A Dumb question about full color USAF Patches

[Robswashashore]

OK, there were the "subdued" USAF patches that went on BDUs.

And there were "desert" USAF patches that went on DCUS (although I don't see many Patched USAF DCUs around. But you guys explained that to me already.)

And, it appears that there won't be ANY patches on the new ABUs -- which is too bad, because USAF patches are really cool.

 

So here is my dumb question: where were the full color Command, wing and squadron patches worn? Are they still being worn on any uniforms?

 

Inquiring minds want to know...

[DutchInfid3l]

OK, there were the "subdued" USAF patches that went on BDUs.

And there were "desert" USAF patches that went on DCUS (although I don't see many Patched USAF DCUs around. But you guys explained that to me already.)

And, it appears that there won't be ANY patches on the new ABUs -- which is too bad, because USAF patches are really cool.

 

So here is my dumb question: where were the full color Command, wing and squadron patches worn? Are they still being worn on any uniforms?

 

Inquiring minds want to know...

 

Flight suits, aircrew and missile, are really the only current users of the full color. Up until the mid '80s you could still see the full color being worn on the Sateen fatigues as they were being phased out to the subdued. And of course there we still the missle crews and alert teams that wore them but I am not sure up till when.

[JCFalkenbergIII]

OK, there were the "subdued" USAF patches that went on BDUs.

And there were "desert" USAF patches that went on DCUS (although I don't see many Patched USAF DCUs around. But you guys explained that to me already.)

And, it appears that there won't be ANY patches on the new ABUs -- which is too bad, because USAF patches are really cool.

 

So here is my dumb question: where were the full color Command, wing and squadron patches worn? Are they still being worn on any uniforms?

 

Inquiring minds want to know...

 

Well certainly I have seen them on Flight Suits,Jackets and Fatigues during the 50s,60s,70s and I think even the 80s. On the sleeves,pockets and chest areas. There are a few threads on the Uniform Forum showing some great examples of where they were worn. Robert

[48MMS]

When I was at Lakenheath, 1978-80, we wore the full color patches. I had 3 on my uniform, USAFE, 48th TFW and the 48th MMS. After 1980 it was subdued only unless you were transit alert (per the bases I was at) and of course pilots/aircrew. Then at RAF Woodbridge in the late 80's/early nineties we wore just a leather name tag on our BDU's per the Squadron Commander, no patches or stripes. Mine had my name, rank, USAF and my missileman badge on it.

[Robswashashore]

When I was at Lakenheath, 1978-80, we wore the full color patches. I had 3 on my uniform, USAFE, 48th TFW and the 48th MMS. After 1980 it was subdued only unless you were transit alert (per the bases I was at) and of course pilots/aircrew. Then at RAF Woodbridge in the late 80's/early nineties we wore just a leather name tag on our BDU's per the Squadron Commander, no patches or stripes. Mine had my name, rank, USAF and my missileman badge on it.

 

Three!! Where did you put them, with only two pockets?

 

Come to think of it, does anybody have any photos?

[JCFalkenbergIII]

Three!! Where did you put them, with only two pockets?

 

Come to think of it, does anybody have any photos?

 

Here are a few of the threads I mentioned with pics . Check them out. Robert

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...c=5846&st=0

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=23334

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=57154

 

And here is a small pic of one example,

[Steindaddie]

A typical 1970's/80's two patched fatigue uniform was MAJCOM patch on wearers right pocket, wing or squadron on the left. Three patches was typically MAJCOM & Wing as mentioned, with the addition of the squadron patch above the right pocket. (I wore both combos, depending on individual base regs) That being said, some units also wore an aircraft patch on the left or right sleeve (the 318th FIS comes to mind).

 

~Will

 

PS. The phase-out date for full color insignia on fatigues was 1 Jan 1981. In the year or two prior to that it was not uncommon to see mixed subdued and color patches, names tapes, and rank worn as guys slowly pieced together the new insignias. It wasn't authorized, but it was done.

[Robswashashore]

Here are a few of the threads I mentioned with pics . Check them out. Robert

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...c=5846&st=0

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=23334

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=57154

 

And here is a small pic of one example,

 

 

Wow -- thanks for all the information, everybody!

[Randy]

Wow -- thanks for all the information, everybody!

Here's some proof that color patches were worn into the early 1990s. This is me in 1990, when I worked Transient Alert at Bitburg AB. We wore blue fatigues with color patches so visiting aircrew could pick us out of the masses. The placement of the patches was similar to that of the subdued ones on the green fatigues. I wore color USAFE, 36 TFW, and Master Technician patches. I also wore a full color William Tell 88 patch on green fatigues when I was on the team for the competition, so some deviations were allowed. As a side note, my hair had more color then too!

Randy

[Flightmedic]

I knew when he said he had three patches he was maintenace. My configuration was slightly different however. We did the Command patch on the left breast packet the Wing patch on the right and the Squadron on the upper left clavicular (sorry medic training) 42nd Organizational Maintenance Sq. Loring AFB Maine. Crew Chief KC-135's ours were all subdued however.

[Bluehawk]

... and before there were BDUs there were plain ole fatigues, on which were worn full color patches only if at all - subdued anything else did not exist in 1963.

 

From one of gwb's threads:

[TLHorstead]

A typical 1970's/80's two patched fatigue uniform was MAJCOM patch on wearers right pocket, wing or squadron on the left. Three patches was typically MAJCOM & Wing as mentioned, with the addition of the squadron patch above the right pocket. (I wore both combos, depending on individual base regs) That being said, some units also wore an aircraft patch on the left or right sleeve (the 318th FIS comes to mind).

 

~Will

 

PS. The phase-out date for full color insignia on fatigues was 1 Jan 1981. In the year or two prior to that it was not uncommon to see mixed subdued and color patches, names tapes, and rank worn as guys slowly pieced together the new insignias. It wasn't authorized, but it was done.

 

 

 

I would like to comment on the locations mentioned above, The locations were "Command Option" as specified in the Command Supplements. In Strategic Air Command, Command Insignia was on the Left Pocket, Squadron Insignia was on the Right Pocket, the Master Crewchief, Master Recovery Chief, Master Technican, Master Munitions Technican Patch was worn on the Left Breast above the USAF Tape, the the Annual SAC Outstanding AEMS/AMS, AMMS, FMS, FMMS, OMS, OMMS, MMS, MIMS, Transp Sq patch or Bomb Comp Patch was worn on the Right Breast, Weapons System Patches (if any) were worn ob the Shoulder above the Stripes. The Month I retired the the Career Field insignias were approved for were and at the same time we were getting Four Star Generals from other Commands (We refered to as the "Fighter Mafia" and the Supplements were changed reversing the Command and the Squadron Insignias. It was not uncommon to have MAC, AFLC, AFSC, ADC, TAC, USAFE, PACAF, and other personnel checking the placement of their insignia the first time they stepped on to a SAC Base.

 

Terry L Horstead

[Mark1]

here is a OG uniform from the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron crew chief. Its from the early 1980's with subdued patches (no occupational badge). The next OG uniform is from the 23rd Aircraft Generation Squadron, its from the late 1980's early 1990's with subdued patches (with occupational badges).

[DutchInfid3l]

Here are a couple variations of the uniforms worn and the types of patches associated.

W/ colored patches/rank, subdued patches/rank, desert storm era, blue flightsuit for missile crew(80's-mid 90's) and the mid '50s type without patches at all and just tapes with your name and sq. written.

 

[Steindaddie]

it was not uncommon to see mixed subdued and color patches, names tapes, and rank worn as guys slowly pieced together the new insignias. It wasn't authorized, but it was done.

 

To illustrate my previous comment, here is the August 1980 Air Force magazine. Note A1C Wislon's mixed bag of insignia. I saw more than one guy do this during the transition phase of full color to subdued patches.

[StevenL]

Is there any specific reason it's yellow colored tapes?

[Teamski]

To illustrate my previous comment, here is the August 1980 Air Force magazine. Note A1C Wislon's mixed bag of insignia. I saw more than one guy do this during the transition phase of full color to subdued patches.

 

 

Sweet shot!!!

 

By the way, I am hated being with the "green mob" and being considered second class airman with no squadron patch here at Dover. BS......

 

-Ski

[Randy]

To illustrate my previous comment, here is the August 1980 Air Force magazine. Note A1C Wislon's mixed bag of insignia. I saw more than one guy do this during the transition phase of full color to subdued patches.

Check out those haircuts! Things were more relaxed back then, 1980 was the year I came in.

Randy

[Teamski]

Check out those haircuts! Things were more relaxed back then, 1980 was the year I came in.

Randy

 

 

Alhough I didn't get in the USAF until 1988, that was by far the best time I had in the service. Things have changed a lot since then! It is now more important to be a volunteer it seems than doing a good job. Sad.....

 

-SKi

[Randy]

Here's a few I dug out of the closet after reading these. First up is the "Chocolate Chip" desert uniform. This was from my second deployment, Sep 91- Jan 92. 334 FS patch and maintenance qual badge handmade in Saudi. 4404 Composite Wing (P) was machine made in Saudi.

Randy

[Randy]

The later DCU version, from 1999-2001 time frame with the 27 FS. Nothing local made except the qual badge.

Randy

[Randy]

Transient Alert, from 86-91. Hard to find blue field jacket. I was only issued one of these while in the 36 TFW at Bitburg.

Randy

[Les Snyder]

I was USAF Security Service (sister units Army Security Agency, Naval Security Group) 1970's and were really "orphan" commands ...the service cryptologic agencies of our respective branches of service, and really worked for the National Security Agency. Due to the size of our antenna fields were typically on the remote edges of a military installation. Due to the nature of our job (18year olds scanning radios and copy Morse code for 9-12 hours) tended to be a little irreverent to the spit/polish typical military organization, and it really showed up in the individual unit insignia typically on "flight" baseball caps..."passionate puppies of Dawg Flight" etc..... command insignia (two versions) on the right pocket of fatigues...most units were of the 69xx designation, and that always was popular with the bar girls.... regards Les