Help identifying Insignia!

[Dmax]

My uncle passed yesterday, going through some pictures. Came across a picture of his father in the military. Can anybody help identify the pins, chevrons, hash marks, and unit emblem. I have an idea what some of them are just looking for some confirmation. The one that really got me was the shoulder unit patch. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[wheelgun_man]

Corporal, Engineering Branch, US Army. I'm guessing WW2 time frame.
Based on what I can recall, during WW2, the long chevron on his left sleeve nearest the wrist represents three years of service in the Army. The three chevrons above it represent six months each (18 months total) overseas active duty.
All I've got for now. That Division patch on the left shoulder is interesting. Gonna see what I can run down on that...

 

[Jim C.]

Corporal, Engineering Branch, US Army. I'm guessing WW2 time frame.
Based on what I can recall, during WW2, the long chevron on his left sleeve nearest the wrist represents three years of service in the Army. The three chevrons above it represent six months each (18 months total) overseas active duty.
All I've got for now. That Division patch on the left shoulder is interesting. Gonna see what I can run down on that...

The shoulder insignia looks like an Air Corps/Air Force patch because of the circle in the star on the left, but I wasn't able to find anything similar doing image searches on Bing and Google.

 

[Button Pusher]

This may help you locate his service records.

Veterans' Service Records

Request Military Service Records Request Service Records Online, by Mail, or by Fax More ways to get service records Request Medical and Health Records Check the Status of an Existing Request Recently separated veteran? Funeral Home Director Information Page

www.archives.gov

 

[pinkbunny]

I'm probably wrong. I know little about the military.
Edit : yup, Imma dummy.

 

[JBoyette]

unit patch LINK
Insignia, Alaska Air Command, United States Air Force

 

[Jim C.]

unit patch LINK
Insignia, Alaska Air Command, United States Air Force

Great find!

 

[Dmax]

unit patch LINK
Insignia, Alaska Air Command, United States Air Force

Thanks! wow not what I was expecting!

 

[Dmax]

Corporal, Engineering Branch, US Army. I'm guessing WW2 time frame.
Based on what I can recall, during WW2, the long chevron on his left sleeve nearest the wrist represents three years of service in the Army. The three chevrons above it represent six months each (18 months total) overseas active duty.
All I've got for now. That Division patch on the left shoulder is interesting. Gonna see what I can run down on that...

Thanks for that clarification!

 

[LTC Don]

The years showing for Alaskan Air Command patch are a bit, confusing. The dates I'm seeing show post-war, but before the Air Force became a separate service in 1947. The patch above is showing late 1945-1946 and probably was in use in 1947 when the services split. Ironically, I have a modern (USAF) version of the patch on my board here at work. The old style patch can still be purchased from various vendors. The unit patch is not present on that dress uniform, the Wing patch is the overall command patch. Was he in Alaska during the war? Involved in the Kiska campaign (Which is one of the biggest 'untold' stories of the war.)? Very cool stuff!

 

[LTC Don]

He's also wearing a shoulder cord. He may have been an Attache or some type of Aide (Aide de Camp?) to a staff officer. Without coloring it's hard to tell.

 

[Dan0311]

A quick Wiki search....looks like U.S. Army Air Corps/Alaska during the war and a bit beyond.

Alaskan Air Command (AAC) is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command originally established in 1942 under the United States Army Air Forces. Its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of air defense. In addition, the command also supported Strategic Air Command elements operating through and around Alaska. It was redesignated Eleventh Air Force on 9 August 1990 and, concurrently, status changed from a major command of the United States Air Force to a subordinate organization of Pacific Air Forces.

 

[Jim1392]

This may help you locate his service records.

Veterans' Service Records

Request Military Service Records Request Service Records Online, by Mail, or by Fax More ways to get service records Request Medical and Health Records Check the Status of an Existing Request Recently separated veteran? Funeral Home Director Information Page

www.archives.gov

This is a great source for getting Vet's records. The only problem is they are so backed up it's a long wait. It took me a year and a half to get my records from them.

 

[LTC Don]

If you come across another pic, please post up, especially his ribbons. It looks like he has a 3-ribbon bar on, but it's really hard to tell which is which. It looks like 'possibly' an Army Good Conduct medal/ribbon to his right, which should be his most important award while the one out towards his left arm would be the least significant award but it's hard to tell, and some thing (strap?) is blocking the middle.

 

[Button Pusher]

My wife said Ancestry is also a good place to start.

 

[LTC Don]

A quick Wiki search....looks like U.S. Army Air Corps/Alaska during the war and a bit beyond.

Alaskan Air Command (AAC) is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command originally established in 1942 under the United States Army Air Forces. Its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of air defense. In addition, the command also supported Strategic Air Command elements operating through and around Alaska. It was redesignated Eleventh Air Force on 9 August 1990 and, concurrently, status changed from a major command of the United States Air Force to a subordinate organization of Pacific Air Forces.

The first two paragraphs on that wiki page are a hot mess and very confusing. The second paragraph is a bit more organized. This page has what I think is pretty good summation:

During the Cold War, Alaska became strategically important in posturing against threats from the Soviet Union. The vast construction completed during World War II brought Alaska distinctly into a new age and into the American consciousness. The United States Army Air Forces Eleventh Air Force became the Alaskan Air Command (AAC) on 18 December 1945, and its headquarters was moved from Davis AAF to Elmendorf AAF on 1 October 1946 to manage Alaska's emerging air defense system.

Alaskan Air Command

Infobox Military Unit unit name= Alaskan Air Command caption= Alaskan Air Command emblem dates= 1945 1990 country= United States allegiance= branch= United States Air Force type= role= Air Defense of North America size= command structure=Major…

en-academic.com

Why this is important is because he's wearing the Alaskan Air Command patch, not the 11th Air Force patch so it would have been post-war when he transitioned from 11th Air Force to AAC. But what's interesting is that it looks like he doesn't have a WWII Victory Medal/ribbon although the black/white coloring is really tough to tell what that outer ribbon is, but if it was clear, the picture would definitely be pre 1945 since he's in the USAAC uniform.

wheelgun_man's post indicates a minimum of three years service with 18 month's overseas duty, so at least one of those ribbons may be an overseas ribbon of some sort. Tour of duty starting perhaps around 1941/1942?

BUT, now we get into some real meat and potatoes confusion because according to the .mil, 11th AF and AAC traded off a couple of times (in typical USAF fashion )

Lineage. Established as Alaskan Air Force on 28 Dec 1941. Activated on 15 Jan 1942. Redesignated as: 11 Air Force on 5 Feb 1942; Eleventh Air Force on 18 Sep 1942; Alaskan Air Command on 18 Dec 1945; Eleventh Air Force on 9 Aug 1990.

Assignments. Alaskan Defense Command (later, Alaskan Department), 15 Jan 1942; Headquarters United States Air Force, 15 Nov 1947; Pacific Air Forces, 9 Aug 1990-.

Eleventh Air Force (PACAF)

Lineage. Established as Alaskan Air Force on 28 Dec 1941. Activated on 15 Jan 1942. Redesignated as: 11 Air Force on 5 Feb 1942; Eleventh Air Force on 18 Sep 1942; Alaskan Air Command on 18 Dec 1945;

www.afhra.af.mil

Some point of context regarding Alaskan service in World War II:

Attach on Dutch Harbor
The first aerial bombing of the American continent during World War II took place on 3 and 4 June 1942, when two Japanese raids were made on the Dutch Harbor in the city of Unalaska, Alaska. While the first did little damage, the second destroyed the base's oil storage tanks, part of the hospital, and damaged a beached barracks ship. Although American pilots had finally located the Japanese carriers, attempts to destroy them proved fruitless. As bad weather again set in, all contact with the enemy fleet was lost.

In all, the Japanese raid claimed 43 U.S. lives, of which 33 were soldiers. Another 64 Americans were wounded. Eleven U.S. planes were downed, while the Japanese lost ten aircraft. During the two-day fight, Naval Task Force 8 had remained south of Kodiak Island, taking no part in the action. On 5 June, it received a report of enemy warships in the Bering Sea heading south toward Unalaska Island, which was interpreted to be a landing force intent upon seizing Dutch Harbor. While Task Force 8 entered the Bering Sea, Hosogaya's fleet moved south to join Yamamoto, who had just suffered the loss of his four large carriers at the Battle of Midway.

Eleventh Air Force - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Heady times those 1940s. Mad props to all those who served, then and now. 🇺🇸

 

[Hammer12b]

unit patch LINK
Insignia, Alaska Air Command, United States Air Force

You beat me to it.

 

[Dmax]

The first two paragraphs on that wiki page are a hot mess and very confusing. The second paragraph is a bit more organized. This page has what I think is pretty good summation:

Alaskan Air Command

Infobox Military Unit unit name= Alaskan Air Command caption= Alaskan Air Command emblem dates= 1945 1990 country= United States allegiance= branch= United States Air Force type= role= Air Defense of North America size= command structure=Major…

en-academic.com

Why this is important is because he's wearing the Alaskan Air Command patch, not the 11th Air Force patch so it would have been post-war when he transitioned from 11th Air Force to AAC. But what's interesting is that it looks like he doesn't have a WWII Victory Medal/ribbon although the black/white coloring is really tough to tell what that outer ribbon is, but if it was clear, the picture would definitely be pre 1945 since he's in the USAAC uniform.

wheelgun_man's post indicates a minimum of three years service with 18 month's overseas duty, so at least one of those ribbons may be an overseas ribbon of some sort. Tour of duty starting perhaps around 1941/1942?

BUT, now we get into some real meat and potatoes confusion because according to the .mil, 11th AF and AAC traded off a couple of times (in typical USAF fashion )

Eleventh Air Force (PACAF)

Lineage. Established as Alaskan Air Force on 28 Dec 1941. Activated on 15 Jan 1942. Redesignated as: 11 Air Force on 5 Feb 1942; Eleventh Air Force on 18 Sep 1942; Alaskan Air Command on 18 Dec 1945;

www.afhra.af.mil

Some point of context regarding Alaskan service in World War II:

Eleventh Air Force - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Heady times those 1940s. Mad props to all those who served, then and now. 🇺🇸

Awsome information Thanks! I was having a hard time with the unit and time frame, thanks again for some clarity. I will see if I can find another picture. This is all very interesting info, I know he died young 45 from cancer. Unfortunately no one knows any thing about his Milittary history. I am going to have to see what his service records show. I will up date everybody once I get them. Thanks again

 

[LTC Don]

In due deference to my younger brother, who actually is an Air Force Historian (even went to school.....) so I can't really throw him under the bus too far as I re-read this entry from the post above in more detail (which I should have done before).

The entry as modified shows: Alaskan Air Force (28 Dec 1941) > 11 Air Force (5 Feb 1942) > Eleventh (11th) Air Force (18 Sep 1942) > Alaskan Air Command (18 Dec 1945) > Eleventh Air Force (9 Aug 1990)

I didn't catch the 'Alaskan Air Force' and 'Alaskan Air Command' difference. I did notice the quick change in less than two months to '11 Air Force', then the later change in September to '11th' (Eleventh) Air Force which I think was more of a typo/aesthetic correction than anything else.

There's actually a lot to unpack in that timeline, but suffice it to say, there was no Interwebs or digital devices back then so everything was analogue and in a state of flux so administrative changes took a long time to catch up. Another example of this is the world famous '8th Air Force' which covered the European Theatre and bore the brunt of the air war over Europe (After the Battle of Britain and the US entered the war.). It's lineage looks like this:
VIII Bomber Command (19 Jan 1942) > Eighth Air Force (22 Feb 1944) > Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) (3 Jun 2008)

His picture was certainly taken sometime after 18 Dec 1945 but if he served in Alaska during his whole tour he went through several administrative transitions in command.

If you search on '11 Air Force', you get some hits in Google, but if you add the 'th' (11th Air Force), Boom -- tons of hits come back.

11th AF - 11th Air Force - WWII - World War II

11th Air Force of the Army Air Forces in World War II

www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org

This site "may" have some impact on his tour in Alaska?

Veterans of the US Army (includes Army Air Corps) - Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Dmax]

Found out that the he got the The Belgian Fourragère. Witch would explane the knotted rope of his sholder. Still waiting to see if military records are available and wernt burned up.