cco23i
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Post by cco23i on Feb 8, 2007 21:00:24 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone was interested in the ground crews of the Air Force during the Korean war.
Scott
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Feb 10, 2007 8:11:36 GMT -5
US Air Force History and Museums Program has published about 10 books on the Korean War. I doubt they'll talk much about uniforms and such, but they should be chock full of pics. You may be able to order them thru your library or something.
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Post by sdfoster on Feb 13, 2007 16:39:47 GMT -5
A few months ago I bought a ratted out trashed USMC P44 jacket, which had apparently been used by someone in the USAF, as it has USAF rank insignia stencilled on the sleeves. I thought that was interesting, but I don't know much about it. I guess the new USAF was getting uniforms from whatever branch of the service they could find them?
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Feb 13, 2007 17:38:07 GMT -5
I'd never heard anything about USAF stenciling rank on anything.... Couldn't have been a kid or fashion statement or foreign or anything, could it? I don't know AF too well though, but even the WW2 stuff I've seen had embroidered stripes.
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cco23i
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Post by cco23i on Feb 13, 2007 18:35:28 GMT -5
Actually I have some photos my uncle took while stationed in Korea in 52 and his buddy has Master sgt. stripes stenciled on his coveralls. I will scan them and post them.
Scott
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Feb 13, 2007 22:22:48 GMT -5
Cool beans, I have to say I know very little about USAF stuff, it's kinda bad cause one of my best friends is over there with the Air Force right now.
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cco23i
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Post by cco23i on Feb 14, 2007 23:31:46 GMT -5
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Post by ringneck on Feb 15, 2007 3:37:54 GMT -5
I collect Ike jackets and one of my cooler pieces is one made from a pair of HBT coveralls w/stenciled corporal stripes.
As for AF using USMC items, its very possible. They ended up with the OD M41 looking USN deck coats after WWII(I know Army guys who got issued these in basic too during the late 60's), and an AF vet I know from the 70's said they were told to draw camo (he was a FAC) for an operation from a big supply room. He ended up with duck hunter camo including pants with a "big pocket across the ass" which I think is P44 USMC isn't it?
BradLaGrange
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Post by John Abshire on Feb 15, 2007 7:56:36 GMT -5
Yea, the P44s had the big assed...ass pocket.
But there is no telling what it was...
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Feb 15, 2007 8:11:53 GMT -5
The only US Manufactured uniform ever made with an ass pocket was the P44 utilities (to my knowledge). These were made in camo at the end of WW2, only to be immediately dropped from use. They only seem to appear on Marine Recon pictures from the late 50's and French units in Indochina.
PS The stencil on that guys coveralls was normal chevrons, Did AF ranks start out normal and then turn upside down like they are today? I thought they started out like that. Of course, I don't know USAF stuff much at all.
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Post by sdfoster on Feb 15, 2007 8:41:51 GMT -5
I'll try to take a pic of the jacket I have, with a close-up of the rank stencil. It's definitely interesting. It was also tailored in the back to make it more fitting. Unusual!
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cco23i
Corporal
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Post by cco23i on Feb 15, 2007 21:20:07 GMT -5
If I remember correctly the air force changed their rank insignia in 49 or 50. I have a study onit and can't remember right now. I had heard of the AF stenciling their rank on the coveralls like the AAF did in WW2, (mechanics that is), but until I found the picture of my uncles friend I had not seen one.
Scott
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Post by sdfoster on Feb 15, 2007 23:16:11 GMT -5
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Feb 16, 2007 8:22:10 GMT -5
Hard to tell, but it looks like the USMC pocket insignia may have been blacked out. Fascinating...
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cco23i
Corporal
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Post by cco23i on Feb 18, 2007 14:26:59 GMT -5
COOL!! I bet that was picked up by a sgt. whio didn't like wearing the coveralls in the summer. Here is the photo I have. Look at the Msgt. on the right he has the stenciled rank on his coveralls. Scott i16.photobucket.com/albums/b12/cco23i/pappy.jpg |
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Post by easystreet on May 16, 2007 7:24:46 GMT -5
Guys,
A quick note on USAF chevrons (the upside down white on blue chevrons with the star in the center). These were designed and adopted almost as soon as the USAF became a seperate branch of service from the Army/Army Air Forces in 1947. However, the blue wool dress uniforms and service uniforms did not start to be issued until a few years later in 1949 or 1950.
The Air Force allowed enlistedmen to wear either the new pattern USAF chevrons or the old WW2 style Army Chevrons for the first couple of years. I believe the "wear out" date for the old Army style chevrons and Army OD Green dress uniforms was not until 1951 or 1952, when only the new USAF style chevrons and blue dress unfiorms were allowed.
The Air Force continued to use the Army style field (HBTs and service wools), combat (M-43 Field Jackets, etc.)and work unforms (HBT coveralls, etc.) for several years after that, but after 1951 or 1952 required the USAF style chevrons.
It is quite possible that in the neat picture of the Master Sgt wearing the Army pattern HBT coveralls with stenciled stripes, that is earlier in this thread, the NCO standing next to the master Sgt, could very well also be a USAF NCO. Even though he is wearing the Army pattern chevrons on his hat.
Rich M
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Post by foxholetom on Jul 26, 2007 4:52:20 GMT -5
Interesting....the two army guys next to him are wearing metal rank insignia originally intended for helmet liners, but on their caps instead.
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Jul 29, 2007 18:51:23 GMT -5
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cco23i
Corporal
"Say, AAAAAAAAH"
Posts: 50
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Post by cco23i on Jan 21, 2008 0:07:31 GMT -5
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Post by foxholetom on Jan 21, 2008 23:42:51 GMT -5
Jogged my memory reading this again...in Iraq I saw a few air force personel in Army ACUs with little airforce style velcro chevrons on the chest. Probably be a collector item some day...
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