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

[louie]

And finally a last version Advance ETO.

[astra44]

Just inkeeping with this thread....

 

1. RAF Celle Airmen's Club, W.Germany, 1948 during Berlin Airlift. My Dad the only airman with the new blue USAF chevron. Wartime USSTAF patch on right shoulder.

 

2. 1948 Ike with new blue USAF chevrons, and theater made USAFE patch on felt.

 

Airman 1st Class -- or was it still called sergeant then? -- Gordon Ellis. England, 1951. USSTAF patch has moved over onto left shoulder of his blues. Note hash mark on left sleeve.

My Dad served in USAAF/USAF from 1943 thru 1969.

[Wailuna]

More from louie (posted with permission):

 

Source: Link here

 

And here.

 

 

Thanks, louie!

[vintageproductions]

USAF Type B-14 transitional Uniform.

 

 

 

[Sabrejet]

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

Since this thread is getting rather lengthy, there is a need thread at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=57923 that picks up this topic.

[Wailuna]

These flight line scenes show Brigadier General Keith K. Compton, USAF, arriving at Ben Guerir Air Base, Morocco, ca. 1959. General Compton is wearing the USAF's new Cotton Summer Service Jacket (also seen on the partially obscured officer standing next to him in the first picture). More colloquially called the "bush jacket," this innovation is described in Air Force Manual 35-10, dated 5 May 1959.

 

 

 

 

Note: The "Standard Jacket" (left drawing) is the Air Force Ike jacket. This edition of

AFM 35-10 announced its eventual phase out following "...an adequate wear-out period."

[Wailuna]

Air Force Manual 31-10 (5 May 1959) announced that the Air Force's winter and summer "Ike Jacket" would be phased out following an unspecified wear-out period:

 

That phase out period ended May 31, 1964 (link here).

[Wailuna]

This Captain's promotion was a BIG event: October 6, 1955 (1st Lt. DOR March 13, 1946). He was OIC, Productions Section, 6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron, Shiroi Air Base, Japan. In addition to the supersize bars on the new Captain's shoulders, we see an eclectic array of transition era uniforms worn by members of "Braun's Bandits" lined up behind him.

 

[Wailuna]

Into the wild blue yonder, circa 1955.

 

[astra44]

Into the wild blue yonder, circa 1955.

 

 

Great picture!

[vostoktrading]

Here are some usefull photos of those odd, straight, early Air Force stripes we've all seen over the years but were always unclear about what they were.

I found this box with 200 patches at a gun show about 15 years ago. Then as now the attraction was more the label on the box rather than the patches. I resubmit these pictures at the urging of Wailuna to preserve the record. Jon.

[Wailuna]

Don't mess with us!

The "More-Bang-For-Your-Buck" BINGO Buddies (thanks to Charlie Flick).

[astra44]

Don't mess with us!

The "More-Bang-For-Your-Buck" BINGO Buddies (thanks to Charlie Flick).

 

 

That is a great picture!

[Wailuna]

The two transition era aircrewmen on the right are wearing Army pattern Master Sergeant chevrons, while the Tech. Sergeant on the left is wearing new Air Force chevrons. The man standing between them is identified as a Corporal but his stripes are not visible (and the officer in the center shows just the hint of a shoulder patch on his left sleeve). The scene is of undated Korean War vintage. The B-29 "That's It" was assigned to 28th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. From the caption: "...this bomb-packing Superfort totaled just 5 minutes short of 169 hours during 15 missions over Korea last month." Date WAG: ca. 1950/52.

[Wailuna]

"President Truman shakes hands with Air Force Staff Sergeant Edward Williams, at a casual meeting in St. Louis during the President's morning walk..." Source: Harry S. Truman Library. (Note on dating: This would have been the morning of October 12, 1950. The president had spent the night before in St. Louis en route to his historic meeting with Gen. MacArthur on Wake Island.)

 

Sergeant Williams is wearing the WWII Far East Air Forces SSI on his left sleeve, which was the only approved position for wearing SSI from 1950 until USAF discontinued SSI wear ca. 1957.

[astra44]

Another great picture....thanks for posting.

[Wailuna]

WAF Private ca. 1948. Source: Forum member 1st Sgt CES (posted here with his permission. Thanks, Top!)

 

The "WAF" (officially: Women in the Air Force) was established on June 12, 1948, when President Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Act (PL 625-80). Less than a month later, WAC Staff Sergeant Ester Blake became the first woman to enlist in the USAF, on July 8, 1948 (link here).

[astra44]

Wow...thanks again for posting!

[Wailuna]

Unidentified USAF Corporal (or Airman 2nd Class) wearing Aircrew wings. The location of Club Golden Bear is unknown (maybe in Northern California?) Date clue: Is that a ca. 1950 Oldsmobile?

Other WAGs welcome.

[Sabrejet]

If anyone's interested, publication of the forthcoming Schiffer book "Into the blue" by Lance Young, which deals with this transitional era of USAF uniforms and insignia, has now been put back to January 2011...almost a year later than planned! I got this info direct from Schiffer yesterday.

 

Sabrejet

[Robswashashore]

Thank you for sharing this interesting and informative thread!

[Wailuna]

Commanding Officer's orderlies? This group of NCO's and the Wing Adjutant were assembled for this photo op outside 67th Reconnaissance Wing headquarters at March Field, Calif., ca. mid-1948. The NCO's are wearing pre-voided enlisted hat and collar brass, which were supplanted by the voided style in August, 1948.

 

[Wailuna]

When I first posted this picture of Brig. Gen George Goddard last year, I WAG-ed that he was wearing the Air Material Command SSI (link here).

 

 

However, as shown by Gen. Goddard's official USAF portrait, he wore the Eighth Air Force SSI (representing his WWII overseas assignment) as authorized by USAF directives of the time when the picture was taken. Col. Goddard was promoted to Brigadier General in May 1952 and assigned to headquarters of the Allied Air Forces in Central Europe at Fontainebleau, France, for duty as director of reconnaissance, Operations Division. In July 1953, Gen. Goddard was reassigned to Headquarters, Air Material Command at Wright-Patterson AFB (which was the final assignment listed in his official biography).

[Wailuna]

May 24, 1956

courtesy of DutchInfid31 ~~ thanks, Sarah(link

here).