Comments on: East Meets West

By: olga

olga — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:58:22 +0000

I think he is probably from the anti-aircraft/missle defense forces, they are part of the Army or land-based military (sukhoputnye voiska), not AF, thus the sea-blue parade uniform. My ex-fiance was an officer in the same branch )
First there were separate artillery and anti-aircraft/missle defense (rocketno-zenitnye voiska), then it was combined artillery and missle defense, then they separated them into artillery and missle defense/space force…
as far as uniforms go, I believe the black SS uniform was the best uniform ever…

By: Bill Barto

Bill Barto — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:39:13 +0000

I don’t think he’s (former) Soviet Air Force. As Olga pointed out the AF uniform would be darker. Must admit I’m not up on Soviet/Russian military uniforms. I do remember hearing the term “Air Defense” mentioned that day.

By: Kath

Kath — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:28:46 +0000

Wonder how much all that weighs? Kind of makes the poor man a bit top heavy.

By: Pinch

Pinch — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:28:32 +0000

I think Olga would probably come out on top in this question!!!

By: olga

olga — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:56:58 +0000

Did you mean “Air Defense” as in “anti-aircraft”?? The color of his parade uniform is not the AF one… AF has it in very dark blue, Navy is black/white (depending on the season) and the rest is this beautiful sea-blue… My favorite suit was made out of this material )

By: Bill Barto

Bill Barto — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:01:10 +0000

I agree with the Luftwaffe comment. Having spent six months in Herzogenaurach, Germany, I came across many Bundeswehr types and between the Army, Navy and Air Force (they ALL look sharp), the Luftwaffe has the most impressive uniform (as they did in WWII).

By: AVCM T N Cantrell (ret 86)

AVCM T N Cantrell (ret 86) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:14:08 +0000

I agree with liking the look of the old Soviet uniforms, but, after a tour at Spangdahlem nothing will ever quite equal the German Luftwaffe for color, fit, and impact.