I was asked for details about a sergeant major of the RKKA Airforce during WW2.

His soviet rank was Старший сержант (spoken: "Starshiy serzhant").

Since 1943 he wears shoulder boards like this...:

1. Field uniform:



2. Parade uniform:



The longer the war lasted and the closer one came to victory, the "fashion" took to carrying the parade epaulets also to the field uniform, as they looked "magnificent".

In addition, one often sewed small pieces of sheet metal into the shoulder pieces to make them stiffer.

This fashion was tacitly tolerated.


Pilotka cap could be light blue...





...or greenbrown...:



No pipings at the pilotka - they were only worn by officers!

Buttons were the same as of the whole RKKA...:




And very important:

If it is a pilot (and does not belong to the ground staff!), he could wear pilot school badge!



This badge was attached to the right side of the chest.


Cheers