USAF December 1950

[oose]

Hi all,

Thought you might like to see these..."WHAT WE WANT IS RESULTS NOT EXCUSES" I'm sure I've heard my wife say something similar






















life for a pilots family



yours stu

 

[cmk-2]

LOVE the A-2 in 1950 and with the U.A.S.F. not U.S.A.A.F decal. You think it's a Perry with the collar points? Robin

 

[deand]

Great finds at the LIFE gallery! Surprising that an A-2 would have a USAF decal. I wonder if it was a depot mod, scraping off the "Army Air Forces" and taking the lettering off the base of a helmet decal. Or a complete re-do.








dean

 

[rich]

Brilliant, thanks - gotta love the Sabre.

 

[watchmanjimg]

Great finds at the LIFE gallery! Surprising that an A-2 would have a USAF decal. I wonder if it was a depot mod, scraping off the "Army Air Forces" and taking the lettering off the base of a helmet decal. Or a complete re-do.








dean

Dean:

There were ready-made decals of this type, as seen on early nylon jackets all the way into the first few sage-green models. I believe at least one forum member has an A-2 with post-WW2 USAF markings including the decal. In any event jackets of this type are fascinating examples of an Air Force in transition. I'd love to have one!

 

[deand]

Were those water applied decals on the early nylon :? ? The repros use the heat transfer, don't they?






dean

 

[watchmanjimg]

I believe heat transfers were used on the nylon jackets. I was referring more to the configuration (winged star logo with "US Air Force" underneath).

 

[deand]

I believe heat transfers were used on the nylon jackets. I was referring more to the configuration (winged star logo with "US Air Force" underneath).

I guess I was thinking a form of silk screening, thinking heat transfer was a later developement. It surprises me that decals were ever used on leather, even during WWII. They could not have been very resilient and would have soon looked a mess. Pictures I've seen of some show how badly they held up.



dean

 

[Peter Graham]

They could not have been very resilient and would have soon looked a mess. Pictures I've seen of some show how badly they held up.

Dean, a lot have lasted really well. Here's an example of an original decal from a D-1 I used to own.

 

[deand]

They could not have been very resilient and would have soon looked a mess. Pictures I've seen of some show how badly they held up.

Dean, a lot have lasted really well. Here's an example of an original decal from a D-1 I used to own.

Indeed, it does look pretty good for wear. The application process must have figured into it, to some degree. I believe I read somewhere about the use of turpentine was involved, something about its ability to soften up the decal for better adhesion.



dean

 

[greyhound52]

Dean,
I have two A2s with the USAF decal on clearly indicating they were used post 1947. One used during the Korean war with a Korean War blood chit on the back. This is my Aero. The other is a Doniger (this one went through the depot) I am pretty sure the Aero did as well.