Air Force Khaki Uniform

Overview: This khaki uniform would have been worn for formal events attended by the United States Air Force

Construction: This uniform ensemble consists of a khaki jacket and a pair of dress pants. The jacket closes at the front with four ornate silver buttons, each embossed with the United States Air Force seal. Each button is approximately an inch wide. The lapel of the jacket is triangular and comes to a point 1 3/4 inches away from the collar, which has a smaller point. The front face of the jacket has four pockets. The top two are breast pockets with the second pair placed 6 inches below. Both pairs of pockets close with silver buttons identically embossed with the Air Force seal. These buttons are slightly smaller, only 1 5/8 inches wide. Three rows of service ribbons are placed above the left breast pocket. A band of fabric runs across each shoulder, beginning at the arm seam and ending at the collar. Each band has a silver button attached, allowing for something to be attached to the bands. The interior of the jacket is lined with a pale green polyester(?) that begins 3 1/2 inches from the opening of the jacket. There are interior pockets sewn into each breast. The center of the jacket's back has an opening at the bottom that runs for 11 inches. An inch of smocking runs beneath the back of the jacket's collar. The pants of this uniform close with an interior facing button and metal clasp placed above a yellow zipper. Two pleats run from the waistband to the bottom at the front of the pants, whilst two smaller pleats run to the knees along the sides. Two pleats run the length of the back of each leg. There are two shallow pockets at the front of the pants as well as two deeper pockets at the back. The back pockets close with an interior button, and the flaps of their openings are lined with satin. The waistband has seven belt-loops that are each two inches tall. The interior of the waistband, along with the pockets, consists of a cream cotton. The back of the pant's interior is lined with a thinner, darker linen, whereas the front of the pants' interior is lined with a lighter, softer cotton. The interior of the zipper, clasp, and button are lined with the same gossamer satin that the rear pockets are lined with. The waistband measures 36 inches and the legs are 41 inches long

Provenance: Above the interior right breast pocket, orange cursive lettering reads: "Frank C. Church." Above the left breast pocket, a pale blue patch depicts the face of a ram alongside red and white lettering reading: "Y.L.CHANG'S/CHINESE TAILOR/Ah Kong Co./FUKUOKA JAPAN." This donation by Frank Church is part of a full set of Air Force uniforms which were worn by his father, Lt. Col. Frank C. Church (retired USAF).