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

[patches]

Mach 1 in 1962, Mach 1 the Air Force Academy's Mascot. the first falcon presented to the Academy on 5 October 1955.

[Scarecrow]

My Dad (Al) on the right with his brother Richard.  Circa 1950.

[edjperkins]

On 7/27/2022 at 6:24 PM, Vanderbilt said:

.....these were my Dads AF cap badge and collar insignia. After his service as a medic in WW2. Sometime between then and Korea he joined the AF Reserve. He was activated during the Korean Conflict and spent time in Columbus, Ga. He said the group he was in trained air crews on C 47's. His rank was TSgt. None of his uniforms survived. I do remember a bag down in the basement. It disappeared when I was 8-10 years old. I would like to put the cap badge on a hat for display. Not sure if the proper hat would be Army od, tan or AF blue?

Those particular set of collar insignia and cap badge would go on the AF Blue Shade 84.  My dad was in at the same time, and that is what he wore them on. 

[edjperkins]

On 9/28/2022 at 5:40 PM, seanmc1114 said:

Airwoman (or is it female Airman?) wearing the transitional collar brass and Army rank insignia. From a 1950 magazine.

She would be a WAF (Woman's Air Force).

[patches]

Dependent kids get a look see at a cockpit of a plane at Kadena Air Base Okinawa1956.

[patches]

A mid 50s to early 60s OD Sateen shirt, two Yellow Web Tapes, need help on unit there, if that stands for a unit, 551 SMS.

 

 

[rd12]

I think this is it, timeframe and acronym fit. 551st Strategic Missile Squadron. 
https://www.551sms.com/

[patches]

Here's another 50s Sage Green shirt rd for you to ID, Tape says as we see, Frost R, the mans name, then below it HANGER.

[MinutemanEMTer]

On 3/9/2013 at 8:00 PM, Wailuna said:

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).

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

The dark wool blue L/S shirt was authorized until 1983 or 1984. I bought one at Clothing Sales while still in Tech School at Chanute AFB. They were not authorized any collar brass at this time. 4" chevrons were authorized IIRC, and a tie had to be worn. 

 

This shirt had a satin lining across the yoke and at the sleeve cuffs, but overall, it was very itchy if you didn't have on L/S thermal top underneath it. Great for winter wear.

 

Sadly, this classic was phased out, but was one of the sharpest looking uniform combinations to wear. It was the Combo 3 or 3a, I can't remember now. Wish I still had mine, I wore it for Tech School graduation photos and later for NCO Preperatory School at Whiteman AFB.

[patches]

1967, though as mentioned earlier in Post #404, Major Healy, Army Engineer officer assigned to NASA should be wearing Army insignia on his shirt

[easterneagle87]

10 hours ago, patches said:

1967, though as mentioned earlier in Post #404, Major Healy, Army Engineer officer assigned to NASA should be wearing Army insignia on his shirt

To put MAJ Healy into an Army uniform would’ve been tough and Two blinks would’ve confused poor Jeanie. 🤣

[Steindaddie]

On 2/2/2023 at 9:19 AM, MinutemanEMTer said:

The dark wool blue L/S shirt was authorized until 1983 or 1984.

I wore one when I attended NCO Leadership School in the Spring of 1987. When I wore it to class, several of my fellow students called me out on it, but the instructor cut them off: He, master of all things AFR 35-10, stated that the shirt was good to go until 30 Sept of that same year. A modification had been made by the mid-80s: The large jacket-sized chevrons were no longer authorized and the stripes were now the same (smaller) size as other dress shirts.

[MinutemanEMTer]

I didn't know it was authorized for wear that late in the 80s. Maybe they had stopped selling them at Clothing Sales in the mid-80s. ???

 

 

[seanmc1114]

[S.ChrisKelly]

These are pictures of my mother, made during her USAF service, 1955-1957, 7167 Air Transport Squadron (M) (SAMS).  The army general with the 8th Army patch and two stars is Lieutenant General Emerson C. Itschner.  She is still alive, and will be 88 years old this year.  I have all these uniforms, and the original aircrew wings (AFSC 60151), except (alas!) the women's service cap ("bucket hat").

 

[aside:  7167th ATS was awadred an AFOUA in GO-51 for the period 1 March 1953 - 1 March 1958.]

[S.ChrisKelly]

I found this web-site, dedicated to Kimpo Air Force Base, Korea, 1950-1954.  Many of the photographs are in color!  This is the lowdown on USAF uniforms for the Korean War!

 

http://yocumusa.com/sweetrose/everymanatiger/index.htm

 

 

[S.ChrisKelly]

One more highly useful web-site...

 

https://usafflagranks.com/index.html

[S.ChrisKelly]

From an internet web-site:  a showcase, the original service coat, and the veteran who wore it.

 

 

[S.ChrisKelly]

On the left, gold button, transitional, circa 1947 - 1949.  On the right, silver button, circa 1950-1955.

[S.ChrisKelly]

USAF ranks, 1955 - 1965, only missing the Master Sergeant pin, all hallmarked N. S. Meyer, 9M.  On what uniform they belong, I have no idea, except perhaps medical & food service.

 

[Marshallj]

Not sure of when this photo was taken.

[patches]

The Truncated Khakis worn as a unit, here by Trainees at Lackland, 3703 Flt 571 summer of 1959.

[Steindaddie]

A Korean War Airman First Class sporting an interesting uniform combination of dress blues, field jacket, and rain cover.  The patch is from the 452nd Bomb Wing (Light) Photo Lab.

[easterneagle87]

Some snap shots of transitional AF. Can't tell if they are wearing green Army Ikes or the new AF blue Ikes. Still wearing Military Air Transport Service shoulder patches. The airman with the dog has the transitional "open" winged prop lapel insignia. 

[patches]

Transional IKE, a 11th Corps PTO Vet, now in the Air Force, the 20th Air Force, which would of been worn on Okinawa 20th Air Force station on Okinawa in the late 40s.