DIFFERENCES IN UNIFORM OF THE TANK TROOPS AND THE MILITARY AIR FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 15, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: November 6, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
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CI NTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Differences in Uniform. of the Tank Troops and the
Military Air Forces
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED BY SOURCE
toll DOCUMENT 000791NI INFORMATION AFFIOTIM{ THE NATIONAL D E F E N 3E
OF THE UNIT[0 {TAT[/. 11191$ THE MIANIM10? TITLE 13, SECTION{ 793
AND 79 N. 0I THE 1.tCOD[I AD AMENDED. ITS TNAN$$ISEION OR REYE.
LOTION OF IT{ COM T[MTI 70 DR RECEIPT 1Y AN UNAUTHONIDID FE RSDN It
PROHIBITED BY LAB. THE BEPRODVOTION OF THIS FORM It PROHIBITED.
SOURCE
NO. OF ENCLS. 2
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 50X1
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATIO5ox1
1. The Order of the Minister of Armed Forces of the USSR No 037, dated 15 Feb 49,
dealing with the introduction of new uniforms for officer personnel of the Tank
Troops and the Air Force of the Armed Forces, is divided into two sections$ one
of the sections describes the uniforms, the insignia, and the period of wear of
different uniforms for the VVS,and the other for the Tank Troops.
50X1
2. The following differences between the uniforms of the Tank Troops and the Air 50X1
Forces exist:
(a) The color of the uniform is the same in both cases;
(b) The piping on epaulets, collar tabs, headgear, and clothing will differ;
In the VVS,ping will be light blue and black, and in the Tank
Troops, it-will be red and black;
(c) The uniform will be tailored in the same manner for both organizations;
(d) There are no differences in the cut of the daily and parade uniforms be-
tween the two organizations, although there is a difference in the work
uniform. The Air Forces have an airfield uniform which consists of the
blouse from the daily uniform, breeches (worn inside boots), boots, and a
garrison cap. In addition, a belt and shoulder strap is worn above the
blouse. Furthermore, there is a flight uniform which consists of a leather
jacket (made out of kid leather), breeches, boots, a garrison cap and a
crash helmet. Technical personnel are issued fatigues of a light material
during the summer, and fur jacket and fur breeches during the winter,
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECORITY INF0F2-aTION
I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
3.
11.
5.
Tank Troops work uniform consists of: a pull-over tunic, breeches, boots, and flight
cape (overseas caps). In addition, they have light fatigues for the summer and heavy
fe.t::i.;ru.es for the winter. Furthermore, all members of the tank crews are issued special
helmets. The tunic mentioned above has the old-style cut.
The daily uniform, consisting of a jacket and loose breeches, can be combined with the
airfield uniform when officer personnel are working on the airfield, during military
training, war games, and tactical marches (vykhod v polye). During the above-mentioned
times, officer personnel have to wear the jacket from the daily uniform with breeches
inside their boots, as well as a belt and shoulder strap above the jacket. The above
combination is the only one, no other combining of uniforms is permitted. This uniform
is the same for both the winter and summer periods.
Order No 037 of the Minister of Armed Forces states that the shirt to be worn with all
uniforms is khaki and the tie is black. However, I have heard unofficial rumors (from
officers arriving from the USSR as replacements) to the effect that, in 1950, a change (or
an addition) was to take place in this order, in accordance with which the jackets and
breeches of the parade uniform were to be of a dark blue color, the shirt was to be white,
the tie black, and all other clothing was to remain unchanged. The white shirt was to
be worn only with the parade uniform and the khaki shirt with all other uniforms.
The tie is identical for all uniforms.
Officer personnel of the VVS have two types of headgear: a cap with earflaps for winter
conditions, and a garrison cap for summer conditions. In warm regions of the country, the
permanent headgear is the garrison cal---. According; to Order No 037 of the Minister of
Armed Forces, officer personnel are not to wear flap caps (overseas caps) during peace
time.
6.. The headgear for sergeant and private personnel consists of a flight cap for suaoner
conditions, and a cap with earflaps for winter conditions.
7. The headgear for student personnel in air institutes consists of a cap with earflaps (cut
in an officer style) for winter conditions, a flight cap for summer conditions, and an
officer-style garrison cap for parades.
8. The earflap cap for officer personnel is sewn out of a good quality fur and dark grey-
woolen material. The sergeants and privates' earflap cap is made out of artificial fur
and dark grey cotton material. The earflap cap used by students in air institutes is
made of the same aterials as those of the officer personnel.
50X1
9. The officers' garrison hat is made of cloth or a khaki colored woolen material. however,
if the parade uniform is changed to a dark blue color, the parade garrison hay: will have
to be made out of a dark blue woolen .-material.
10. Students in air institutes have flight caps made of woolen material and officer-style,
khaki colored garrison hats, while sergeants and privates have flight caps made of a 50X1
khaki colored cotton cloth.
11. I.n accordance with Order No 037 of the Minister of Armed Forces, pilot, shturmar. (bombar-
dier-navigator) and technical officer personnel of the VVS who have undergone training
in these specialties and who presently occupy corresponding flight or technical positions,
are permitted to wear breast emblems.
50X1
12. In accordance with Order No 037 all officers have undergone flight training wear gold
colored wings with crossed daggers and a red star; all officers who have undergone ehturman
training wear gold colored wings with a bomb and red star; and officers with bechnical
training wear silver wings with a crossed harmer _.nd wrench and a red star. Officers
having both flight and technical traini.n;, regardless of which was taken first, riust wear
flight breast emblems.
13. In 1950, the Commander in 'hief of the Air Force of the armed Forces issued Order No
0015 "dealing with the introduction of a system of classification of pilot an navigator
personnel in'the VVS." In accordance with this order, additional now breast emblems
showing the classification of VVS pilot and shturman personnel were introduced. The
following categories were indicated and this order:
SECRET/S.dCuhITY INFOk LTION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
SECRF:T/S`CCJ:JTY INFO iLATTON 50X1
(a)
Pilot,
1st Class
(b)
Pilot,
2nd Class
cc)
Pilot,
3rd 0lass
d)
Shturinian, 1st Class
(e)
Shtur:nan, 2nd Class
Ef)
Shturr an,th Class
On the basis of these classes, a nuvber indicating a given class was placed on the breast
wings. In order to be placed in a class, a pilot or navigator had to have a Level of
flight training which corresponded to the class.
14. Upon graduating from an air institute, pilots and navigators are not assigned any category
(or class) in their specialty. Only after such an individual has arrived in fti? unit
and spent some time there, Candle be placed in the third category (if the level of his
flight or navigation training meets the requirera'Dnts of this category). Upon graduating
from the above air institutes, officers have the right to wear gold colored wings
corresponding to their flight specialty. Officers graduating from air technical institutes
receive silver breast wings with a crossed harmer and wrench and a red star. the silver
wings of technical officer personnel do not have any numbers.
50X1
15. If any silver wings with crossed daggers and a rod star, or with a bomb (with its
stabilizer facing down) and a red star have a-,peared, this may designate pilot and
navigator personnel who have retired for various reasons, or young pilot personnel who
do not yet have a class (i e, those who h ,ve gust co.i,pleted an institute). 1.i1_s, in
turn, would signify that an addition has been iaa i.e to Order No 037 or ivo 0015.
16. it is necessary to remember that both the parade and daily overcoats are of trio same
color although the quality of the material is different. The daily overcoats are daz50X1
grey and made out of "all' type cloth (sukno riarki flhri"); the parade overcoat is i:nade of
a dark grey heavy woolen cloth. The daily overce.aat may be worn with the daily, airfield,
and flight uniform, whereas, the parade overcoat can be worn only with the parade uniform.
17. Officers having flight or navigation training must wear flight cap badges (letnyi krab)
on garrison hats, earflap caps, and fur caps (pa;~ahki). Officers having technical
training and officers having no flight or navigation training do not have the right to
wear flight cap badges on th:i_r garrison hats, earflap caps, or fur caps.
ENCLOSURE (A): Sketch of the epaul:_t of a student in the Kharkov Air institute for
Pilots (k1:AU). '1'liis particular student is in the military grade of
Corporal.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8
Ei C > SURE (A) SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
SKETCH OF EPAULET OF STUDENT IN KHARKOV AIR INSTITUTE FOR PILOTS (KhAU)
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200090010-8