Army Air Force and U.S. Air Force Decorations Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges and Insignia of the United States Air Force: World War II to Present

124 Pages·1999·27.39 MB·English

by  Anthony Aldebol

Presents
Army Air Force
and
United States Air Force
Decorations, Medals, Ribbons,
Badges and Insignia
1941 to 1947 1947 to 1997
Lt. Col. Anthony Aldebol
USAF (Ret.)
Medals of America
presents
Decorations, Medals, Ribbons,
Badges and Insignia of the
United States Air Force
By
Lt. Col. Anthony "Tony" Aldebol
USAF (Ret.)
2nd Edition
Dedicated to America's finest veterans who
served with integrity and dedication in the
Army Air Corps, Army Air Force, and
.United States Air Force and to the families
who supported them.
Aim High!
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number • 96-076064
Hardcover Edition ISBN - 1-884452-05-1
Softcover Edition ISBN - 1-884452-04-3
Copyright1999 byMOAPress
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinretrievalsystemsortransmittedbyany
means,electronic,mechanicalorbyphotocopying,recordingorbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem
withoutpermissionfromthepublishers,exceptfortheinclusionofbriefquotationsina review.
Published by:
MOAPress(MedalsofAmericaPress)
1929FairviewRoad
FountainInn,SC 29644-9137
.Telephone: [phone]
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
byKeysPrintingCompany
Greenville,SouthCarolina
About The Author
Lt. Col. "Tony" Aldebol
UtapaoAirBase 1971
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Aldebol graduated from AirForceRecruiting Serviceandasagroupcommanderin
Clemson University in 1968 and holds"a master's degree AirTraining!AirEducationandTrainingCommand.Hisdeco
fromTexas ChristianUniversity. Heservedmostof.hisca rationsincludetheDistinguishedFlyingCross,fiveAirMed
reerintheStrategicAirCommandas anavigator/bombar als,andsixMeritoriousServiceMedals.Heiscurrentlythe
dierontheB-52bomber.Hehasover3600flyinghoursand customer service manager at Medals ofAmerica where he
isaveteranofIIIB-52combatmissionsduringtheVietnam hasbecomealeadingauthorityonthedecorationsandawards
warwhereheflewoutofbasesinGuamandThailand. His for all services; he has often lectured at various veterans
assignmentsincludedMatherAFB,California;DyessAFB, organizationsprovidinginsightandinformationonmilitary
Texas; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Arlington,Texas; and awards. He and his wife, the former Avanette "Punkin"
ChanuteAFB,l1linoiswhereheretiredin1993.Healsoserved Walterscurrentlyreside inGreenville, SouthCarolinawith
as a weapons controller in the Aerospace Defense Com theirtwo children,Mandy and Jared.
mandwhereheworkedwithF-106,F-lOl,F-4,andAirForce
AWACS units. Hehas servedas asquadroncommanderin
Acknowledgements
Iwould like to express my appreciation to all those ofthe information for the book. A special thanks to Jan
who provided me training, inspiration, and assistance in White for hertechnical assistance and cooperationwithout
writing this book. First and foremost is Col. FrankFoster whichthis undertakingwould nothaveoccurred.
who convincedme that Icoulddo this andwithoutwhose Thanks to themanyveterans who haveprovided me
talentsanddirectionthiswouldhaveneverbeenpossible.I insights and informationthrough their phone calls, letters,
am indebted to Linda and Lee Foster, as well as Master and internet communications. Special thanks to Major Jo
ChiefJerryDantzler,MTDennisPhillips,andUSMCFirst sephWard,comptrollersquadroncommanderatCharleston
SergeantBarbaraWamsleyfortheiradviceandencourage AFB, forhisinvaluableinputs thatgavemeaclearervision
ment. ofthe focus ofthis book.
I would like to thank the Air Force Historical Re I could not have completed this book without the
searchAgencyandtheAirUniversityLibraryatMaxwell unfaltering support ofmy wife, Punkin, who has endured
AirForceBase,Alabamaforprovidingaccesstothemulti manydaysandnightsalonebothduringmy25yearAirForce
tudeofregulationsfromboththeArmyAirForceandU.S. careerandduring my closerelationship with my computer.
AirForceperiods,the majorsource ofinformationfor the Thankstoallmyfamilywhocontinuouslyprovidedencour
book. TheassistanceoftheU.S.AirForceAcademy, most agement, especially my father, an Air Force veteran of25
specificallyCadetLisaRockwell, isgreatlyappreciatedin yearsandmyfather-in-law, anAirForceveteranof27years.
helpingmeto documenttheirspecificbadgeinsignia. I'm Lastofall,myheartfeltthankstothepeoplewithwhom
deeply indebted to fellow authors Major Pete Morgan, Iservedinthe U.S. AirForce; theirdedication, hardwork,
Lonny Borts, and Jim Thompson for their insight and en andloyaltytothemissionas wellasto theirco-workersin
couragementaswellasfortheirassistanceinobtainingsome spiredme then as well as today.
2
Table of Contents
Introduction 4
BackgroundOfUnitedStatesAirForce , 5
Issue ofU.S. Medals to Veterans,Retirees,and TheirFamilies 9
WearofMedals,InsigniaandtheUniformbyVeterans,RetireesandFormerService Members 10
WearofDecorations,Medals andInsigniabyActiveDuty, NationalGuardandReservePersonnel 12
DisplayingMilitaryAwards 14
ArmyAirForce(ArmyAirCorps)Insignia 18
ArmyAirForceWings 22
UnitedStatesAirForce(USAF)Wings 26
UnitedStatesAirForceInsignia 29
AideInsignia 30
Occupational Badges 31
Special Qualification Badges 41
Recruiting Badges 43
FireProtectionBadges : 45
.Special Duty Identification Badges 47
USAFAcademyBadges 48
PatchesoftheArmyAirForceandtheU.S.AirForce 50
Rank Insignia 54
UnitedStatesAirForceEnlistedRanks 1947toPresent 56
OfficerRankInsignia 59
WarrantOfficersandFlightOfficers 59
U.S.AirForceCommissionedRankInsignia 60
Decorations and ServiceMedals 62
Foreign Decorations 113
WomenAirForceServicePilots (WASP) : 119
List of Illustrations
ArmyAirForcePatches ; 52
Enlisted Rank Insignia 56
OfficerRankInsignia 59
MedalsofHonor 65
U.S. PersonalDecorations 66
U.S. SpecialService, GoodConduct, andReserveAwards 68
U.S. ServiceMedals , 69
ForeignDecorationsandNon-U.S.ServiceAwards 70
AAFandUSAFPatches 71
Veterans'DisplayCases , 72
AAFUniformandWingInsignia 73
USAFUniformandWingInsignia 74
Missile and Occupational Badges : 75
AirForceRecruiting Badges 76
Special Qualification Badges 77
Officerand EnlistedRankInsignia 78
AirForceAcademyandSpecialDutyBadges 79
USAFRibbonPrecedenceChart 80
USAFRibbonAttachmentChart 81
3
----
~=~---
Introduction
~~~
-· ...0-j-11 ~,~..•..
.
Afteryears ofreading, studying, andcollectingin basic pilot wing is shown but I know that there have been
formation onmilitaryrank, insignia, andbadges, Irealized manydifferentconstructionsofthesame insignia.
thatthereisnoonesourcefor"complete"informationonthe
rankinsigniaandbadgesoftheU.S. ArmyAirForceandthe IfeltthatapresentationofArmyAirForceinsignia
U.S.AirForce. FortheAirForce enthusiast, itis adifficult wasimperativesincemanyofthosepersonnelsubsequently
taskto bothlocate and describe all the insigniaofthe AAF becameU.S.AirForcepersonnelandalsobecausethereare
andtheUSAF.Theterm"AirForce" will be usedthrough so many World War II era veterans who are interested in
outthebooktoindicatetheAAFandtheUSAF,collectively, obtainingand displayingthe insigniathatmarkedtheirdis
and the individual abbreviations, AAF and USAF, will be tinguisheduniformsofservice. InmyresearchIfoundmany
usedto indicate specific service, whennecessary. veterans who hadforgotten orwerejust unsure about what
their insignia was. Of course, some oftoday's Air Force
AsamemberoftheUSAF forover25years,Istill badges,particularlysomeflightcrewwings,remainthesame
finditdifficulttoremembertherankstructureoftheenlisted basic designas'theywere duringthe AAF era.
corps, especially because ofthe many changes that have
evolved. USAFrankinsigniahasrecentlyundergonemajor AstudyofuniformsduringboththeAAFandUSAF
changesthatprovokedalotofopinionsfrombothactiveduty eraswouldbeanappropriatecomplementtothematerialpre
and separated/retired Air Force personnel; indications are sentedherebutwill not?eattemptedbecauseofthemagni
that Air Force rank insignia may stay the same for quite a tude ofinformation available. The reader is encouragedto
whileandcouldbecome"permanent."WhileIregretthatwe seekoutregulationsoftheperiodandotherhistoricalsources
changed the rank structure that has basicallybeen in place to provide a complete picture ofthe Air Force uniform. I
for over thirty years with the exception ofchanges in E-l have likewise avoideda detaileddiscussion ofpatch insig
thru E-4 rank, Ihope we will stick with arank systemthat niathatwouldalsoeasilycompriseaworkofitsown; how
willstrengthenouridentity,pride,andheritage. Ihopethat ever,Iwill showanddiscuss someAAF andUSAFpatches
thisworkwillprovideanaccuratesourceformanyyearsto andbadges,suchasthetechnicalspecialistsbadges,thatare
come and will not become outdated as quickly as changes constructedofpatchmaterialandwerewornontheenlisted
havebeenmadetotheAirForcerankstructureoverthelast AAF uniform. Prior to presenting the main focus ofthis
several years. book, AirForce decorations, awards, rankandbadge insig
nia, I felt that it was appropriate to give some basic back
Mymainobjectiveinthis bookistodocumentthe ground information on both the AAF and the USAF to in
insigniathathasbeenwornbyourvaliant AirForceperson surethatthe readerknows exactly what period is being re
nel from 1941 to the present. I may on occasion give my ferredto andtheassociatedreferencedatesoftheparticular
personalthoughtastochangesthathavebeenmadeinbadges period,AAFvsUSAF. Myprimarymotivationforthisbook
andinsignia. wasto provideasource forthoseairmenwhoare interested
in reconstructing the symbols oftheir dedicated service to
Thereare manyexcellentreferencesinthemilitary theAirForceinordertoprovidethemselvesandtheirfami
bookcommunitythatprovidepictures,descriptions,andcri liesanaccurateandlastingcommemorationoftheirservice
teria for many of the insignia in this book; however, it is to the AirForceand the nation. AIM HIGH!
becauseofthelackofonecomprehensivesourceonthesub
jectofAirForceinsigniathatIhaveundertakenthisproject.
I hope to provide the collector, the military historian, the
veteran,andtheoccasionalstudentofmilitaria,asinglesource
for all AirForce insignia. Irealize the pitfalls ofusingthe TonyAldebol
word"complete"butIcertainlyworkedunderthatpremise LtCol,USAF Retired
tomakethisas"complete"asourceaspossiblewhileknow Greenville, South Carolina
ingthatjustassoonasthisbookgoestoprint,Iorsomeone
elsewill discover something that Iomitted. Iwelcomeany
additions, corrections, orotherinformationthatmaypossi
blybeincludedinalateredition.Therearemanyvariations
ofthe different insignia presented here but my intent is to
showjustthebasicinsigniastyleandnotto showthevaried
ways in which they were constructed; for an example, the
4
Background
.~, ,
- '. .:.OO.OQO,Oif --s;.;--~-.-J
\ . '
The actual beginning ofbadge, patch, and decora thefirstAmericanaviatortoshootdownan enemyaircraft;
tion insignia is impossible to pinpoint although most cer whileflying as agunnerwithaFrenchpilot,heshotdowna
tainlyrank insigniaanduniforms werean importantpartof German Albatross. Lieutenant Paul Baer became the first
the success ofthe BritishNavyasfarbackas the 12thcen AmericanExpeditionaryForceAirServicemembertoreceive
tury. ThehistoricallysuccessfulFrenchandSpanisharmies theArmyDistinguishedServiceCrossonMarch11,1918.
frompreviouscenturiesalsocontributedtotheestablishment
ofinsigniato enhancemoraleandpromote efficiency.
~
Our system ofrecognizing significant accomplish
ments ofour military personnel began with the Badge of
'. . '
MilitaryMerit,designedbyGeorgeWash
ington to recognize three patriots ofthe
Revolutionary War. The Badge ofMili
taryMeritwouldlaterbecomethePurple
Heart in 1932. The current decoration
systemhasitsrootsintheinitiativeofthe
firstPresidenttorecognizedeservingser
1782Badgeof
vice andwouldbe firmly implanteddur Afterrecognizinganeed(anddesire)togiveourgrow
MilitaryMerit
ing the Civil War when the first Medals ing group of aviators an identifying badge, qualification
ofHonorwouldbepresented. badgeswereauthorizedin1917. Theseinitialbadgeswould
The beginning ofinsignia for the "air arm" ofthe be the forerunner oftoday's pilot wings. The initial badge
United States military began on August 1, 1907 when the created was the Military Aviator badge with its two wings
Aeronautical Division ofthe U.S. Army Signal Corps was andtheU.S. shieldinthemiddle. AJuniorMilitaryAviator
establishedto handle all military aviation matters andpos badge was also created with the U.S. Shield and only one
sible applications ofair power. The first aviators wore the wing;thesinglewingdesignwouldeventuallybediscarded
insigniaoftheSignalCorpsontheircollarsandwouldeven infavor ofthe double wingdesignthatremains today.
tuallyhaveunofficialwingsaddedtothecenteroftheSignal OnMay24, 1918,PresidentWoodrowW.Wilsoncre
Corpsbadges. Thefirstspecificationsforamilitaryairplane atedtheU.S. ArmyAirServiceandplaceditdirectlyunder
wereissuedonDecember23; 1907bytheArmy'sChiefSig the War Department. Four months later, Captain Eddie
nalOfficer,BrigadierGeneralJamesAllen. OnMay19,1908, Rickenbacker became the first military aviator to earn the
LieutenantThomasE.Selfridgebecamethefirstmilitaryper Medal ofHonorfor an airactionoverFrance. A gallery of
son to fly an aircraft; afew months later, Lt. Selfridge also famousaviators,suchasGeneralBillyMitchellandLt.James
became the first military aviator to be killed in a powered Doolittle, setflying records andstrengthedthe statusofthe
aircraftaccidentatFortMyers,Virginia. OnJanuary19,1910, fledglingArmyAirService. Theytoowouldberecognized
Lt.PaulBeckbecamethefirstaviatortoconductasuccessful bydecorationsforoutstandingserviceandheroism. Atthe
bombingmissionwhenhedroppedthreesandbagsonatar same time, air units were becoming cohesive and spirited
getinLosAngeles, Ca. organizationsdrawntogetherbyanexcitementofflyingand
an eagerness to serve.
• •
ThefirstmilitaryaviatorbadgewascreatedonMay27,
1913priortothecreationoftheAviationSectionofthe Sig
nalCorpsonJuly 18, 1914. Theaviatorbadgewasinitially Individual units begandeveloping theirown insignia
intendedasanawardandnotaqualificationbadge. In1916, usuallypaintedontheiraircraftandsoontobecomepatches
the 1stAero Squadronsupportedmilitaryoperations ledby ontheirsleeves. BythetimeWorldWarIwasover,theArmy
GeneralJohn1.PershingagainsttheinfamousPanchoVillain AirServicehadgrowntomorethan19,000officersand178,000
Mexico. OnFebruary5,1918Lt.StephenThompsonbecame enlistedmenbeforetherapiddemobilizationafterthewar.
5
Campaign and service medals ThePurpleHeart would'berevived in
had become firmly established as 1932 to recognize those who had been
symbols of patriotic military service wounded in combat, replacing the wound
duringtheSpanishAmericanWar. Atthe stripes that had been worn to show wounds
timeoftheU. S. entryintoWorldWarI, receivedduringthefirstWorldWar.
theMedalofHonor, CertificateofMerit More military aviator badges were
and NavylMarineGoodConductMedal developed to
representedAmerica'sentireinventoryof recognize the
personaldecorations.Thispresentedthe different duties
twin dangers that the Medal of Honor thathadevolved
might be cheapened by being awarded within aviation such as the
too often and that other deeds of valor navigator, observer, flight engineer, and bombardier in
might go unrecognized. addition to the pilot. In 1939, PresidentRooseveltautho
By 1918, popular interest rized over 3200 officers and 45,000 enlisted personnel for
broughttwonewawards,theArmy's theAACwhichremainedoneoftheArmy'scombatarms.
DistinguishedServiceCrossandDis
tinguishedServiceMedal,createdby
ExecutiveOrderin1918.Inthesame
year, the traditional U. S. refusal to
permit the armed forces to accept TheUnitedStatesArmyAirForces(USAAF) was
foreign decorations was rescinded, established onJune20, 1941 and becameaco-equal to the
allowing military personnel to Army Ground Forces. The USAAF was a partofthe U.S.
accept awards from the grateful Armyalthoughitoperatedas anautonomousunit. Beinga
ArmyDSC
Allied governments. part of the U.S. Army, its airmen wore some of the same
The World War I Victory uniformsandinsigniaastheirgroundcounterparts;primary
Medal provided a means to show differenceswere,ofcourse,theflightuniforms,flightbadges,
recognition of our servicemen and andAAFpatchinsignia. Thoughtechnicallyincorrect,many
the campaigns in which they fought. The issuance of the AAFpersonnelthenaswell
World War IVictory medal established another precedent, as today continue to refer
that ofwearing clasps with the names ofindividual battles totheAAFastheAirCorps
on the suspensionribbon ofa orArmyAirCorps.
campaignmedal. This was an WorldWarII saw a
ongoing practice in many significantincreaseinboth
countries, most notably personal decorations and
Britain and France, since the campaignmedals.SinceU.
WorldWarI 19th Century. When the S. forces were serving all
Victory ribbon bar alone was worn, overtheworld,acampaign
Medal
eachclaspwasrepresentedby medal was designedfor eachmajor(and carefullydefined)
with
asmall(3/16"diameter)bronze area.ThethreemedalsfortheAmerican,Asiatic-Pacificand
Ribbon
star.Fourteensuchclaspswere European-African-Middle Eastern Campaigns represented
Bars
adoptedalongwithfiveclasps militaryservicearoundtheglobe.However,theWorldWarI
to denote service in specific practice ofusing campaign bars was discarded in favor of
countries. Duringthis sameperiod, theArmy used a3/16" 3/16" bronzestars thatcoulddenoteany militaryendeavor,
diameter silver star to indicate a citation for gallantry dur from amajorinvasionto asubmarinewarpatrol.
inganypreviouscampaign,datingbacktotheCivilWar.An DuringWorldWarII,thefirst(andonly!)servicemedal
officer or enlisted man so cited was also presented with a uniquetofemalemilitarypersonnelwasintroduced.Known
SilverStarcitation,whichevolvedintotheSilverStarMedal as the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, it was autho
in 1932. rizedfor serviceinboththeW.A.C. anditspredecessor,the
On July 2, 1926 in the Air Corps Act of 1926, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. In addition, the war saw
the Army Air Service became the U.S. Army Air Corps the large scale award of foreign medals and decorations
(USAAC)andatrainingcenterwasestablishedatRandolph to American servicemen. The Philippine Government, for
Field near San Antonio, Texas. When Brigadier General one, authorized awards to commemorate the Defense and
Henry H. (Hap) Arnold was named Chiefofthe Army Air Liberation of their island country. The first foreign award
Corps on September 29, 1938, the Air Corps rank, badge, designed strictly for units, the Philippine Presidential Unit
and patch insignia were firmly entrenched as symbols of Citation,patternedafterasimilarAmericanaward,wasalso
authority, duties, and organization. approved for wear byAmerican forces at this time. In the
6
EuropeanTheater,FranceandBelgiummademanypresen
tations oftheirWarCrosses(Croixde Guerre)toUS. mili
tarypersonnel.
OnDecember7, 1941 theJapanesebombedPearl
Harbor and nine days later Lt. Boyd Wagner became the
first USAAF ace ofWorld War II when he shot down his
fifth JapaneseplaneoverthePhilippines. TheAAFrapidly
grew to a peak of over two million personnel after Pearl TheUnitedStatesAirForce(USAF)becameamili
Harbor. Lt. Col. James (Jimmy)H. Doolittle ledasquadron taryservice equalto the ArmyandNavy on September 18,
ofB-25sonaraidoverTokyoonApril 18, 1942. OnJuly4, 1947. TheUSAFbegandevelopingitsowndistinctiveuni
1942, the 97th Bombardment Group launched the first formbutcontinuedtoholdontotheArmyuniformandmuch
USAAF bombing mission in the European Theater. Rib ofitsinsigniauntiltheearly 1950s. Exceptforafewofthe
bonswere createdfor the uniformto showmilitarypartici Armybadges,suchasparachutebadges, aircrewwingswere
pationpriortoPearlHarborandserviceintheEuropeanand the only badges authorized for the uniform during this pe
Pacific Theaters. Air Medals and Distinguished Flying riod. StuartSymingtonbecamethefirstSecretaryoftheAir
Crosses were awarded in significant numbers to recognize ForceandGeneralCarlA. Spaatzbecamethe UnitedStates
flightaccomplishmentsduringthemosttreacherousofcon AirForce'sfirst ChiefofStaffonSeptember26, 1947. The
ditions. USAF's first major operation was the Berlin Airlift from
OnDecember9, 1942,the AAF was designatedan June26, 1948toSeptember30, 1949whenitdeliveredover
autonomous unit ofthe US. Army. Lt. Gen Hap Arnold 2,000,000tons ofsuppliesto the isolated city.
becametheAAF'sfirstfour stargeneralonMarch19,1943. On June 27, 1950, the USAF achieved itfirst air
On December 21, 1944, Hap Arnold became the first air- victoriesintheKoreanWar. TheUSAFuniformandinsig
man to hold five-star rank nia remained in atransitional state during the Korean War.
,whenhewasappointedGen There was amix ofAir Force and Army insignia and uni
eral oftheArmy. formsduringtheperiod. ItwasnotuncommontoseeUSAF
InOctoberof1942, stripes on anArmy uniformorArmyinsigniaon anUSAF
aflighttrainingprogramwas uniform. Thenew"blue"AirForceuniformwouldnotbe
started within the Army to comefirmly establisheduntil the endofthe KoreanWar.
providewomenpilotstohelpdeliveraircraftfrom factories TheNationalDefenseServiceMedalwasinstitutedto
to airfields. InAugustof1943,this organizationofwomen recognize those who servedduring the KoreanWar. AKo
pilots ofthe Army Air Forces became WASPs (Women's reanWarServiceMedalwasauthorizedforthosewhoserved
AirforceServicePilots),previouslycalledWAFS(Women's in Korea along with a United Nations Service Medal, the
AuxiliaryFerrying Squadron). TheWASPwas deactivated first time aUN medal was authorized to recognize service
in December 1944 after producing more than a thousand onbehalfofthe UN.
pilots to help the AAF during World War II. The WASP
weregrantedveteranstatusbyCongressin1978. TheWASP
woreabluewoolgabardine uniformwithanAAF shoulder
patchalongwiththewingstheywerepresentedupongradu
ation from flight training. TheWASP were always consid
ered civiliansinuniform untiltheyachievedtheirwellde
servedrecognitionas veterans in 1978.
In July 1943, women were authorized tojoin the
Women's Army Corps (WAC); in 1945, there were over
40,000 WAC personnel serving with the USAAF. In June
1948,womenwerepermittedtojointheU.S.AirForcewhen
Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration
Act and were known as WAF (Women in the Air Force). When the Korean War started in 1950, the fledgling
There were approximately 1500 women from the Army, new service, while trying to establish its new identity, still
Navy, and Marines who became the first members ofthe lookedalotlike theUS. Army. Itwas verydifficultto see
WAF. The WAF directorate was dissolved in June 1976. the difference between an "airman" and a "soldier" since
WAF wore the same rank insignia designs and badges as many still wore the same Army uniform although the Air
theirmalecounterparts. Forcehadadopteditsblueuniform inJanuary 1949. Itwas
notuntil 1950thatmostAirForcememberswouldhavethe
blueuniform that was agreed upon by Secretary ofthe Air
Force StuartSymington andAir Force ChiefofStaff, Gen
eral Carl Spatz in 1947. The first Air Force uniform was
known as "shade 84 blue" and it had silverbuttons on the
7
coat,eachcontainingtheAirForceseal. Thematerialused andrecognition.
fortheAirForceuniformhasevolvedoverthelast50years The uniform insignia stabilized until after Operation
fromtheheavywoolenmaterialusedinthefirstuniformsto Desert Storm (The GulfWar) and the end ofthe cold war.
thepresentdaycomfortablepolyesterblend. Whiletheba The Air Force underwent a major reorganization after the
sic designs ofthe pants and coathave remainedessentially cold war, consolidating from thirteen to eight major com
the same, the Air Force did experimentwithotheruniform mands.
combinationssuchasthekhakibushjacketwithkhakishorts, In 1996,total activedutyAirForce strengthwas less
blackknee socks, and apithhelmet. The original tankha than 400,000 personnel. The USAF continues to support
kis, called "505s" were replaced with a more easily main NATOoperationsintheBalkansafterparticipatinginpeace
tained khaki called "1505s". There was a lot ofjubilation keeping and humanitarian operations in Somalia, Rwanda,
when the khakis met their demise and were replaced with andHaiti. Recentservicemedalshavebeencreatedforthose
the long and short sleeve light blue shirts which were cer who served in these areas, includingthe NATO Medal, the
tainlyeasierto washandiron. The AirForceblue shirthas ArmedForcesServiceMedal,andindividualUnitedNations
undergone several modifications to incorporate bothmetal Medals for specificoperations.
andepauletrankinsigniaandthewearofatieinsomecom ManyofthebadgesandinsigniaoftheArmyAirCorps
binations. The smoothprofessional appearance ofthe uni andArmyAirForcewereremovedfromthe newAirForce
form today is instarkcontrastto the"difficultto maintain" uniform in an effortto make the uniform as uncluttered as
khaki uniforms ofthe past. A major breakfrom Air Force possible.Theofficerandenlisteduniformwerethesameex
uniformtraditionwasavertedwhen ChiefofStaff, General ceptfortherankinsigniaandtheminordifferenceof"U.S."
RonaldFogleman, abandonedthe short-lived"airline"uni withinacircleonthe lapelsofthe enlisteduniformand the
formoftheearly 1990sinfavorofthemoretraditionalstyle "uncircled 'U.S.'" on the officer uniform lapels. The wing
withrankinsigniaofthesamestyleashadbeenusedbythe designofGeneralHapArnold~asretainedforthepilotwing
AAF andUSAFpreviously. Manypersonnel did noteven badge.
wearthe airlinestyleuniformbefore itwas "canned." The The USAF has had difficulty resolving the enlisted
currentstyleuniformreflectsthetraditionofthefirstUSAF' rankstructuresinceitsinception;theprimaryproblembeing
uniform and to me is the uniform that is "Air Force" and theexactlinewheretheAirmenranksshouldstopandwhere
should be kept with possibly only minor future modifica thenoncommissionedofficer(NCO)ranksshouldbegin.The
tions.Whiletherehavebeensomechangesintheblueofthe stripe situationto this date remains a pointofconfusionto
uniform,Iwon'tbetoounhappyaslongaswekeepit"Blue!" thoselongsinceseparated/retiredaswellastomanythatare
On April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower still onactive duty.
signed into law a bill creating the United States Air Force The officer rank has remained basically the same;
Academy; theAcademy swore in its first class on July 11, changeshaverevolvedaroundhowtheyweredisplayed(ep
1955. TheAcademy,OfficerTrainingSchool,andAirForce auletwithrankembroideredversusmetalrank).Theobvious
ROTC have used the current style blue uniform with their exception to this is the rank ofthe warrant officer grades
individualcadetrankinsigniaattached. Withthecreationof whichhavechangedradicallyindesignfromthose worn in
theAirForceCommendationMedalin 1958,theAirForce the AAF to those worn intheUSAFuntilthe demiseofthe
sawthebeginningofmedalscreateduniquelyforAirForce warrant grades within the Air Force. Numerous specialty
personnel. The early60s sawthe addition ofthe AirForce badges have been added during the last several years. Itis
Cross, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the inevitablethatmorewillbeaddedandperhapssomedeleted
Airman'sMedal,theCombatReadinessMedal,theAirForce as roles andmissions change.
GoodConductMedal,andtheAirReserveForcesMeritori The 50thanniversary ofthe United States AirForce
ous ServiceMedal tothelistofUSAFawards. isanexcellenttimetoreflectonwherewestarted,wherewe
TheVietnamWarperiodsawthetransitionbeginfrom are,andwherewearegoing. Ourhistoryisnotonlytoldby
the khaki style uni ouraccomplishmentsbutalsoontheuniformsandinsignia.
forms to the dark Air Force insignia is an important part ofour history and
bluepants/skirtswith willcontinuetotelltheAirForcestoryintothenext50years
light blue shirts and and beyond. Badges and insigniawill change butthe men
blouses. The early and women behind that insigniawill continueto keep us a
1980s saw the ap leaderin world airpower.
pearance of epaulet
rank for the uniform
shortandlongsleeve
shirts, replacing the
pin-on rank of the
previous shirts and blouses. Additional Air Force awards
were created in the 80s, including the Air Force Achieve
mentMedalandseveralribbonawardsfor service,training,
8
Issue of U.S. Medals to Veterans, Retirees,
and Their Families
The Air Force normally issues decorations and ser ormother, brotherorsisterofthe deceasedveteran.
vice medals as they are awardedorearned. The Air Force Authorized thirdpartyrequesters, e.g., lawyers, doc
does not issue or replace any foreign awards, only United tors, historians, etc., may submit requests for information
States awards. from individualrecords withthe veteran's (ornext-of-kin's)
VeteransofanyU. S. militaryservicemayrequestre signed and dated authorization. All authorizations should
placementofmedalswhichhavebeenlost,stolen,destroyed specifyexactlywhattheveteran(ornext-of-kin)isallowing
orrenderedunfitthroughno faultoftherecipient. Requests to be releasedto athirdparty.Authorizations are valid one
may also be filed for awards that were earned but, for any yearfrom date ofsignature.
reason, wereneverissuedto theservicemember.The next Information orcopies ofdocuments may be released
of-kinofdeceasedveteransmayalsomakethesamerequest. from OfficialMilitaryPersonnelFileswithintheprovisions
AIRFORCE- TheAirForceprocessesrequestsfor ofthelaw.TheFreedomofInformationAct(FOIA)andthe
medals through the National Personnel Records Center, PrivacyActprovidebalancebetweentherightofthepublic
which determines eligibilitythrough the information in the to obtaininformationfrommilitaryservicerecords, andthe
veteran'srecords.Onceverified,anotificationofentitlement right ofthe former military service member to protecthis/
isforwardedtoRandolphAirForceBase,Texas,fromwhich her privacy. Please review these items for additional infor
the medals are mailed to the requestor. To request medals mation. In all cases, you mustsufficiently identify theper
earned while in the Air Force or its predecessor, the Army son whose record is requested, so that the records can be
AirCorps,veterans ortheirnext-of-kinshouldwriteto: locatedwithreasonable effort.
Federallaw[5USC552a(b)]requiresthatall requests
NationalPersonnelRecords Center forinformationfromofficialmilitarypersonnelfilesbesub
AirForceReference Branch mittedinwriting. Eachrequestmustbe signed (in cursive)
9700 Page Avenue anddated(withinthelastyear). Forthisreason,no requests
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 areacceptedoverthe internet.
Requestsmustcontainenoughinformationtoidentify
Where to writeincase ofaproblemoran appeal and therecordamongthemorethan70milliononfile atNPRC
where medals are mailedfrom: (MPR). Certainbasic information is needed to locate mili
taryservicerecords.Thisinformationincludestheveteran's
Headquarters completenameusedwhileinservice,servicenumberorso-
AirForcePersonnelCenter .cialsecuritynumber,branchofservice,anddatesofservice.
AFPCIDPPPR Dateandplaceofbirthmayalsobehelpful,especiallyifthe
550 CStreetWest, Suite 12 service number is not known. If the request pertains to a
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Randolph AFB, 78150-4714 record thatmayhavebeeninvolvedinthe 1973fireatNPRC
(MPR), also include place ofdischarge, lastunit ofassign
Itisrecommendedthatrequestersuse StandardForm ment, andplace ofentryintothe service, ifknown.
180, Request Pertaining to Military Records, when apply The Center may have a difficult time locating your
ing. Forms are available from offices ofthe Departmentof records since millions ofrecords were lost in a fire at the
VeteransAffairs01A). IftheStandardForm 180isnotused, National Personnel Records Center in 1973. The fire de
a letter may be sent, but it must include: the veteran's full stroyed80percentoftheArmy'sdischargerecordsbetween
name usedwhile in service,the branchofservice, approxi ovember 1912 and December 1959. World War II Army
matedatesofservice,andservicenumber. Thelettershould AirForcerecords were inthis group. Seventy-fivepercent
indicate ifthe request is for a specific medal(s), or for all ofAir Force discharge records before 1964 and whose last
medals earned. The lettermustbe signedbytheveteranor names thatfall alphabetically between Hubbard (James E.)
his next-of-kin, indicatingtherelationship to the deceased. andZwerealsoburned. Onlyfourmillionrecordsfromthis
Itisalsohelpfulto includecopiesofanymilitaryser periodwere saved. Although the requested medals can of
vice documents that indicate eligibilityfor medals, suchas tenbeissuedonthebasisofalternaterecords,thedocuments
militaryordersortheveteran'sreportofseparation(DDForm sent in with the request are sometimes the only means of
214 oritsearlierequivalent). determiningpropereligibility.
The DD Form 214, Report ofSeparations, is filed in Finally, requesters should exercise extreme patience.
the Official Military Personnel Record File. Copies ofthe Itmaytakeseveralmonthsor,insomecases,ayeartodeter
DD214 can bemadeavailableupon request. mine eligibility and dispatch the appropriate medals. The
Veterans and next-of-kin ofdeceased veterans have Center asks that you not send a follow-up request for 90
the samerights to full access to the record. Next-of-kinare days. Due to these delays, many veterans simplypurchase
the unremarriedwidow orwidower, sonordaughter, father theirmedals from asupplier.
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