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U.S. Air Force (1950)

1950 · Short film · 10 min

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Synopsis

This U.S. Air Force film dates to the beginnings of the service branch, and shows the various styles of uniforms designed for women airmen, including overcoats, hats, duty shirt, etc. It also shows uniforms for nurses, women's medical specialists, WACs, flight nurses, and enlisted. When the U.S. Air Force first became a fully separate branch in 1947 personnel continued to wear uniforms nearly identical to the U.S. Army. The first Air Force-specific blue dress uniform, introduced in 1949, was in Shade 1683, also dubbed "Uxbridge Blue" after the former Bachman-Uxbridge Worsted Company. An Ike jacket, inherited from the Army Air Forces but in Shade 1683, was an optional uniform item. In the early 1960s the blue uniform, including headgear, transitioned to a new and slightly updated version known as Shade 1549. The Ike jacket gave way to a long sleeve winter blue shirt with epaulettes and ties in Shade 1549. In the case of this shirt, which would continue in use until the early 1980s, epaulettes were unadorned, with officers wearing small rank insignia on the collar and enlisted personnel sewn-on cloth insignia on the sleeves. Service cap devices, "U.S." collar insignia and occupational insignia worn on the left breast had a satin nickel finish, while officer rank insignia had a mirror finish. The first proposals for a service uniform featured minimal ornamentation, at the request of top commanders. However, many lower-ranked officers requested more specific badges and insignia.…

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Details

Running time
10 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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