AIR FORCE - Air Corps and USAAF

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947.  It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed.

The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced Air Force in the world, with 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve); approximately 180 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The USAF has 327,452 personnel on active duty, 115,299 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,700 in the Air National Guard. In addition, the Air Force employs 171,313 civilian personnel including indirect hire of foreign nationals.

1947 Pattern Uniform	White service dress uniform (1947-1949)	Blue service Ike uniform shade 84 (1949 - 1965)	Shade 84 uniform in the four pocket (1949 - 1965)	Blue service shade 1549 uniform (1965 - 1994)
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1.  This pilot is wearing the 1947 pattern Air Force uniform.  This is the same uniform worn prior to the Air Force becoming its own service branch in 1947 with the exception that the brass buttons were Air Force instead of Army.

2.  The Brigadier General wears the White service dress uniform with the new Air Force brass buttons that were authorized 1947-1949. The remainder of the uniform is the same as before the separation from the Army.

3.  The next pilot is wearing the blue service uniform shade 84 which was regulation from 1949 to 1965. This is the Ike style that became so popular during World War Two. He has retained the old Army insignia and patches from the Air Corps period. This practice will end in 1952.

4. The next Airman is a Sergeant who is wearing the shade 84 uniform in the four pocket version. He too wears the old style insignia and patches.  His visor hat is the 1949 pattern with the new Eagle cap badge.

5. This pilot is wearing the blue service shade 1549 uniform that was regulation from 1965 to 1994. He is a Colonel which authorizes him to wear the visor hat with the clouds and lightning bolts on the bill of the cap. Colonels wore caps with two bolts and clouds, while General Officers wore three bolts and clouds on their caps.