cocoa Beach address.

I was only being clever, you know Major Tom (David Bowie)

 

Now I know who this is, I didn't even see or didn't realize that

[patches]

I do, but I picture him as a major!

 

Justin B.

Yeah he rose through the ranks fast, in 1952 an Airman, in 1965 a Major

[seanmc1114]

Here's a young Airman around 1960. Notice he is wearing the Air Force Outstanding Unit award ribbon over his left pocket but wears the Distinguished Unit Citation per Army regulations - full size and over the right pocket. Was this according to regulations at the time?

 

Also note the crushed service cap.