Jacket, Service Dress, All Season, M-1967: Colonel, US Air Force

Single-breasted jacket of blue-grey (shade no. 1549) barathea fabric, featuring an open notched collar, button-down shoulder epaulettes, a front fastening of four buttons, pleated breast pockets with scalloped button flaps, slash skirt pockets with rectangular button flaps, plain cuffs with a single band of dark blue officer's lace and a rear vent. All buttons are of oxidised officer-quality USAF pattern. Internally, the jacket is partially lined in blue-grey satin fabric and has a horizontal slash pocket to either side. To the collar points are fitted dull silver 'US' officer quality badges, and white metal rank 'eagles' are attached to the epaulettes. To the right breast is pinned a dark blue plastic name badge, with 'BOYNE' engraved in white capitals. Above the left breast pocket the white metal wing-badge of Command Pilot, and beneath, the awards of the following are represented as ribbons: Bronze Star; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Air Force Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal (with Star); Vietnam Service Medal (with two Stars); Air Force Longevity Service Award (with Two bronze Oak Leafs); Small Arms Expert Marksman, & Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Born in 1929, Walter J Boyne joined the United States Air Force in 1951 as an Aviation Cadet, joining Flight School in November. In December 1952 we was awarded his wing badge (Pilot) and commissioned as Second Lieutenant. Assigned to Castle Air Force Base (California) he flew the B-50 Superfortress with 330th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Wing, then later in 1954 was posted to McConnell Air Force Base (Kansas) where he converted to the B-47 Stratojet. In 1957 he returned to academic studies, earning a master's degree. On his return to flying duties, Boyne became a nuclear test pilot with the 4925th Nuclear Test Group at Kirtland Air Force Base (New Mexico). It was during this time that Boyne commanded both the B-47 and B-52 aircraft. He later served in the Vietnam conflict, commanding the 635th Service Squadron at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Base, flying 120 combat hours as a C-47 Skytrain instructor pilot. Retiring in 1974, Colonel Boyne achieved over 5,000 hours of flying in various aircraft types and later went on to write over 50 books and 1,000 aviation magazine articles as well as becoming a director of the National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian).

PATRIOT STYLED BY Weintraub Brothers & COMPANY PHILADELPHIA

USAF CERTIFICATION NO. HCN-2-1-71 A sample of this item has been inspected and meets or exceeds the quality prescrib- ed by AF SPEC. MIL C27438E & Exceptions. The manufacturer certifies that this item meets the quality of sample approved by USAF.