US Army Air Forces to US Air Force Headwear
The uniforms worn by Lt. Col. O'Day reflect a period of change from the wartime US Army Air Forces to the independent US Air Force. This post examines surviving cap details and what they may tell us about his service and later career.
Lt. Colonel Russell M. Hanna O’Day was a Pilot in US Army Air Force during WW2. After the USAAF became the US Air Force in 1947, O’Day exchanged his iconic khaki Crusher and his US Army uniform for the Blue Visor Cap and the matching US Air Force Uniform. His Officer’s Dress cap was shipped by John Locke in May 1966 from Number 6 St James Street in London to the HQ USAFE (MDC-MSSG) 09633 (Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe which is a major Air Force command located in Germany). The iconic Cap has the USAF insignia and the visor decoration associated with his rank. The visor of a US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) Service Dress Cap features silver bullion embroidery depicting stylized clouds and lightning bolts, commonly referred to as "clouds and darts" or "scrambled eggs". This decoration is standard for all field-grade officers (Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and Colonels).
This is Lt. Col. O'Day's tunic, above, with bullion Lieutenant Colonel Insignia on the shoulder straps. On the left chest is the Command Pilot's Wings placed above the medal ribbons, which are:
1st Row: Air Medal / Air Force Commendation Medal
2nd Row: Army Commendation Medal / Army and USAF Presidential Unit Citation / Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
3rd Row: American Defense Service Medal / American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
4th Row: WW2 Victory Medal / Army of Occupation Medal / National Defense Service Medal / Air Force Longevity Ribbon
5th Row: Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon / Philippine Liberation Medal / USN USMC USCG USAF Army Medal Award Philippine Independence / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
The tunic shown below, is that of a USAF Colonel contemporaneous with Lt. Col. O' Day, dating from the early 1960's.
The buttons on O'Day's Tunic are the specific ones belonging to the US Air Force and are manufactured by the Waterbury Button Company. 
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