1940's White Christmas Ball in Denver

swdw · 12-03-15, 12:39 AM

Heading there for our 2nd time this year. We went last year and had a blast. Most people dress in period attire so my decision was easy. Got me a set of crackerjacks since my old dress blues from the 80's won't go over my shoulders (Consequences of lifting weights for a decade).

Anyway, we were in a rush so I ordered some repros. They were ok but just not the same. I had my Dad's blues from WWII but they don't fit either.

Because of the rush last year I back tracked the insignia to the 50's and went that way as enlisted men wore dolphin pins then. Before the boomer patrol pin was issued, undetected boomer patrols used the submarine war patrol pin, so I picked one up and move the stars to that pin. Slap on the ribbons and I was ready to go.

Since I had time before this year's ball, I found a set of dress blues on ebay from the WWII era (based on the tag in the jumper). Found a repro of the dolphin patch worn by enlisted before 1947. So this year, I'll be in WWII dress blues. The dolphins are sewn on the right sleeve like they are supposed to be in that era. The patrol pin will be above the ribbons. The ribbons are current issue size rather than the larger ones like my Dad's.

My wife suggested wearing his ribbons to "honor him". I put that idea to rest immediately. She didn't get why I gave such an adamant no until she talked to some other people she knows that were in the military (my explanation didn't get through because I'm her husband and at first she just thought I was being stubborn).

So anyway, short of the ribbons and the goatee that I refuse to shave off (hey they were legal when I was in in the 80's), I now have a set of era correct dress blues sporting the appropriate insignia. All of which I earned.

BTW, what do you do with piping that is beyond hope of getting back to white? You cheat and use white fabric paint

Here's a link to the ball info
http://1940sball.org/1940sball/1940s_christmas_ball/

AVGWarhawk · 12-03-15, 09:59 AM

Looks like a fantastic time. I would certainly attend if I could!

Eichhörnchen · 12-03-15, 10:54 AM

We wore 1950s British battledress (BD) in the 1970s as army cadets; those of us who were NCOs routinely whitened our sleeve chevrons with what I guess you'd call gym-shoe whitener.

Webbing belts and gaiters were 'dressed' with what we called "Blanco", a thick gel-like paste in a tin, applied (with not a little skill) using a wetted brush similar to a shoe brush. I mention this because most regiments applied a blanco which dried quickly to one of various pale greenish colours, yet bandsmen (and Regimental Police) used a white blanco.

Just thought you might find that interesting; I know the US Army would've smartened up their uniforms in a similar way.

swamprat69er · 12-05-15, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swdw

My wife suggested wearing his ribbons to "honor him". I put that idea to rest immediately.

Why can't you wear your Dads campaign ribbons (only the ribbons, not the medals) on the opposite breast to your own?
Just askin'.

GT182 · 12-05-15, 12:03 PM

I envy you Swdw. I wish I was closer, I'd go too. Especially seeing it's at the Air Museum. Take lots of photos.

Commander Wallace · 12-06-15, 10:29 AM

Sounds like a great time .

~ Enjoy ~

Catfish · 12-06-15, 02:09 PM

Yep that looks and sounds good ... but .. on the other side of the pond

12-03-15, 12:39 AM	#1
swdw Grey Wolf Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 921 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	1940's White Christmas Ball in Denver Heading there for our 2nd time this year. We went last year and had a blast. Most people dress in period attire so my decision was easy. Got me a set of crackerjacks since my old dress blues from the 80's won't go over my shoulders (Consequences of lifting weights for a decade). Anyway, we were in a rush so I ordered some repros. They were ok but just not the same. I had my Dad's blues from WWII but they don't fit either. Because of the rush last year I back tracked the insignia to the 50's and went that way as enlisted men wore dolphin pins then. Before the boomer patrol pin was issued, undetected boomer patrols used the submarine war patrol pin, so I picked one up and move the stars to that pin. Slap on the ribbons and I was ready to go. Since I had time before this year's ball, I found a set of dress blues on ebay from the WWII era (based on the tag in the jumper). Found a repro of the dolphin patch worn by enlisted before 1947. So this year, I'll be in WWII dress blues. The dolphins are sewn on the right sleeve like they are supposed to be in that era. The patrol pin will be above the ribbons. The ribbons are current issue size rather than the larger ones like my Dad's. My wife suggested wearing his ribbons to "honor him". I put that idea to rest immediately. She didn't get why I gave such an adamant no until she talked to some other people she knows that were in the military (my explanation didn't get through because I'm her husband and at first she just thought I was being stubborn). So anyway, short of the ribbons and the goatee that I refuse to shave off (hey they were legal when I was in in the 80's), I now have a set of era correct dress blues sporting the appropriate insignia. All of which I earned. BTW, what do you do with piping that is beyond hope of getting back to white? You cheat and use white fabric paint Here's a link to the ball info http://1940sball.org/1940sball/1940s_christmas_ball/ __________________ "There are only two types of ships- submarines...... and targets" Unknown "you wouldn't catch me on a ship that deliberately sinks itself"- comment to me from a surface sailor. System: AMD 6300 3.5 GHz \| 32GB DDR3 \| SATA 300 320GB HD, SATA III 1TB HD, SATA III 1.TB HD \| ASUS Sonar DS sound card NVIDIA 1660 Super OC \| Windows 10

12-03-15, 09:59 AM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,275 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Looks like a fantastic time. I would certainly attend if I could! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

12-03-15, 10:54 AM	#3
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,408 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	We wore 1950s British battledress (BD) in the 1970s as army cadets; those of us who were NCOs routinely whitened our sleeve chevrons with what I guess you'd call gym-shoe whitener. Webbing belts and gaiters were 'dressed' with what we called "Blanco", a thick gel-like paste in a tin, applied (with not a little skill) using a wetted brush similar to a shoe brush. I mention this because most regiments applied a blanco which dried quickly to one of various pale greenish colours, yet bandsmen (and Regimental Police) used a white blanco. Just thought you might find that interesting; I know the US Army would've smartened up their uniforms in a similar way. __________________

12-05-15, 12:03 PM	#5
GT182 Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Castle of Delaware Posts: 3,231 Downloads: 658 Uploads: 0	I envy you Swdw. I wish I was closer, I'd go too. Especially seeing it's at the Air Museum. Take lots of photos. __________________ Gary No Borders, No Language, No Culture =s No Country I'm a Deplorable, and proud of it.

12-06-15, 02:09 PM	#7
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,773 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Yep that looks and sounds good ... but .. on the other side of the pond __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.

12-06-15, 10:29 AM	#6
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,314 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	Sounds like a great time . ~ Enjoy ~