USAF Experimental Blue Tigerstripe BDU

Sneak preview of today's find — better pictures and information to follow.

Yum!

...with matching cover! Very nice!

Well done!! A really dumb camo idea from a military standpoint, but damned fine looking for us collectors. The hat is super rare. I think I lost out on one for more than I bought a set for!

Note that there are two versions and it's nearly impossible to tell the difference except for the label. In fact, off the top of my head I can't even remember what the differences are!!

There is also a woman's uniform with slightly different tailoring. I know this because I accidentally acquired a set! I don't know if they came in Type I and Type II or just one type.

Steve

So, the backstory to these: My flight commander knows I collect camo uniforms, and we were chatting one day about uniforms and he mentioned something about "blue BDUs". After some discussion, I realised he'd been referring to the experimental blue tigerstripes. He said he still had a set or two left in the garage, and would dig me out one for my collection. This is my first experimental uniform acquisition, and I'm pretty excited!

He was issued these when the Air Force was experimenting with uniforms to replace the BDU. He was issued four sets to wear as a daily uniform for 18 months during the wear-test/feedback stage; that is why there are some stains and fading present. He is a prior-enlisted officer and had not commissioned at the time these were issued, hence the Staff Sergeant stripes on the arm.

Now for some photographs:


These are similar to the BDUs, except the shirt has only 2 pockets on the front. It also has internal chest pockets. Nametapes are intact; surname and any other information has been deliberately obscured in these pictures for privacy, since the previous owner is still on active duty.


Close up of pattern and USAF logo.


8-point hat.


Hat tag.


Shirt tag. A little blurry...


Trouser tag. The tag on both shirt and trousers says "Type II", eluding to the different versions Steve was referring to earlier.

Nice set of uniforms sir!

Beautiful examples Ben,never knew there was such a thing until today,you are in a great environment to pick gems like these..so good on you Mate,nice one!!

Thanks, gents. This is one I knew about but never thought I'd ever see!

I had heard about them but these are the first I've seen in private collection , nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's one of those things. They came out in decent numbers in a very short period of time and I think a lot of people figured "I'll get one later when the price drops", but there's been very few out there since. I've got one complete mens set, an incomplete shirt from another, and a complete womans set. Badging only one one shirt, which is a problem because it's unique to this issue of uniform. The hat is the thing that really cause problems. This is the first hat I've seen in a collector's hands.

Steve

There's also a Gore-Tex version. ECWCS gen1 cut.

The hat is really that hard to come by? I honestly had no idea.

Philip, do you have photos of the Goretex in this pattern? I'd never heard of that before!

Nowadays any piece in this pattern is hard to come by!


(pic source: Eric H Larson)

Wow, that Goretex is superb! Where did Eric find that?!

The Digital Tigerstripe with the "All Terrain" colourway on the left, similar to the U.S. Army Universal Camouflage Pattern colourway. Experimental Blue Tigerstripe colourway on the right.

Goretex parka in the blue tiger pattern:

Hope you got a good deal on it I was bidding on one for a friend and it went for a $277. Ouch.

Steve

I didn't pay nearly that much, thankfully. But considering the ABUs themselves were given to me as "garage clutter", the amount invested in this ensemble has been very wallet-friendly.

Love the camo name and USAF tapes, and of course the entire post.

That has to be scarce...as any insignia in this pattern would be...

The cap looks to me like an 8 point cover.  If that is so, it  is really strange...

Very nice......

rip....

Thanks, Rip.

It is indeed an 8-point cover. That was the style the AF trialed for this pattern. Some airmen used to wear 8-point DCU covers back some years ago, but since the adoption of the current ABU, everything is in the rounded patrol cap style.

My pleasure,

Love the way the greens and the blues blend to form that unique tiger pattern..

Also, just learned that 8 point DCU covers have been worn by USAF personnel ..

Good info, I had no idea...Thanks.

rip....