Billy Mitchell Heritage Uniform.

[RogueLeader]

I have been told that the USAF will be going to the Billy Mitchell Heritage Uniform.


What do you think of it?

[Flying Pig]

The high collar.......Huh?  I know the Army used to wear them back in the day, but only the Marines have a historical background for the high collar.

Oh, and by the way, if your going to wear the belt, try tailoring the uniform first.  Im going to have to give a thumbs down on this.  Im all for the old Air Force jacket.

[mikeylikey]

It looks stupid!  Loose the belt, or at least make it black.  Heck change the freaking color of the uniform to brown if your are "trying to go back to heritage".  Also change the sleeve braid to black.  It would stand out more that way.  Also, don't wear full size awards.  Come on?!?!  Also return the Officer Branch insignia to the jacket (USAAF branch insignia).  Finally get the Officer pant leg stripe back.  If this truly is a heritage uniform, then freaking take the uniform of that time period and adopt it back.    

The uniform is an Army uniform, so it should be called one.  Many more people wore it than just Gen Mitchell.    

Finally, in closing the Army is going back to wearing the Army Dress Blue Uniform full time.  Blue is the Army's, AF.......get your own.

[NIN]

These photos are at least 2 years old, and represent some "test wear" at HQAF.

IOW, this is NOT the final form or configuration that the AF is considering for its uniforms.

IIRC, the "Hap Arnold" Heritage uniform was the preferred selection. I could be mistaken.

But before all y'all get wrapped around an axle or two about this uniform, breathe. Out with the bad air, in with the good...

This, too, shall pass.

[LtCol White]

I have been told that the USAF will be going to the Billy Mitchell Heritage Uniform.


What do you think of it?

The Hap Arnold is the choice and is being wear tested with planned wear in 2009. This is to POSSIBLY be a ceremonial and honor guard uniform.

[PHall]

I have been told that the USAF will be going to the Billy Mitchell Heritage Uniform.


What do you think of it?

You were told wrong. That uniform was a test uniform that didn't make it.

A modified version of the WWII style Hap Arnold uniform was the one that was selected.
The wear tests have just started and they plan to field it in 2009.

Source:AF Link

[NewWaveKiller]

For those of you who have not yet seen it, the one on the right is the Hap Arnold heritage coat:

[RiverAux]

Jeez, is that collar wide enough?  Looks like you can't even have more than 1 full row of ribbons be visible

[Major Carrales]

Jeez, is that collar wide enough?  Looks like you can't even have more than 1 full row of ribbons be visible

That, my dear Sir, is a 1930s style cut.  My grandpa has a suit for that era with that sort of lapel.

[RiverAux]

Can we start wearing those irregular ribbon bars to get around them?

Personally, I'm not a fan of having "pockets" that can't be used, which I assume would be the case with the upper pockets on this one. 

[BuckeyeDEJ]

Yeah, the chokers aren't something the Army's worn since World War I, really. The Navy and Marine Corps still wear them. But the Air Force?

The pockets on the "Hap Arnold" would be functional, just as they were on the old blues.

After Gen. Tony McPeak changed the blues in 1993, there was constant complaining that it didn't look "military" enough. Heck, it looks like an Air Force uniform to me, not a blue Army uni. This is backlash to the McPeak blues, but I'll bet you after wear tests, it won't look this retro -- probably more like the last pre-1993 uniform.

As modern as the Air Force's marketing wants to make the AF look, they want to go retro and complicate the blues again? I thought, personally, that the current uniform was the best interpretation yet of what the uniform philosophy is, though McPeak's idea of "less things to pin on" didn't take (maybe for good reason, given the idea of sleeve-braid officer rank).

[RiverAux]

It would be nice to have a pocket to line your nameplate up against....

[ddelaney103]

If you want to see the latest and greatest (and have flash installed) try this:

http://www.airforcetimes.com/projects/flash/2007_03_16_afuniforms/

[NIN]

That, my dear Sir, is a 1930s style cut.  My grandpa has a suit for that era with that sort of lapel.

Did he have a hat to go with it?

[Major Carrales]

That, my dear Sir, is a 1930s style cut.  My grandpa has a suit for that era with that sort of lapel.

Did he have a hat to go with it?

No, but I do wear a fedora as part of my daily wardrobe.

[RiverAux]

You know, that belt seems likely to accentuate the waist of some of our folks. 

[RogueLeader]

You know, that belt seems likely to accentuate the waist of some of our folks. 

Or the lack of one. . . 

That, my dear Sir, is a 1930s style cut.  My grandpa has a suit for that era with that sort of lapel.

Did he have a hat to go with it?

No, but I do wear a fedora as part of my daily wardrobe.

Could you imagine an AF Blue shade 1625 Fedora with CAP insignia on it?

[ZigZag911]

The belt looks ridiculous, not to mention completely without function.

Otherwise, generally OK.

[RiverAux]

According to the web site it looks like you will be allowed to stagger your ribbon placement to avoid the collar.

[Grumpy]

The last I heard, they were talking about doing away with the belt.  The gals were complaining that with the new uniform, they'd have to change the tie to the tab every time they took the coat off.