Grummanite buddy Bill Barto passes on the following:
On Sat (Oct 3) the American Airpower Museum hosted “Cold War Recognition Day” for Congressman Steve Israel. He is extremely pro-veteran, and pro-Museum. He’s my congressman and he’s OK by me.
I was in attendance wearing my old (40 year old, that is) Army fatigues. One of the invited guests was the gent in the attached image. He is Vladimir Edelmann, Colonel, in the Soviet Air Defense, now living in Brooklyn. He gave a nice presentation, right after a few remarks made by your truly (see second attachment).
I never imagined when I was in the Army that I would be shaking hands with a Soviet Officer some 40 years later.
I always love those old Soviet uniforms! Got a spare few square inches? Doesn’t matter where…slap a medal on there!
Thanks, Bill. As always, we/I appreciate all you do up there with the others in the American Airpower Museum, keeping those beautiful old birds in such good shape. I hope to get back up there again sometime soon and take another look around.
Photos courtesy John “Moose” Musolino
AVCM T N Cantrell (ret 86) // Oct 6, 2009 at 8:14 am
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.
Bill Barto // Oct 6, 2009 at 11:01 am
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).
olga // Oct 6, 2009 at 11:56 am
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
)
Pinch // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I think Olga would probably come out on top in this question!!!
Kath // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Wonder how much all that weighs? Kind of makes the poor man a bit top heavy.
Bill Barto // Oct 7, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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.
olga // Oct 7, 2009 at 3:58 pm
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…