A uniform exhibit at the Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters traces the history and evolution of Air Force clothing and the command’s role in the uniform process. This exhibit is located at the AFMC Headquarters, Building 262 on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and showcases images of uniforms from the 1940s to present day.

To learn more about each uniform on display, hover over the image to link to a description. The full gallery of individual uniform images is also available in the uniform image gallery located on this page.

AFMC Uniform Exhibit

Vietnam-era K-2B Flight Suit

Donated by Col. Walter Boyne, USAF, Retired

Historical Uniform Feature Walter J. Boyne was an internationally recognized author and aviation historian. He joined the Air Force in 1951 and served as a bomber pilot, logging thousands of hours of flight time. Boyne flew as a B-50 and B-47 combat crew member in Strategic Air Command and later was a nuclear test pilot with the 4925th Nuclear Test Group at Kirtland Air Force Base, flying both the B-47 and B-52. He retired in 1974 and joined the National Air and Space Museum as a curator, ultimately serving as director from 1983 to 1986.

During his life Boyne received many domestic and foreign honors, including the Bronze Star, induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007; a lifetime achievement award from the Air Force Association in 2010; induction into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame in 2011; and numerous literary awards.

handbook photo — Flight Handbook

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B-47E Flight Handbook — B-47E Handbook

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flight navigation tool — Flight Navigation Tool

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flight helmet and mask photo — Flight Helmet and Oxygen Mask

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flight handbook — B-47E Flight handbook

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inside of flight helmet photo — Flight Helmet

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helmet photo — Boyne Flight Helmet

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1: Pinks and Greens

World War II - Transition Period (1947 - 1954).The Officer Dress Uniform, also known as the “Pinks and Greens” Class A uniform, was the favorite among U.S. Army officers during World War II and it is only natural when the Air Force was established that Army Air Forces officers would want to continue to wear this uniform with pride as part of the United States Air Force. However, Air Force officers sought to “jazz” up their uniforms and separate themselves from the Army. These new Air Force officers were quickly given the change with the introduction of new gold U.S. insignia for their collar instead of brass, and the new Transition Air Force Gold button, offering officers a little “bling.” This is the last officer uniform with so much of its history tied to the U.S. Army Air Corps and represents the Air Force transitional period, which we cannot forget. With the accouterment changes made to the uniform with regards to the “gold,” Air Force members at the time were to be constantly reminded that gold must be refined and silver as well. Note the pipping on the "flight cap"-- though in black and white, the pipping represents the branch colors of the Army Air Corps -- ultramarine blue and golden orange, used well into the very early 1950s

About the exhibit

Featured Display

Boyne Flight Artifacts

Uniform Image Gallery

1: Pinks and Greens

10: 1960s Flight Suit

11: Ladies 1970s Service dress

13: Men's Blue Mess dress

14: Men's 1990s Sweater

15: 1980s White service dress

16: McPeak Uniform

17: Women in the Air Force transition Shade 1

19: Women in the Air Force Physical Training Uniform

2: Shade #84 DI

20: Women in the Air Force utility uniform

21: Men's Blue Ike jacket and Summer khaki

22: Blue Shade 84 Ike Jacket (1950-1960s)

23: Women in the Air Force Seersucker 1950s-60s

24: Men's 1950s-60s White Service Dress

25: Men's 1950s Rain Coat

26: Women Air Force White service dress

27: Women Air Force Blue Service dress

28: Women Air Force Blue Service dress

29: Air Force Physical Training Uniform