Two Uniforms of U.S. Army Aviation Commander Major General Carl McNair, Jr.
$650.00
The uniforms group is comprised of Major General McNair’s Class “A” uniform, both tunic and trousers, as well as his olive green cotton fatigue uniform with shirt, trousers, and field cap. The high quality tailored Class “A” uniform bears the shoulder patch of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command on the left shoulder below a “Ranger” tab. The right “combat service” shoulder carries the patch of the 1st Aviation Brigade. The shoulder bear the rank stars of a Major General, while a General Staff badge is worn on the right front of the jacket. The upper left chest shows General McNair’s decoration ribbons, to include the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with a combat “V” device and the bronze number “51”, as well as the ribbon for the Vietnam Service medal with five campaign stars (the ribbon set is missing the ribbon for General McNair’s Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and “V” device; additionally, it appears the a mistake was made by the individual who assembled the ribbon set, for instead of the ribbon for the Distinguished Flying Cross, they placed on the set the very similar but incorrect ribbon for the Silver Star). Above the ribbon set is the wing of a Command Army Aviator, while below the ribbons is the wing of a U.S. Army paratrooper.The interior pocket retains the tailor label with the handwritten name of “McNair”. The tunic is accompanied by the matching trousers. The uniform is in excellent condition, without holes, damage or repairs. The fatigue uniform shirt has the subdued patch of the 1st Aviation Brigade on the right shoulder, while the left shoulder bears the patch of the United States Army Aviation Center and School below a subdued “Ranger” tab. The fatigue uniform of shirt and trousers shows spots and signs of wear and use, but it is without holes, damage or repairs. The fatigue uniform includes General McNair’s field cap with tank stars and Command Army Aviator wing. Also with the group is a leather flight jacket name tag. General McNair’s online obituary provides in part as follows:
Ever the aviator, Major General (Retired) Carl Herbert McNair, Junior, filed his final flight plan on May 2, 2022. Born in Pensacola, Florida on September 22, 1933, to the late Carl Herbert McNair, Senior, and Helena Edwards McNair, Carl was the middle child, the beloved namesake boy between two girls, the late Betty Petree of Pensacola, FL and Anita Jane “Patsy” Singletary of Birmingham, AL.
His mother was eager to send him to school at an early age which resulted in his graduation from Pensacola High School at the young age of 17. He was immensely proud to have attended Emory University for one year where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Coming from a naval aviation town, Carl ironically attended West Point from which he graduated in 1955. With his keen interest in aviation, Carl had chosen to enter the Air Force following his USMA graduation and had even purchased his Air Force uniforms. However, a newly invigorating Army foray into aviation, specifically helicopters, changed his mind and he commissioned as a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant. During his military career, in which he logged more than 6000 flight hours (1578 of those in combat), he also received a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and an M.S. in Public Administration from Shippensburg University and was a loyal alum to all his alma maters.
MG McNair had a long and distinguished career of 32 years with the U.S. Army with his finest accomplishments serving as the first Branch Chief of Army Aviation as well as having been the Brigade Commander, Deputy Commanding General, and Commanding General for the U.S. Army Aviation Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Lower Alabama and the Wiregrass district remained dear to his heart for the remainder of his life.
MG McNair was the unofficial voice of Army aviation for many years and held many leadership roles and top offices in the American Helicopter Society (AHS), the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), the Army Historical Foundation, and the National Defense Industrial Association. MG McNair was also awarded many Department of Defense medals including the Distinguished Service Medal [2], Legion of Merit [3], Distinguished Flying Cross [4], Bronze Star [2] with “V” device, 51 Air Medals, the French Order of National Merit, and the Order of Merit from Korea.