WWII Uniform identification
Please help me identify the uniform my grandfather is wearing in this photo. Family lore is that it has no insignias because he wore it for a portrait when he received word of his long awaited commission. The photo was taken shortly before he departed from the east coast to the west coast. Either shortly before or shortly after arriving, Hiroshima was bombed. As a result all commissions and enlistments were halted. My guess is that his preference would have been for the US Army Air Corp or US Navy. Any information or direction for id greatly appreciated.
19 comments
ibuyoldstuf
·3 years agoPlease let the board know your finding!
Happy Hunting!
pebbledash
OP3 years agoSolved! Thank you everyone!
ibuyoldstuf
·3 years agoAs fun as it is to read all the responses that are adding to your confusion, you need to reduce your information to basic questions..
1. There are plenty of Militia Dealers / Collectors / Enthusiast here on eBay buying and selling that would bend your ears backward identifying and explaining the uniform articles in the photo or any other items you may posses. Start by looking for those dealers here and message them.. Once you have that information it will narrow the search for what I believe is your second question?
2. Take whatever info you may have, DOB, SSN , possible years of service et. et. to your local VFW or American Legion and ask to speak with the Service Officer of the post. They Have reg Jobs and lives so leave a message with whatever post officer or bar manger is on duty, he will get back to you. Larger VFW / Legion Posts are usually open daily but certainly on weekends. Most are Private so knock or ring and you will be gladly accommodated.. No need to go into any detail just ask to speak to or leave a message for the Service Officer.. They maintain the required forms and are trained to provide the info you seek , albeit to help with benefits so on and so forth but they will help you. Of course there are other agencies that will / could do the same but your local folks will take the time and are eager to help!
Good Luck!
Ibuyoldstuf
VFW Post Trustee
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoI would say that he did serve his country just by enlisting. If he was drafted and he did his training successfully, I would say that he still served his country. My dad joined during the Korean War. He was supposed to be sent to Korea. He was shipped to Alaska to wait to continue to Korea and the war ended the same week. To me, he served his country. He was sent to another state and was honorably discharged.
movieman630
·3 years agoIt's a US Army Air Corps Uniform as indicated by his shoulder patch. Khaki Shirt, pants and overseas cap with the Air Corps color piping. Standard "US" Brass collar insignia, though it is puzzling on that uniform. Usually on that collar and side of the hat they would wear the Air Corps insignia. The "US" without a disc attachment on it would indicate that he was an officer of some kind. Perhaps he was in OCS (Officer Candidate School) when this photo was taken?
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoA little more accurate, during his time in service it would have been called the Army Air Forces.
The Army Air Corps was Balloons and Bi-Planes.
candd205
·3 years agoI'm not a military person, so I can't help you. But, if you don't get the information you need, keep in mind that: If the Veteran was discharged more than 62 years ago, you can order a copy of their military records. The National Archives opens all records to the public 62 years after discharge. If the Veteran was discharged less than 62 years ago, you may be able to request limited information from their Military Personnel File. (copied from Google)
Good luck.
pebbledash
OP3 years agoThank you for your response however, as much as he had been determined to serve, the war ended before he was able to accept his commission. Hence his portrait photo with no insignias. Travelled across the country and then back home. Very happy that the war had ended but a bit disappointed that he did not have the honor to serve his country. Again, thank you for your advice and perhaps others will be able to use it. All the best.
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoJust the slightest bit of patch viewable on the shoulder in your pictures looks like it may be a Army Air Corps uniform without any rank. But as you said he may have wore it for a portrait when he received word of his long awaited commission. Maybe he was not allowed to pin on Officer rank until his official promotion so this is why he did not have his rank on it yet.
pebbledash
OP3 years agoA hundred thanks! Did not notice the patch in the shadow of the photo. Makes perfect sense for him to pursue an air corp commission. His son, my uncle, became a career officer in the US Air Force. Feel free to Google my grandfather's name if interested in learning more about him. Planning to gift the framed photo with the story to my nephew - the only one in his generation to service in active military. Very proud of him and his great grandfather would have been as well. Again, my appreciation for your eagle eye! May 2023 bring you and yours all good things.
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoHere are some other observations.
Your grand dad is wearing the US Emblems of an Officer and His Flight Cap is of an Officer.
Not sure why the US Emblem is on his Flight Cap as this is where his officer Rank would go. It could be he put the Emblem just for the photograph since he did not have the Rank Insignia yet. Technically he would not be allowed to dress with the Office Rank until it was officially awarded to him.
Officer Uniform the rank is on the Shoulder Epaulettes and the U.S. stand alone.
Enlisted Uniform the rank is a big patch on sleeve and the US Emblem is inside a circle.
Officer U.S. Lapel Emblem
Enlisted U.S. Lapel Emblem is inside a Circle
Officer Flight Cap, the bead around the cap is of a different color that the Cap itself and the Rank is on the Left side of the Cap.
Enlisted Flight Cap, the bead around the cap is a darker shade of the same color of the Cap itself and no rank on the Cap.
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoWow, that is pretty neat. Congratulations on your Grand Father!!!....
How long has you Uncle Been out of the Airforce? I retired in 1976. What branch was you nephew?
The descriptions I gave of the uniforms are the same for most of the different branches although they have different colors to represent the particular branch. Of course uniforms change over the years but the basic Officer and Enlisted variations are the same, even today.
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoA typo, I joined in 1976 and retired in 1996.
pebbledash
OP3 years agoThank you for your service. My late uncle retired in the early '80s. I was able to show him the photo shortly before he passed and he told me the story about the cross country trip. My nephew served in the Marines. Thank you again for sharing so much information.
tryno2
·3 years ago"he did not have the honor to serve his country."
"My late uncle retired in the early '80s"
I'm a little confused, did he retire from the military? If so there would be records. If he did not get his commission, seems to me he was IN the military (without a commisson). If so then the military would have a record, although it might be very brief.
pebbledash
OP3 years agoMy grandfather accomplished many things during his lifetime. Our family is especially proud of his legacy in civil rights and desegregation. In 1947, he managed to get a new NJ State Constitution adopted after decades of unsuccessful attempts by others. He used the new constitution to address segregation and as a result contributed to the desegregation of the US Military. eBay won't let me post links but you can look up the following if interested:
New Jersey National Guard pioneered segregation’s end
How One State Helped Desegregate the U.S. Military
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoI found his story of desegregation published on an Official Air Force web site.
https://www.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1454070/new-jersey-national-guard-pioneered-segregations-end/
The military has always been slow to act on social reforms but when directed to do so they are very good at implementing policy. It seems like every 20 years or so there is a major change in policy's on social reforms.