New test Navy Uniforms are WWII Throwbacks

[Corto]

Check it out.
According to this Navy Times article the Navy is testing out a "new" throwback khaki dress service uniform.

What do you think?
Does it "work" today, or should it just remain a part of the WWII era?

 

[Fletch]

It's high time the SDK did come back. It was a mistake ever to phase it out - it was always one of the Navy's smartest.

The FWU* isn't ideal for everything, even in shortsleeved versions.

*"f*gg*ty white uniform," so called by Col. Jessup in A Few Good Men.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Brown Russets and all! Nice!

 

[Corto]

It's high time the SDK did come back. It was a mistake ever to phase it out - it was always one of the Navy's smartest.

The FWU* isn't ideal for everything, even in shortsleeved versions.

*"f*gg*ty white uniform," so called by Col. Jessup in A Few Good Men.

A couple of years ago, I read that they wanted to completely phase out the "FWU's" and the "Johnny Cash" uniforms. None of the test uniforms they came up with seemed to foster a positive reaction though. I think this is a better move.

 

[Fletch]

They can keep the working blues, AFAIC. My dad wore them to NROTC drills in the 50s. They were wool serge then (scratchy) and did not have an authorized outer coat. Now they allow blue coats or windbreakers.

Hopefully aviation will now be allowed to keep (or adopt) the "working" (really dress) green uniform, the best looking of all IMO.

 

[Fletch]

history.navy.mil

has these great pix:

VF-1B pilots of USS Saratoga with a Boeing F2B, in 1929.
At this time the SDK was a new uniform and only for aviation and sub services. Note the bellows pockets, sleeve braid, and several pilots wearing breeches and kneeboots!

Cmdr. C.W. McClusky, Jr., commanding USS Enterprise's air group in 1943. (Then-Lt.(jg) McClusky is at the right rear in the 1929 picture.)
Note his plain front, monkstrap shoes, a favorite with flight officers.

 

[The Wingnut]

has these great pix:
Cmdr. C.W. McClusky, Jr., commanding USS Enterprise's air group in 1943. (Then-Lt.(jg) McClusky is at the right rear in the 1929 picture.)
Note his plain front, monkstrap shoes, a favorite with flight officers.

That's an aviation green uniform. Pretty rare, actually.

 

[Corto]

has these great pix:

VF-1B pilots of USS Saratoga with a Boeing F2B, in 1929.
At this time the SDK was a new uniform and only for aviation and sub services.

Hunh!
I think it's interesting that the sub services were singled out with aviation to wear the first SDK's.

Great photos.

I'm going to look for khaki-clad submariners now...

 

[ltedge]

Aviation Greens

Hopefully aviation will now be allowed to keep (or adopt) the "working" (really dress) green uniform, the best looking of all IMO.

Unfortunately, Aviation Greens are being phased out next year when the new uniforms make their appearance. Definately my favorite and I've worn it many times in place of the more uncomfortable working khaki.

The SDK's look fine, but I'm sure the fit of the jacket will prove uncomfortable to wear all day. I think, at least for many aviators, the khaki jacket will stay at home in favor of the leather flight jacket.

 

[Sarge]

I think the throwback uniforms are a good idea. Guess we'll see how the testing goes.

 

[jake431]

Cmdr. C.W. McClusky, Jr., commanding USS Enterprise's air group in 1943. (Then-Lt.(jg) McClusky is at the right rear in the 1929 picture.)
Note his plain front, monkstrap shoes, a favorite with flight officers.

What I want is a good pair of those Monkstrap shoes. My grandfather had a similar pair (though he was a pilot in the AAF) and I've always wanted some.

Where can they be bought?

-Jake

 

[Fletch]

AWG update

ltedge, your treasured greens may not be on the way out after all, if a lieutenant posting to the AirWarriors forum has anything to say about it. He is circulating a letter to various Navy publications with the recommendation that AWG be retained as optional service dress.

This I gather was its unofficial function until the 1970s anyway. Nowadays they are OK only in very limited situations, being classed as work uniforms but unsuited for most work assignments.

The Lt. proposes a low cost option of wearing the G-1 jacket with green fore/aft cap and trousers, the blouse being by far the costliest piece of the uniform.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I think the throwback uniforms are a good idea. Guess we'll see how the testing goes.

Kind of sad that in this "promotional" photo the uniforms are tailored so poorly. The man on the right's trousers are obviously too long, and his coat seems to be as well, also not having been properly taken in at the waist. The coat in general looks cheaply/poorly made, and heavily padded and fused.

 

[Fletch]

An inevitable consequence of a more democratic, all-volunteer force, I suspect. They don't spend much more time in ties and coats than civilians do anymore. They have higher priorities than tailoring. Coat construction isn't even on the radar.

 

[Diamondback]

Just great! If the Navy goes to khakis, we'll never get the Army back to 'em!

[muttering]Darn squids... always throwing a monkeywrench in everything...[/mutter]

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

They have higher priorities than tailoring. Coat construction isn't even on the radar.

Which is a shame. It certainly isn't from lack of resources. Germany, late in WW2 spent ten times as much effort and talent in outfitting her soldiers in properly-fitted uniforms.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I just hope they make them fit. It's time the military took pride in their tailoring again. Many tailoring firms of the past were founded on military garments.

 

[carebear]

All they need to do is allow tailoring and the folks who care will have it done, just like now.

I paid the extra bucks for the higher-end dress shirts for my Alphas. If I had known better and had more than a Sgt's pay I would have bought all my dress uniforms custom.

 

[ltedge]

ltedge, your treasured greens may not be on the way out after all, if a lieutenant posting to the AirWarriors forum has anything to say about it. He is circulating a letter to various Navy publications with the recommendation that AWG be retained as optional service dress.

Fletch, I hope he's successfull, unfortunately I think they've made up their mind, AWG have never been a service dress, that's been reserved for the blues mostly. Since they are worn without ribbons, they've always been designated a "working uniform". Maybe I'll start up my own petition. One of the biggest problems for most Aviators is that the Greens are a working uniform and to cost prohibitive for just an optional uniform. In my squadron for daily use I would leave the jacket at home and just wear the tie with flight jacket, it was more casual and comfortable that way. The more formal tunic would come out when I was the duty officer. The Av Greens are a great Naval Aviation tradition that should be preserved.

 

[Fletch]

So the actual definition of "working uniform" is NOT a uniform used for work purposes, but a uniform on which ribbons are not worn?

Boy, am I glad I never went in. I tolerate absurdist bureaucracy very poorly.

BTW, the lieutenant I mentioned made the point that brownshoes used to be granted much wider latitude in wearing the greens. They apparently had the status of a service dress without officially being one. Sometime in the 70s they were made subject to the same rules as flightsuits, apparently by a budget minded committee interested in obsolescing them.