United States Army Air Force
What began in 1907 developed over time into a powerful branch of the U.S. Army that eventually became the United Stats Air Force which is still in operation today. To understand the history of the U.S. Army Air Force (U.S.A.A.F.) it would make sense to list the predecessor Organizations.
Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps (1 August 1907 – 18 July 1914)
Aviation Section, Signal Corps (18 July 1914 – 20 May 1918)
Division of Military Aeronautics (20 May 1918 – 24 May 1918)
Air Service, U.S. Army (24 May 1918 – 2 July 1926)
U.S. Army Air Corps (2 July 1926 – 20 June 1941)
U.S. Army Air Forces (20 June 1941 – 17 September 1947)
Every organization listed has it's own history, which I will not delve into though will encourage viewers to research on their own.
What will be seen here are examples of Uniforms, Insignia and Equipment of the U.S.A.A.F.
United States Army Air Corps
U.S.A.A.C. Early Enlisted Coat
A 1940 dated coat, no rank.
U.S.A.A.C. Early Enlisted Coat
Early U.S.A.A.C. Collar Insignia
U.S.A.A.C. Early Enlisted Coat
Soldier assigned to Ordnance Corp
U.S. Army Air Corps "Pinwheel" Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Embroidered of Wool
Full embroidered
Applied on Wool
Printed on Wool
U.S. Army Air Force Uniforms
8th Air Force Combat Crewman
This Technical Sergeant Grade 2 enlisted grade four pocket coat following the M1926 specification.
8th Air Force Enlisted Man
Four pocket enlisted man's coat. With a rank of Technical Sergeant Grade 2 in a very large size for it's time.
8th Air Force Major
A Dark Olive Drab Officer's Coat featuring a bullion 8th Air Force shoulder sleeve insignia
8th Air Force Combat Crewman
This Technical Sergeant Grade 2 displays the soldiers Air Crew Wings with the Blue background Combat Service tab. It also featured the Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf
8th Air Force Enlisted Man
The 8th Air Force shoulder sleeve insignia is the commonly seen English Stubby wing design done in a stunning bullion.
8th Air Force Major
A Dark Olive Drab Officer's Coat featuring a bullion 8th Air Force shoulder sleeve insignia
U.S.A.A.F. Medical Corps Officer
An interesting Captain's Officers Dark Olive Drab wool Coat, fitted with Bullion "US" and "Medical Corps Insignia.
U.S.A.A.F. Tan Wool Officer
A beautiful Tan Wool Captain's Officer's Coat
U.S.A.A.F Service Pilot, Far East Air Force
A Dark Olive Drab Wool Second Lieutenant Officer's Coat with Bullion Service Pilot wings.
U.S.A.A.F. Medical Corps Officer
Interesting, as found, orientation of he Captains bars on this Medical Corps Officer's Coat
U.S.A.A.F. Tan Wool Officer
A simple Silver Bullion U.S.A.A.F. shoulder sleeve insignia
U.S.A.A.F Service Pilot, Far East Air Force
Far East Air Force shoulder sleeve insignia
The Type B-13 and Type B-14 Flight Jackets
These jackets were patterned after the Commonwealth or RCAF Battledress. The design was modified into the very popular ETO (European Theater of Operations) jacket which developed into the M1944 Eisenhower, or "Ike" Jacket. The concept was to design a jacket that could be used as a field combat jacket or a Class A jacket. The Army Air Force further refined the design to incorporate the slash pockets on the front and keep the jacket very trim in appearance. The B-13 Officer's Grade jacket was constructed of high quality Dark Olive Drab wool, while the enlisted grade B-14 was made of Olive Drab wool. The concealed front button closures aided in wearing other flight clothing by eliminating possible snagging on other gear.
The Type B-13 and Type B-14 were standardized March 14, 1944 with about five hundred thousand placed on procurement. The designs were changed to Limited Standard January 8, 1945 then declared obsolete on March 14, 1946. At this time the "Ike jacket became the normally issued jacket
Type B-13 Jacket Officers Grade
Type B-13 Jacket Officers Grade
Type B-13 Jacket Officers Grade
Type B-13 Jacket Officers Grade
Type B-14 Jacket Enlisted Grade
Type B-14 Jacket Enlisted Grade
Type B-14 Jacket Enlisted Grade
Type B-14 Jacket Enlisted Grade