Air Cadet uniforms
Although the name 'Combined Cadet Force' implies a combination of all three pre-service training organisations,
the majority of school CCFs maintain only an Army section. However, in larger schools there may also be Royal Air
Force and Royal Navy sections, with pupils being offered the chance to join the service of their choice, following
basic training in the Army section. Air Force training in schools became especially popular during World
War Two because of the high profile of the RAF. The fact that air cadets were issued with a rather more presentable
uniform than army cadets added to the appeal.
The picture above shows air cadets of the 1940s parading in smart high-necked tunics with metal buttons. However, the postwar air cadet uniform of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, seen in the photograph below, was more akin to army battledress in pattern, with trousers and a waist-length blouse tailored in RAF blue serge and worn with a grey-blue beret. The air cadets' webbing belt and gaiters, when worn, were treated with blue blanco. Air cadets considered their RAF pattern battledress to be superior to the khaki battledress worn by army cadets. The uniform was better tailored and the blouse was fully lined, unlike its army counterpart. The light blue cotton shirt was also smarter and much more comfortable than the itchy flannel shirt issued to army cadets.
In the late 1970s air cadets ceased to be issued with the by then rather outdated RAF battledress and present day
recruits, such as the school cadets pictured below, now parade in a comfortable and practical outfit of blue trousers
and matching service-style pullover.
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