USAAF Visors

[reneblacky]

The Flight Weight.

[stonemint]

Tropical tunic/visor attributed to Col White (hat is a Bancroft Flighter in mint condition).

From my cross-town friend:

"Col. White won (left to right from top) Legion of Merit, Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, four Air Medals, Purple Heart, etc. If you’ll note his wings on the left breast, embroidered RCAF.
The ribbons tell me he was of U.S. Canadian citizenship. Or, he lied at enlistment that he was born in Canadian, even though he was a U.S. citizen. My guess by decorations and rank (1944) he served in the early days of the Eagle Squadron. True combat pilot."

[stonemint]

Another USAAF tunic from my friend's collection:

[AZPhil]

WOW! RCAF and USAAF combo jacket.
Those are fantastic examples.
Is the 2nd Lt. Also RCAF or RAF?
I would have to wear a drool cup if I was in that room.

Semper Fi
Phil

[Anderson]

Or was Col. White one of the Americans who couldn't wait to get into the war in 1940 and joined the RCAF, then later joined the USAAF once the US was in the war. A number of American pilots joined the RAF for that reason and some were in the Battle of Britain.

[stonemint]

Bancroft Flighter that is pictured in post # 12--note how light it is:

[stonemint]

It is note only rare to find embroidered bullion eagles--they are just as rare in photos:
Here is Eisenhower wearing one:

[stonemint]

Bancroft Zephyr

[gel65]

The two bancroft visors are actually US Army, most likely dating from the late 40s to early 50s. I'm not sure when the Air Force adopted the blue visors, definitely some time in the 50s. For a short transitional period following ww2 the USAF did wear an OD visor with Gold Air Force buttons but that was very short lived and hard to find

[stonemint]

Some more from my cross-town friend's collection: