Vehicles: Trucks, Sedans, Jeeps

1957 - Chevrolet Classic

1957 Chevrolet Classic used by Armed Forces Police in D.C. (A1C (E-4) John W. Cook in front)
(photo courtesy of John W. Cook)

1962 - Plymouth Fury

1962 Plymouth Fury used by Armed Forces Police in D.C. (A1C (E-4) John W. Cook in front)
(photo courtesy of John W. Cook)

1960s ~ Cadillac Gage "Commando" APC

Cadillac Gage "Commando" armored personnel carrier 4x4 amphibious vehicle used in Vietnam (Wikipedia article)
(USAF photo)

1960s ~ AMC Jeep

AMC Jeep used in Vietnam by the 821st A Flight Heavy Weapons Phan Rang AB 1968
Photo courtesy: Jim Sly
(used with permission of Gary Jones, 822nd CSPS, Safeside Association Webmaster)

1967 - Dodge 500 "six pack" truck

1967 ~ Dodge 500 (?), Goose Bay AB, Labrador
(photo courtesy of Dave Wagner)

1960s ~ 1970s Chevrolet Suburban

• No picture available of the Chevrolet Suburban used by the 3800th SPS


• Affectionately known as the "War Wagon"


• Had room for about 8-10 SPs, plus equipment


• The manual transmission had something like 3 low gears, 2 mid, and 2 high, plus 3 reverse gears

1970s ~ Chevrolet panel van

1970s Chevrolet panel van used by Maxwell AFB E.S.T. ~ 1978
Standing: Mike Esquibel, Bill McCue, Steve Branyon, Martin McSween, Charlie Beck
Kneeling: Charles Aldridge, Doug Little, Chuck Drake, SrA (first name unknown) Sawyer
Not pictured: Larry Eaton
(photo by Larry Eaton, courtesy of Chuck Drake)

1975 - Ford F-150

1975 Ford F-150 used at Maxwell AFB
(photo by Philip "J.P." Brown)

1976 - AMC wagon

1976 AMC wagon used at Maxwell AFB
(photo by Philip "J.P." Brown)

1978 - Plymouth Volaré

1978 Plymouth Volaré used at Maxwell AFB (Steve Branyon in front)
(photo by Philip "J.P." Brown)

1978 - Plymouth Volaré

1978 Plymouth Volaré used at Maxwell AFB (Philip "J.P." Brown in door well)
(photo by Steve Branyon)

1982 - Ford sedan

1982 Ford Crown Vic used at Maxwell AFB (Charles J. Beck in front)
(photo by unknown)

1987 - Plymouth Reliant K Car

1987 Plymouth Reliant K Car at Gunter AFS (A1C Aaris Hill in front)
(photo courtesy of Charles "Dave" Catholdi)

1990s ~ Humvee

Humvee used during Desert Storm, Mirage AB, U.A.E. ~ 1990-91
(photo courtesy of Charles "Dave" Catholdi)

2000s ~ Humvee

Humvee used in Iraq ~ 2000s
(USAF photo)

2007 ~ 2009 Chevrolet Impala

2007 ~ 2009 Chevrolet Impalas
Randall Calderon, Sr, DOD cop, Fort Dix, NJ, and
A1C Alexander McPeake, 87th SFS, McGuire AFB, NJ
(USAF photo)

2009 - M-ATV

2009 M-ATV
Mine-resistant ambush-protected All-Terrain Vehicle
This vehicle is the successor to the up-armored Humvee
(USAF photo by SrA Felicia Juenke)

Even in Boats

OSI Agents training with the Essex Police Tactical Boat Unit in England
(USAF photo)

2009 - Also in U.S. Army Helicopters

Training Mission - 2009
532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Quick Reaction Force
U.S. Army "C" Company, 1-137th Aviation Regiment
Joint Base Balad, Iraq
(USAF photo)

MP, AP, SP, SF Designations

Given that the Air Force was derived from the Army Air Corps in 1947, our original "Top Cop" was designated as the "Air Provost Marshall" and we cops were initially still MPs. Then came "Air Police", "Security Police", and "Security Forces". The Strategic Air Command even had a designation of "Combat Defense Squadrons".

Milestones

• 1941 - Military Police Corps established


• 1943 - Air Provost Marshall position created


• 1947 - Military Police designation retained when USAF becomes separate branch


• 1948 - Air Police designation


• 1966 - Security Police designation


• 1997 - Security Forces designation

Badges and Arm bands


MP Brassard
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Brassard
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 42
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 52
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 48986
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 15302
(owned by Don Giesey, photo by Philip "J.P." Brown)

• Special thanks to Alan Hayes for permission to use the following three images of badges. They can be found at his Westover AFB Web Site

AP Badge
(photo used with permission from 814thcds.com - Alan Hayes)


AP Badge
(photo used with permission from 814thcds.com - Alan Hayes)


SP Badge
(photo used with permission from 814thcds.com - Alan Hayes)


SP Badge Scotchlite® decal
(scanned by Philip "J.P." Brown)

Combat Security Police and
"Operation Safeside"

During the Vietnam war, SPs initially provided local security at air bases, but as the war progressed, guerilla tactics led to the creation of Combat Security Police Squadrons via "Operation Safeside". Below is a link to the Safeside Association web site where details can be found:

Safeside Association Web Site

This and That

1949 - The first AIR POLICE armband (brassard) was authorized on 11 February 1949. It was ultramarine blue with golden orange letters. (via John Cook)

1956 - The second issue arm band was available (gray letters on dark blue). (via John Cook)

1959 - June - SAC re-designated all "Air Police Squadrons" as "Combat Defense Squadrons". (via John Cook)

1966 - "Air Police" was changed to "Security Police" in November 1966. (Reference: AFM 125-3, Security Police Handbook, 30 September 1968). Primary AFSC was changed from 771XX to 81XXX. (via John Cook)

1977 - The Airman, Airman First Class, and Senior Airman stripes were changed to include a dark blue star, instead of a white star. This was done to distinguish a Senior Airman (E-4) from a Sergeant (E-4).

One received a promotion to Sergeant (E-4) after serving an appropriate period of time as a Senior Airman. This allowed the new E-4 to gain experience in-grade before taking on NCO duties. The two were the same pay grade, but the Sergeant rank carried NCO status.


Airman stripes ~ 1976
(scanned by Philip "J.P." Brown)


Airman First Class stripes ~ 1977 (take note of the dark blue star)
(scanned by Philip "J.P." Brown)


Senior Airman stripes ~ 1978 (take note of the dark blue star)
(scanned by Philip "J.P." Brown)

Photos (Historic)

Special thanks to John W. Cook for the following three photographs. He served as an AP in the early 1960s in Germany and DC.

1961 - APs in Germany During Cold War

At Grünstadt in Germany - Air Policemen A2C Mariner and A1C JW Cook (38 APS) at the main gate of "C" Flight, 38 TMW, Summer of 1961. (APS - Air Police Squadron, TMW - Tactical Missile Wing)
(photo courtesy of John Cook ( Cookieman1@cox.net ))

John states they carried the M1911 .45 Pistol, and had M-2 Carbines and Browning Automatic Rifles at each guard post.

1963 - APs Stateside

A1C (E-4) John W. Cook with Armed Forces Police, Washington, DC, Spring 1963 (notice the caption mistakenly says "Spring 1953", however the vehicle is a 1957 Chevy Classic. It is also a "Navy" vehicle.)
(photo courtesy of John Cook)

John states they carried USAF Combat Masterpiece S&W .38s while assigned to the AFP in DC.


A1C (E-4) John W. Cook with Armed Forces Police, Washington, DC, Fall 1963 (notice that he was driving an "Army" 1963 Plymouth Fury)
(photo courtesy of John Cook)

1968 - Combat SPs Serving at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam

821st A Flight Heavy Weapons Phan Rang AB 1968
L/R: Lavan, Sly, Clark, Barkley, Lacy, Watson, Hill, Walter
Photo courtesy: Jim Sly
(used with permission of Gary Jones, 822nd CSPS, Safeside Association Webmaster)

1975 - SPs Die in Final Battle of Vietnam Era

Killed En Transit - USAF SPs of the 56th SPS
(USAF photo by Boyd Belcher)

When the Cambodian Khmer Rouge seized the U.S.S. Mayagüez, the first combat forces sent to the area to stage were Air Force SPs. The Air Force moved 125 Security Police to U Tapao as a contingency security force. One of the transporting CH-53s crashed, killing 23 airmen (18 SPs and 5 crewmen). Coverage of this incident can be found on the web. Here are some links of interest:

• Vietnam SP Association


• Air Force Magazine


• Wikipedia Coverage

1990-91 - SPs Serving During Desert Storm

SPs from Gunter AFS, AL, Deployed During Desert Storm
62nd SPS, Mirage AB, Sharaj, United Arab Emirates
Front Row, Left to Right: Rajesh B. Patel, Eric F. Phillips, Ernest C. "Dog" Murray, Jeff Stokely, Ken "Truitt Can Do It" Truitt, Randy Cunningham
Back Row, Left to Right: Michael A. "Mike" Doty, Terry L. Pridemore, David B. "Dave" DeRamus, Robert "Boos" Bussalacchi, Richard J. "Rich" Wryobeck, Charles "Dave" Catholdi, Donald L. "Don" Carter
Not Pictured: A1C Jeffrey Anderson
(USAF photo via Charles "Dave" Catholdi)

2004-05 - SFs Serving in Iraq

822nd SFS, Talil AB, Iraq
Photo courtesy: MSgt Ed James - 820th SFGroup
(used with permission of Gary Jones, 822nd CSPS, Safeside Association Webmaster)