Scottish Devil Dogs?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

While the United States Air Force plods along, screwing up every uniform it develops. The only good uniform in the inventory at this time is the Mess Dress.

When my Father was recalled for the Korean war he left home in his WWII vintage "pinks and greens" six months later he returned in the new USAF blue uniform. My Mother took one look at him and burst into tears.

Dad asked her what was the matter, and she said, "You look like the driver of the Greyhound bus!"

Yes, the USAF uniform probably could look better... perhaps they should have asked Cecil B. DeMille to give it a face lift when he designed the USAF Academy uniforms.

[Lady M]

"You look like the driver of the Greyhound bus!"

I thought it looked much like a bus drivers uniform as well.

[dfmacliam]

My dad retired Air Force, I used to tease him about his greyhound bus driver uniform... LOL

[macwilkin]

When my Father was recalled for the Korean war he left home in his WWII vintage "pinks and greens" six months later he returned in the new USAF blue uniform. My Mother took one look at him and burst into tears.

Dad asked her what was the matter, and she said, "You look like the driver of the Greyhound bus!"

Yes, the USAF uniform probably could look better... perhaps they should have asked Cecil B. DeMille to give it a face lift when he designed the USAF Academy uniforms.

Yes, the "pinks and greens" were the best modern US Army/USAAF officers uniform, hands down, especially when worn with a Sam Browne belt, a la pre-1941.

T.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Yes, the "pinks and greens" were the best modern US Army/USAAF officers uniform, hands down, especially when worn with a Sam Browne belt, a la pre-1941.

T.

I have to agree. I understand that the military dropped the "pinks and greens" to further differentiate the US military from the Soviets in the immediate post-war period.

Somewhere my brother has photo of our father, as a very young Second Lieutenant, in britches and boots, and Sam Browne belt. When our father transferred to the Air Corps he reported for duty in britches and boots. The XO looked him up and down and asked about the boots. Father, who had several pair of boots, replied that Army regs stated that they could be worn by officers until "no longer serviceable."

The Major gave father's boots a second look and replied, "Mister, in my opinion those boots are no longer serviceable." Father wisely agreed and spent the rest of the war in low cut shoes.

[YoungMan]

It's interesting to think now that the term "Army green" no longer applies. The dress and service uniforms are all variations on the new blues. Even the ACUs are so muted that green shades in them are barely discernible from the other colors.

[macwilkin]

It's interesting to think now that the term "Army green" no longer applies. The dress and service uniforms are all variations on the new blues. Even the ACUs are so muted that green shades in them are barely discernible from the other colors.

Of course, the ironic twist is that the "new" army blues pay tribute to the "old" army blues worn from the Revolution to the eve of the First World War.

T.

[YoungMan]

Here's another question: I've seen drawings/paintings and whatnot of Continental Marines wearing green blouses with red trim. I know the USMC swears by the leathernecked blue blouse. Is the color I'm seeing just a fade of blue. If not, why and when did the switch take place? When exactly did Marine Corps green come in (under shirts, etc.)? I figured I'd take advantage of the historians we on had on the forum.

[ghostlight]

Dad asked her what was the matter, and she said, "You look like the driver of the Greyhound bus!"

When I went home on leave the first time in my Air Force blues in '91, my mother "greeted" me by looking me up and down and saying:

"Maybe you should have joined the Army."

[dfmacliam]

1798 the Marines started wearing a blue jacket with red edging... Before then, they wore green jackets with white facings.. Green was the traditional color of a rifleman. The current dress blue uniform has seen little change since the 19th century.

As for the green t shirt thing..... The only time we wore green t shirts were in combat enviroments... (For me, it was Beirut), but back State side we wore white t's.. I got out at the very end of '86 and things have changed since then... I guess I could talk to my son about his uniform, since he is a Marine, now..