Looking for uniform info

[mnichols]

I was just given my Grandfather's Air Force uniforms. He passed about 15 years ago, and my uncle has been cleaning out their house.

I never heard my Grandfather talk about his service and I was hoping someone might be able to tell me anything they can decifer from his uniforms.

I'm waiting on my Mom to track down necessary details about him to request duplicates of any medals or records.

I believe he joined the Army Air Corps before WWII and retired from the Air Force as a Colonel 30 some years later.

Thank you in advance.

[mnichols]

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[mnichols]

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[tnlrat37]

You can match up the medals and some patches at sites like the second link if you want to know what they mean. Family can also request his records, my wife was able to get a new copy of mine. Good luck

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/about-service-records-0

http://www.officialmilitaryribbons.com

[mnichols]

Thank you.

This is what I found on the ribbons on his jacket:

Air Force Commendation Medal
W/ bronze oak leaf

American Campaign Medal

National Defense Service Medal

World War II Victory Medal

Air Force Longevity Service Medal
W/ 3 bronze leaves

Armed Forces Reserve Air Force Medal

I am under the impression that record requests need to be done by next of kin, which is why I'm trying to get my mom to help. Is this necessary?

Thanks again.

[coryhenry]

His Jacket says Inspector General of Strategic Air Command. Basically his job at that time was to investigate any complaints from airmen. If he worked at the SAC HQ, like his nameplate says, he was probably investigating big complaints about officers. You have two ranks in the pictures some Lieutenant Colonel and some Colonel. Assuming he was a Colonel. With his Air Force commendation medals being his highest I would say he didn't see any combat or deployments. Every other medal is basically a thank you for joining ribbon.

[P5Ret]

Keep in mind that vast amount's of military records were destroyed in a fire in 1973. No record exist for my father's service or award's that include a Silver Star, 3 Bronze Star's 2 Purple Hearts. He never really talked about his service much either.

[Snoopy47]

[Snoopy47]

The ribbon with the closest connection to being in the heat of it is his American Campaign Medal (top center). However, having none of the other Campaign Medals indicates he wasn't even in an active theater of war. It is the only Campaign Medal that can be awarded stateside with 1 year of service inside the continental USA.

One can also earn the medal by being outside the continental USA for a period of 30-60 days (member/crew of a ship but never land side outside the USA), but I think it would go without saying he would also earn either of the European/Middle East or the Asiatic-Pacific Medals if he was.

So I'm guessing he was stateside for a year or more during WWII.

What would really be neat is if you could dig up his ARMY stuff prior to the Army/Air Force split. His WWII victory medal indicates he was serving prior to the end of WWII (well technically he could have slipped in after the Japanese surrender up until 1946-December)

[mnichols]

Thank you all, that is good info.

From what my Dad has told me, he did not see combat, but I dont know what he did during WW2.

After the war (not sure of the order), he spent time in England, Nebraska, Guam, Hawaii.

Still working on a records request.

Thank you again for the input.

[chris]

Did those get approved?

[Snoopy47]

Did those get approved?

If you look on Marlow White it's looking like 2020.

https://www.marlowwhite.com/pinks-and-greens-information

Reality is no one who doesn't have an office job is going to have them. Reservists sure wont get them, especially since blues will always be an approved uniform as well.

[chris]

If you look on Marlow White it's looking like 2020.

https://www.marlowwhite.com/pinks-and-greens-information

Reality is no one who doesn't have an office job is going to have them. Reservists sure wont get them, especially since blues will always be an approved uniform as well.

Some people are gonna buy them and wear then when they can. Whether those in the Reserves or Guard will be allowed to wear them is another story.

[Tere_Hanges]

Pinks and greens for enlisted is sacriledge. Its the classic officer's uniform of WWII.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the green service uniform. Army brass just cant get out of its own way.

[Snoopy47]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the green service uniform. Army brass just cant get out of its own way.

The problem started around WWI.

Look at the Marines and Navy. They haven't really changed them since.

Army uniforms around WWI changed dramatically, and mostly in response to cost during ramp up for the draft, going from a tiny army to a huge army of millions. Then they never went back, WWII rolled around and the same cost challenges popped up again.

The difference with the Navy/USMC is they have a lot of uniforms, all of them are good to go and in regulation. Depending on the needs of the situation you don't have to issue them all.

I'd like to see a closed collar like the marines, and make the NCO ranks bigger like civil war. The shoulder boards of the blues look lame with a blazer/tie and are a little too formal for every day anyway.