Quote:
Originally Posted by ET2SN
As I understand it, "Brown shoes" mostly referred to Army (USAAF) officers who converted to the Air Force in 1949. The USAF had a new dress/working uniform of a blue suit and white or light blue shirt and black shoes. If the officer started out in the USAAF, they were grandfathered and could either wear the new uniform or the older Army khakis and brown shoes.
By the 1960's, "brown shoes" were senior USAF officers who had been around long enough that they had earned their commission in the Army, during or just after WWII.
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A 'brown shoe' refers to naval aviators because back in the day that's the color of the shoe only they wore because they're just so special.
In the fleet senior officers, bosun's, boatswain's mate, snipes and the lower forms of life like bubbleheads, cannon cockers, junior officers, cooks, and skivvy wavers etc, etc. were issued and wore black shoes. Its been a very long time since brown shoes were a seabag item. But most airdales still know what you're referring too if you call them a brown shoe.
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