So I'm in the Honolulu airport and I stop and take a look at a display about the nisei soldiers, when I spy a large photograph captioned as "Gen. Mark Clark, commander of the 5th Army, inspects nisei soldiers with Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy." The secretary is wearing a khaki shirt, trousers and black shoes and tie, with what I'd call a khaki garrison cap (the folded rectangular headwear). No distinguishing insignia. I'd never seen a civilian head of an armed service wear a uniform like that, other than Churchill. Any ideas what's going on? I'd go get a pic buty flight is about to leave.
EDIT: Got the name of the secretary wrong; should be Frank Knox.
Hi there, just a few things to consider in the discussion around this topic.
Churchill held various military ranks due to his considerable record of service. Throughout the war he was the honourary Air Commodore of 615 Squadron. He was also colonel in 4th Queen's Own Hussars and had various entitlements to rank because of his time as the First Lord of the Admiralty. I am absolutely not an expert in such matters of modern military hierarchy or related privilege/entitlement, but this may go some way towards explaining why Churchill wore such uniforms in his role.
Hope that at least adds a little!
Edit: typing like a maniac.