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


Bob Hudson
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From 1954. The photo caption reads: “Lake Charles Air Force Base, Lake Charles, La. ... Receiving congratulations and farewell, from Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Martin, 44th Periodic Maintenance Squadron Commander at Lake Charles Air Force Base, are: Master Sergeant Albert G. Fenske (right) and Master Sergeant Floyd Barnhardt. The sergeants were honored at retirement ceremonies held last Saturday morning at Squadron Headquarters. Sergeant Barnhardt who served 26 years was presented with an engraved cigarette lighter while Sergeant Fenske who served 21 years received a desk pen set engraved in gold. Both sergeants were supervisors at the 44th Periodic Maintenance Squadron shops."

 

Note the Master Sergeant on the right only shows a single award of the Good Conduct Medal.

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Larger file of the previous photo

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First Sergeant - 1960

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Le Charles AFB-954.I can't make out the SSI on the sleeve of the NCO on the right.

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Air Force Master Sergeant Paul Boren wearing transitional brass collar insignia

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The Master Sergeant Boren from the previous picture wearing Air Force rank insignia. He is with Louisiana Governor Earl Long

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Cookie: On page 212 of Into the Blue vol 1 it explains the evolution of the irrevently named "Farts and Darts." It is easy to see why the army and navy embellishment was call scrambled eggs due to the yellow color. When we separated from the army we did not have brim decoration. The army and navy added theirs and decided to decorate the Field and General Officer grade service caps. There was some positive aspects to this as it appeared to aid in the retention of Field Grade officers. The Air Force proposed a brim decoration in 1960 for Field Grade ranks of major and Lt. Col.s. The 5th Permanent Air Force Uniform Board (PAFUB) recommended 15 January 1960 that brim decorations include " the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Majors as a prestige factor..." "...and added moral incentive in anticipation of possible loss of flying status as well as fewer promotions for many majors."

 

 

The Field Grade decoration would consist of two clouds and lighting bots on each side of the brim for field officers and three for General Officers. Theses decorations went into effect for Lt. Col.s but the majors would have to wait until the year 2000. At the same time it was decreed that the Chief Of Staff would have the Farts and Darts included around the hat brim. Now there was no precedent for these decorations in the US military. Whoa, you point to "Bug out Doug" and his flamboyant hat and you would be correct except his hat was of HIS design and was actually presented to him after he was retired and became the "Marshal of the Philippines!" There are some back stories that President (former captain of artillery) Truman mentioned to his staff and confidants about the "unauthorized" and blatant disregard for military regulation of "that dammed hat!"

 

 

The CoS encirclement of the sweat band embroidery was first authorized by CoS General Hoyt Vandenberg.

 

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The Master Sergeant Boren from the previous picture wearing Air Force rank insignia. He is with Louisiana Governor Earl Long

Great picture. The FSSF looks to be wearing the r/w/b cord.

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From 1954. The photo caption reads: “Lake Charles Air Force Base, Lake Charles, La. ... Receiving congratulations and farewell, from Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Martin, 44th Periodic Maintenance Squadron Commander at Lake Charles Air Force Base, are: Master Sergeant Albert G. Fenske (right) and Master Sergeant Floyd Barnhardt. The sergeants were honored at retirement ceremonies held last Saturday morning at Squadron Headquarters. Sergeant Barnhardt who served 26 years was presented with an engraved cigarette lighter while Sergeant Fenske who served 21 years received a desk pen set engraved in gold. Both sergeants were supervisors at the 44th Periodic Maintenance Squadron shops."

 

Note the Master Sergeant on the right only shows a single award of the Good Conduct Medal.

 

Not unusual, and for two reasons.

 

First, remember that during this era there was a very conservative feeling about awards and decorations across all military services and personnel recognition lacked a lot of emphasis on decorations.

 

The Good Conduct Medal, especially during this period, was still considered a personal decoration and the wearer had to be formally recommended by the headquarters squadron commander. The first Air Force Good Conduct Medal I received in 1980 was done exactly this way and I was shown the recommendation first sergeant. There were orders.

 

Second, it might have been a personal preference on the part of the NCO (I notice there aren't any devices on his other ribbons), or it could be the fact that he spend most of his career wearing utility uniforms or fatigues and may have only worn a dress uniform rarely.

 

The 44th Periodic Maintenance Squadron was part of the 44th Bombardment Wing. At this point, the 44th Bombardment Wing was converting from B-29s to B-47s as part of the Strategic Air Command and would begin Cold War Deployments to North Africa. Eventually, this base would be renamed in honor of Maj. Gen. Clair Chennault.

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Not unusual, and for two reasons.

 

First, remember that during this era there was a very conservative feeling about awards and decorations across all military services and personnel recognition lacked a lot of emphasis on decorations.

 

The Good Conduct Medal, especially during this period, was still considered a personal decoration and the wearer had to be formally recommended by the headquarters squadron commander. The first Air Force Good Conduct Medal I received in 1980 was done exactly this way and I was shown the recommendation first sergeant. There were orders.

 

Second, it might have been a personal preference on the part of the NCO (I notice there aren't any devices on his other ribbons), or it could be the fact that he spend most of his career wearing utility uniforms or fatigues and may have only worn a dress uniform rarely.

 

The 44th Periodic Maintenance Squadron was part of the 44th Bombardment Wing. At this point, the 44th Bombardment Wing was converting from B-29s to B-47s as part of the Strategic Air Command and would begin Cold War Deployments to North Africa. Eventually, this base would be renamed in honor of Maj. Gen. Clair Chennault.

 

On second thought, could the top ribbon be an Air Medal? The Army Good Conduct Medal is to the far left on the second row and contains a device.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...
Steindaddie

Members of the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in the early 1950's. The full transition to USAF blue had yet to occur: See Lt. Leonard Lilley and his khaki hat, back row, right.

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Adding to the previous post, the three officers in the back row are all wearing on their epaulets the DI of the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. Question: When did the USAF phase out the wearing of DI's? PS. Lt. Lilley on the right shot is just back from Korea where he shot down 7 MiGs.

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  • 1 month later...

would people wear ribbons, collar discs and plastic name tags on a USAF blue " Ike" like they would on a regular blue jacket?

 

In other words, is it possible to find blue Ike jackets "decorated" like the regular jacket below?

 

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From personal experience I can say the later blue on white plastic name tags were not worn on the Ike Jacket. Ribbons and name tags were optional. Some time after I arrived in Bermuda, we started wearing white on black name tags. Will check some pictures that may reveal additional information

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  • 2 months later...

This is far too good a thread to let die!!!

I think I have one stashed away somewhere, let me dig it out and I will post some pics.

Tom

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This Colonel James F. Fisher, has quite a story hidden somewhere.

Hope that someone here can help.

This is just the ribbon bar, too ashamed to take a pic of the rest, as

I don't have a proper display.

Is the lower left Korean service? Don't have a clue on the other 2 on the

3rd bar.

All help will be as always appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom

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Sorry,

Guess I should have attached the pics...been a while, but it's good to be back!!!post-105743-0-95528100-1567048867_thumb.jpg

 

couple more..

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one more and let me see if I can make up something suitable for this great array of military heritage...

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Here is a series of Farley E. Peebles as he progressed through his career. Some things to note.

 

First, I am not sure if the Ike jacket in the first photo is olive drab or blue. I'm leaning towards blue because the strap and visor on the cap look like they are black. Would that be right?

 

In the second photo, note he is wearing his unit awards over his right breast pocket in the earlier Army style rather than among his other ribbons like in the photo in the next post.

 

Third, notice all the insignia in the third photo is embroidered.

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Same officer from the previous post. Note bullion insignia.

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Two photos of Major General Robert M. White. The first shows him as a colonel with his Air Force Cross earned for an F-105 mission over North Vietnam in 1967. White was also an X-15 test pilot and flew the aircraft to an altitude above 50 miles, qualifying him for the Command Pilot Badge with Astronaut Device. It's hard to make out, but I would assume his wings in this picture have the astronaut device. The second picture clearly shows the astronaut device on his wings.

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Two photos of Major General Robert M. White. The first shows him as a colonel with his Air Force Cross earned for an F-105 mission over North Vietnam in 1967. White was also an X-15 test pilot and flew the aircraft to an altitude above 50 miles, qualifying him for the Command Pilot Badge with Astronaut Device. It's hard to make out, but I would assume his wings in this picture have the astronaut device. The second picture clearly shows the astronaut device on his wings.

Very cool. Sure looks like the Astronaut designator on his mini CMD Pilot wings

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Here is a series of Farley E. Peebles as he progressed through his career. Some things to note.

 

First, I am not sure if the Ike jacket in the first photo is olive drab or blue. I'm leaning towards blue because the strap and visor on the cap look like they are black. Would that be right?

 

In the second photo, note he is wearing his unit awards over his right breast pocket in the earlier Army style rather than among his other ribbons like in the photo in the next post.

 

Third, notice all the insignia in the third photo is embroidered.

 

seanmc1114

 

Post #904, in the first pic he does not appear to be wearing blues. His tie is tan, not AF blue, and he is wearing prop & wing devices on his lapels, which indicates this was still Army Air Forces era, not USAF.

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seanmc1114

 

Post #904, in the first pic he does not appear to be wearing blues. His tie is tan, not AF blue, and he is wearing prop & wing devices on his lapels, which indicates this was still Army Air Forces era, not USAF.

+1

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  • 1 month later...

59th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Goose Bay Air Base circa 1956-57.

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325th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, late 50s. Pilots show a mix of the new flight gear (sage green) and the old (dark blue). The other photo shows pilots of the 325th in semi-formal dress.

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Flight nurses of the 1950s.

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Lt. Robert Haney of the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron receives the Far East Air Forces "Able Aeronaut" patch from 8th Fighter Bomber Wing commander, Orville Rehmann. Next photo, Rehmann confers with Colonel William Barnes as he delivers the first F-100 to the 8th FBW. Colonel Ladson Eskridge, 43rd Air Division commander, looks on.

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Air Policemen of the Iowa Air National Guard wear the transitional uniform in 1951.

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Pilots of the 26th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, early 1950s.

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Aviation cadets in the mid-1950s.

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