US Air Force Tartan

[macwilkin]

Before the USAF Reserve Pipe Band adopted the "Lady Jane" tartan, they wore the Mitchell tartan in honour of General William "Billy" Mitchell, an American officer of Scottish heritage who adovcated the use of modern air power and was court-martialed for insubordination.

I have a book from the Company of Military Historians that has some info on the Air Force Pipe Band -- I'll see if I can't dig that up...

Cheers,

Todd

[Prester John]

Once again, thanks guys. It's a great help!

[Barb T]

Hi Prester John

Strathmore weaves the unofficial Air Force tartan (the "Lady Jane" referred to in an earlier post), and you can see it at http://www.tartanbystrathmore.co.uk/..._usforces.html. Part of the confusion arises because the US Air Force tartan and the US Forces tartan are quite similar. Identical undercheck but different overcheck. Easy to confuse.

Unfortunately, Strathmore only weaves the US Air Force tartan in 11 oz. weight. Knowing that it might be a bit light, I ordered some anyway to make a kilt for my daughter, who is a piper and in Air Force ROTC in college. I was disappointed in the weight of the fabric. The kilt is light and wrinkles easily (it's noticeably lighter than D.C. Dalglieh's 11-12 oz fabric that I've made many dancer's kilts from). The tartan would make a great shirt, but it's light for a kilt. So, I had a custom length woven at D.C. Dalgliesh in 16 oz, and it is really beautiful. Made a terrific kilt.

Barb