The USAF has a long history of dinking around with uniforms. As I mentioned earlier, I joined in June 1956. We were perhaps the first BT flight to be issued a mix of what was army cotton khaki with blue belt, hat, and silver colored insignia, and the new 505 light cotton summer uniforms. The 505s were an abomination, light basket weave cotton that looked like they had been slept in by 1000 hours. Worst was the pleated jungle jacket that comprised a Class A uniform. In certain combinations, the uniform of an E-1 Airman Basic had no military insignia whatsoever, just basic bus driver. You younger folks just visualize an airman in shorts with knee sox and a pleated jungle jacket. Mercifully, this combo was lost to history.
Better were the blues. The dress blouse was military and classy, and the blue Ike jacket, brought over from the army but blue, was a good looking and very functional piece of gear. Predictably, it was abandoned at some point. Also not regular issue, but authorized, was a dark blue wool shirt.
There was rumor that the 505s were designed by a group of generals' wives. It was also felt that the USAF of the 1950s wanted to adopt a more corporate look, sort of a military version of IBM. IMO, none of this contributed to morale and a general military bearing. It sucked.
Paul
