Another tartan I'm gonna have to have...

**macwilkin** · 30th June 06, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by Tattoobradley

Well, I know from some reading that the band is still around. Perhaps they were disbanned in 1970s and then later brought back?

If you'll have a look again at my post, you'll see that I quoted directly from their web site. I only said that the Company of Military Historian's plate said that the band was disbanded in 1970, but that the USAFR's history contradicted that, not that the band was not around today. The band fact sheet implies that the band was never disbanded.

Things like that happen often in the military.

Yes, as a military historian I am quite aware of that. :mrgreen:

I'm all mixed up now as far as what tartan is what. :confused: Maybe someone (MAC?) could chime in?

The Lady Jane -- became the USAFR tartan.
Mitchell Tartan -- worn during the 1960's by the USAF Pipes & Drums.

I'll take a look again at the plate when I get home this afternoon and see if I can find their sources. I'll also fire off an e-mail to the Band via their web site. Matt also may have some information.

Cheers,

Todd

billmcc · 30th June 06, 08:45 AM

Tattoobradley,

I was in the USAFR for 4 years and active duty for another 11 years. I am not crazy about the USAF (Lady Jane) tartan. There are much nicer looking tartans out there. Have you seen the Isle of Skye pleated to stripe? Look here:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ight=Isle+Skye

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 30th June 06, 09:04 AM

Ok, this post will either clarify things or make them more confusing (let's hope for the former!).

I'll use the ITI numbers for these tartans in order to be precise. You can look them all up at the Scottish Tartans Authority site:
http://www.tartansauthority.com

Tartan No. 2437 is the U.S. Air Force Reserve Pipe Band tartan. The STA notes say:

One of a series of US Military tartans woven exclusively by the Strathmore Woollen Company and adopted by the Band of the Air Force Reserve, Georgia, USA in the early 1990s. Although this has no official US Military recognition, it has been widely accepted by US servicemen and their families with Air Force connections as a representative design.

There have been other attempts to creat unofficial tartans for the USAF, including Nos. 5080, 5075, and 4089.

The Mitchell tartan (No. 3178) was worn by the USAF Pipe Band (unsure if this was the reserve pipe band?) from about 1950, according to the STA notes. This is the same tartan that is worn by the Russells, Galbraiths, and Hunters, and, according to the STA, "acquired the name Mitchell when it was adopted by the U.S.Air Force Pipe Band and renamed in honour of General Billy Mitchell."

To answer another question, no, so far as I can tell the four families that share this tartan have no connection to one another, aside from the coincidence of sharing the same tartan!

Aye,
Matt

**macwilkin** · 30th June 06, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Matt

The Mitchell tartan (No. 3178) was worn by the USAF Pipe Band (unsure if this was the reserve pipe band?) from about 1950, according to the STA notes. This is the same tartan that is worn by the Russells, Galbraiths, and Hunters, and, according to the STA, "acquired the name Mitchell when it was adopted by the U.S.Air Force Pipe Band and renamed in honour of General Billy Mitchell."

This may be the key here, Matt. If the earlier pipe band was the USAF Pipe Band, and not the USAF Reserve Pipe Band, then it is entirely possible that the older band wore the "Mitchell" tartan until they were disbanded in the 1970's. When the USAFR "reoganized" their pipe band, they may not have been aware of the Mitchell tartans association with their predecessors, and decided to "adopt" another tartan, which of course, was the Lady Jane.

The Russells, btw, are also a "sept name" associated with my clan, the Cummings, and are entitled to wear our tartan as well.

**Edit: I just e-mailed the Public Affairs Officer for the band for more infromation. Hopefully they'll respond soon.

Cheers,

Todd