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About the exhibit

A new, interactive uniform exhibit at 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 images is also available on the uniform image gallery.

 

AFMC Uniform Exhibit

Featured Display

Vietnam-era K-2B Flight Suit

Donated by Col. Walter Boyne, USAF, Retired

Historical Uniform FeatureWalter 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. 

 

Uniform Image Gallery

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

PHOTO BY: Courtesy Photo
VIRIN: 210607-F-ZS999-001.JPG
FULL SIZE: 0.05 MB
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IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

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This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.