WWII Army Officers Dress Shoes

[Wild Root]

This is what I was told and I have firm belief this is correct.

Prier to WWII in the 30?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s shoes was black in peace time. Soon as WWII hit, the shoes went to brown for the Army and Army Air Corps. I think this was the same for the USMC.

In pre war uniform the enlisted and officer visor caps had black bills the neck tie was also black and so were the shoes. About 1942 it changed to Brown. It was brown till about 1947 I believe. By that time the Army Air Force (Previously known as the Army Air Corps from WWI to 1942) became its own branch of the service. Thus, changing their uniforms from OD green or Pinks and Greens to the blue uniforms with black shoes.

I wear brown with my WWII uniforms except my Navy Blues.

Hope that helps,

Root.

[Vladimir Berkov]

Are you sure the pre-WW2 shoes were black, Root?

The reason I ask is that I have a pair of the WWI enlisted infantry boots and they are brown as are all officer and cavalry US boots during that war.

[Wild Root]

Black for peace time and brown for war time. I ment WWI as well. Sorry about that.

Root.

[MudInYerEye]

Asked the old man about this matter. According to him, black shoes and boots were Nineteenth Century blue uniform fare and were phased out with the introduction of khaki uniforms, thus brown shoes and boots becoming the norm. Apparently, this continued throughout the Korean War, when eventually sometime in the late 50's black shoes and boots re-appeared. However, throughout the entire Twentieth Century black shoes were always worn with Army dress blues.
Again, this is second hand information.

[Zemke Fan]

All:

Just joined the forum and this is my first post. I am working hard to assemble several AAF uniforms and have nearly everything I need except the Class A winter tunic (I'm a 46L!) and the low quarter russet shoes.

I noticed in one of these posts that someone indicated that current USN aviator shoes are a pretty close match. Try as I may, I can't find an online source for these. Anyone know how a civilian can score a pair of 13D's??

None of the regular WWII reenactor sources are carrying the low quarters at present and I am trying to keep the price down to under $100.

Thanks!

PS: My avatar name is Zemke Fan, which you WWII buffs will recognize as having two meanings: (1) I think Hub Zemke was THE leading group commander in the ETO; and (2) one of his tactical breakthroughs became known as the Zemke Fan.

[grant]

Hey Zemke Fan,
Have you read the book ZEMKE'S WOLFPACK by Hub and Roger Freeman? Awesome book about Hub and the 56th FG. I collect original AAC photographs and recently bought a photo of what I thought was just a section of early P-47 razorbacks flying over Connecticut. Turns out it's an early photo of Zemke leading his section when he was wing commander of the 61st FS prior to shipping out for England. Pretty cool.

Grant

[Zemke Fan]

Yes, I have. It's a great book. Other aces of the 56th also wrote good autobiographies including Francis Gabreski (Gabby) and Robert Johnson (Thunderbolt!). I am finishing a screenplay based on the material in all of these and some other works. It's a GREAT story. And, the working title is "Zemke's Wolfpack."

[Prairie Shade]

HI YA Zemke: Here I am in another section of the Lounge. We have talked about russet low quarters and am still looking BUT I thought I would tell you about the USN AViator shoes. I have had a pair for 10-12 years, they have rubber soles and they are the Bates type lightweights. OK, but not what I really like. How to get them, well they used to sell to Civilians if you were a good talker, but not now. Find yourself a navy man and have him order them for you, or look in Navy towns at Surplus stores, or just buy some good ones when we finally find them. Keep looking!!!!!

[ltedge]

As a Naval Aviator I can tell you that up until a few years ago, brown shoes or boots in the Navy were authorized only for Aviation Officers and Chiefs to be worn with Khaki, Aviation Green or Flight Suits. Now all Naval Officers and Chiefs are authorized to wear them with Khakis regardless of job. Most non-aviators, however, still wear only black shoes out of principal, although there are quite a few that have made the switch.

[Biltmore Bob]

Where would one find the modern brown shoes and boot issued to Navy presonel? Or, is it private purchases. When I was in the Marines in the early 80's I don't remember any of the Cheifs or Airedales wearing brown leather.