Chout wrote:
If I am not mistaken, the questions were 1) the SSI in the first photo and 2) the insignia on the cap of the individual facing the camera in the second photo.
1) The SSI (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) is that of the Army Air Force worn by most states side personnel. It is sometimes referred to as the Hap Arnold patch. Its position on the left sleeve indicates it is the SSI of current unit of assignment. A SSI on the right sleeve indicates a former wartime assignment, i.e. a combat patch.
2) The service cap insignia is that prescribed for wear by commissioned officer in the United States Army, the displayed eagle from the seal of the US.
The "Crush" on the cap and the fur collared flight jacket would indicate the officer is a pilot or aircrew. Though the rakish appearance of the airman was appropriated by their ground bound support personnel as well. The crush was attained by removing the stiffener from the interior top of the cap to facilitate the wearing of headphones whose continued wear bent the sides down towards the center of the cap.
The quickest way to determine if the naval officer is Navy or Coast Guard would be to see the device centered above the rank stripes on the sleeve.
The officer wearing the overseas/garrison cap is a Lieutenant as indicated by the single bar on his epaulet and on the left side of his overseas cap. Whether he is a Second Lieutenant or a First Lieutenant is hard to discern due to glare reflecting from the metal surfaces. The epaulet looks more silver but the cap appears more gold.
As Imagery Analysis was not my Military Occupational Specialty, I can not be more specific.
If I am not mistaken, the questions were 1) the SS... (
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Thanks for this explanation, Chout. It's still interesting what one can discern from a 75 year old kodachrome slide.