Home |
CAT |
AAM |
SAT |
ICCS
|
Air Asia |
AAM-Related
|
Contact Us |
Bird Air |
Air
|
CASI |
Other Airlines |
Reproductions |
Other Links |
Wants |
Trade Opportunity |
Air America
Uniform Items Like any airline Air America, Inc. had rules and regulations for uniforms worn by pilots, flight and ground crew. The regular airline runs and dignitaries saw the more formal uniforms. Most often pilots and air crew wore the light gray shirt and darker gray pants with an Ike-style jacket. One pilot reported to me that he flew T-28's wearing a Hawaiian shirt (you decide).
Pilots and crew were issued shirts made on Taiwan. They were then most often given a bolt of cloth, zippers and buttons and then went to a local tailor to have the jackets and pants custom-made. Remarkably there is a lot of uniformity despite all the places these were made. The uniforms we've been able to identify are found in several forms:
- Issue gray uniform shirts - Pilot and Crew Uniforms
- Private purchase gray uniform shirts and dark pants - Pilot and Crew Uniforms. Most vets have told us they were told which local tailors to go to in order to have the uniforms made.
- Issue off-white and dark-colored Ground Crew Uniforms with Air America on the back -- both one and two piece
- Custom-Made informal uniforms such as 4-pocket jackets in a light gray color
- Stewardess uniforms consisting of a gray jacket, shirt, pill-box cap and ivory blouse.
- Formal uniforms worn on regular passenger runs complete with sky- blue tie!
- Issue overcoats and a "cape" with red/orange lining
- Party shirt and custom tailored/embroidered clothing
- Camouflage shirt/pants usually duck-hunter pattern sometimes worn by air crew (privately obtained)
- A "tiger stripe" camouflage flight suit attributed to Air America
If anyone is willing to share a copy of the Uniform Regulations Manual with me I'd greatly appreciate it.
Uniform Requisition for Local Tailor
Courtesy Mike Horetsky and Michael Hasco
Courtesy Mike Horetsky and Michael HascoUniform
Uniform
Ben F. Coleman (11/16/28-7/25/72)
in Air America Uniform1st Pattern Uniform Shirt
Classic 2nd Pattern AAM
Shirt/Pants Set
(note pocket hanger)Classic 2nd Pattern AAM Shirt/Pants Set
(note M-2 carbine and helmet)Who Said Flying Was a Clean Business? Classic AAM Shirt/Pants Set ![]()
Courtesy Ward Reimer
![]()
Courtesy Frank C. BonansingaClassic AAM Shirt/Pants Set -- 1968
Courtesy James DoddsClassic AAM Shirt/Pants Sets ![]()
Class A Uniform
(Wings are Silver)
Peter Woo TailorClass A Uniform
(Wings are Silver)
Peter Woo Tailor
Courtesy J Pearson
Courtesy J Pearson
Courtesy J PearsonSame Class A Uniform Worn by CAT
(uniform hardware was switched)Class A Uniform, Overcoat (large) and Hat Buttons
Class A Uniform Overcoat
1st Pattern Jacket 1st Pattern Jacket in Use
Courtesy G Snyder
from Wings of Air America -- by Terry Love (excellent reference)2nd Pattern "Ike" Jacket 2nd Pattern "Ike" Jacket Back 2nd Pattern Jacket
Collar Detail2nd Pattern Jacket
Tailor Tag from Peter Woo's -- Taipei2nd Pattern Shirt
Note: Epaullettes and added sleeve pocket2nd Pattern Shirt
Note: Epaullettes and added sleeve pocket)Issue Shirt
(note holes for 1/2 wing)Issue Uniform Shirt/ 2nd-Pattern Pants Sets 2nd Pattern Shirt Tags 2nd Pattern Uniform Pants
(interior leg pocket)Note Leg Pocket on Uniform Pants
(interior leg pocket)2nd Pattern Shirt 2nd Pattern Shirt 3rd Pattern Uniform Pants - NOMEX
(interior leg pocket and take-up tab on leg)According to an ex-AAM Rotary-Wing Crew Chief these were "issued" after 1970 and replaced the cotton uniforms (Jackets and Pants) - (Laos-made) Flight Attendant in Uniform --
Hat, Blouse, Skirt, Jacket and Senior Flight Attendant PinAir America Flight Attendants
All passenger flights flown under Part 121 were required to have flight attendants on board. This required that for aircraft of over 19 seats up to 49 seats required one flight attendant. This is even if the seats were empty.
Air America flew a DC-4 from Tachikawa to Misawa to Chitose to Misawa and back to Tachikawa. Additionally there was a flight that went from Tachikawa to Misawa and then to every base in Korea. This flight was a one on one pilot relief for the Air Force. Other flights included: Tachikawa to Iwakuni and back to Tachikawa, Tachikawa to Wakkanai to Chitose and back to Tachikawa.
AAM Stewards and Stewardesses Wearing the Full-Size 1/2 Wing!
Air America Ground Hostess -- Location Unknown AAM Security Team at VTE Off-White Ground Crew Jacket
(worn by Supervisors and Leads)Off-White Ground Crew Jacket
(worn by Supervisors and Leads)Tag from Off-White Ground Crew Supervisor Jacket Off-White Ground Crew Supervisor Jacket
Courtesy Ward ReimerOff-White Ground Crew Supervisor Jacket and Cap Off-White Ground Crew Supervisor Jacket and Cap Working on the "Panama Canal" in the
Dark Colored Ground Crew UniformOff-White Ground Crew Supervisor Uniforms and Hats
Courtesy Ward Reimer
Courtesy Ward ReimerDark Colored Ground Crew Uniforms ![]()
Courtesy Ward ReimerShirt - 2nd Pattern Pants - Cap
Captain Epaulettes
For Jacket -- on dark grey
- 4 stripes -- Captain/Pilot in Charge
- 3 stripes -- First Officer
- 2 stripes -- Kicker/Crew
- 1 stripe -- Flight Attendant (see above)
Captain Epaulettes
Cloth -- Top
For Shirt - on light greyCaptain Epaulettes
Vinyl -- Top
For Shirt - on light grey (vinyl wouldn't rot)
Courtesy L. Margolies
Courtesy L. MargoliesEarly Captain Epaulettes
Cloth -- Blue/SilverEarly Captain Epaulettes
in Use
Flight Officer Epaulettes
Cloth and Vinyl`
Courtesy N.NguyenCustom-made Shirt from Vientiane, Laos
Attributed to Air America Crew Member -- note patch/wings
Courtesy Brenz CollectionCourtesy Brenz Collection
Courtesy Brenz CollectionTiger Stripe Flight Suit
Attributed to Air America Helo CrewmemberSpot Camouflage Jacket
Attributed to Air America Helo CrewmemberFlight Jacket
(USAF Issue - 1971 no insignia)Flight Helmet
Courtesy B. EmblinPrivate Purchase Flight Jacket
(from Vientiane, Laos - no tag, note pockets)Private Purchase Flight Jacket
(from Vientiane, Laos - no tag, note pockets)Private Purchase Flight Jacket in Use
Courtesy Gene HasenfusSurvival Vest -- USAF Issue Worn by AAM Crew Chief
Survival Vest Contents Courtesy J. Dodds Courtesy J. Dodds
![]()
![]()
Copyright 2000, 2001 AAMI