Into the Blue: Uniforms of the United States Air Force 1947 - to the Present Vol.1

Back when I was about 12 years old, I became interested in military uniforms and still find it a fascinating subject to this day. For my own background, after four years in Air Force ROTC, I served on active duty in the Air Force for over 24 years and then worked as a government contractor with the Air Force for more than 18 more years, so the Air Force is probably in my DNA by now!This book is outstanding. The title is slightly misleading--but in a positive way. The author actually goes back many years before the establishment of the USAF as a separate service in 1947, so he provides us with a good history of the uniform from back in the days of the Air Service and Air Corps as well.In my own collection, I have copies of AFM 35-10, AFR 35-10, and AFI 36-2903 (uniform regulations) dating back to 1968. This book provides comprehensive information for all eras, the most important for me, personally, being those years prior to 1968 (the year after I entered active duty). One thing that I find especially impressive is the rich array of hundreds of photos--almost all full color--of actual uniform and insignia items from over the year. It is obvious that he did a tremendous amount of research on this, and he covers many things I did not previously know.The binding and paper quality is exceptional too--top quality. This is a great book and a great buy. If you want a rich history of U.S. Air Force uniforms in one convenient volume, you need a copy of this book!

"Into the Blue: Uniforms of the United States Air Force..." is a large, scholarly and definitive work. Dealing entirely with the evolution of USAF uniforms since the services inception in 1947, it is a supply sargeants' dream! The book presents the enlisted/officer uniform, both male and female, as a work in progress. Photo and illustration-rich, this work is a must for anyone with a historical eye on the USAF. The book covers ONLY uniforms and uniform parts, NOT flight equipment/uniforms which, one may hope is the companion volume. It is well worth the cover price for me as an amateur historian and USAF retiree!DAJ1

Great resource book, and an interesting read. There are two volumes. Some minor points of reference I might quibble over with the author on many of the women's items over the years but overall a great resource. I personally wished that he had used more from older printings of AFR 35-10 and the newer AFI 36-2903 to illustrate and explain.

Disappointing. The book is only about dress blues. Nothing on fatigues, bdu's, and flightsuits, that were worn by the majority of troops that make the USAF work. This book seems to be written by and for someone, who never saw the outside of an office.

The one and only reference to US Air Force uniforms and accessories. My only complaint is that several photos are blurry. I wish they were not. I cannot wait for volume three. I need information on fatigues.

This book just blows me away.I cannot say enough about this very organized, detailed, informative and exceptionally photographed book.Collectors, military historians, USAF veterans reminiscing about "traditions" and even John Q. Citizen wanting to take a peek at a little piece of the world's greatest Air Force, this is the book to take a gander at.Not a day goes by that, as a collector, I do not open this encyclopedia of Air Corps/USAF militaria, filled with all that I love, and drool a little.HIGHLY recommended and encouraged. Well worth it. Looking forward to the next volume!

Nostalgic look at the uniforms of the Air Force from Air Corps days to today. I still miss my 1505's.

This is one of the best reference works I have ever seen, the author starts with WWII and goes to present time with the best photographs and explaining every small change in detail. If one did not collect USAF uniforms they would after reading this book. Also the quality of the photographs and book itself is the best, NO JUNK HERE. If you have not looked at it do so, your missing out on a lot.