Why are dress chocolates so hard to find?

[BigBrother]

I’ve only recently begun collecting World War II dress and service uniforms but I have found, after going to several large flea markets, stores, militaria meet ups, etc. and perusing eBay and the like, that the officer chocolates are hard to encounter. Any ideas for why? My friend, a much more knowledgeable collector than me, gave me several reasons but I wanted to see what you all thought!

Thanks!

 

[Canadian]

This is just a guess, but there were far more enlisted men in my dad's infantry unit than officers. So there would logically be less officer uniforms than enlisted uniforms available on the civilian market.

 

[BigBrother]

Well I must say I’ve found more searching on eBay than I anticipated, but they’re still in much less supply than other officer components (which is something I should’ve clarified in OP- the chocolates are harder to find than other *officer* components. Officer vs. enlisted makes sense (although you do tend to find a rather even split between those, surprisingly!))

 

[Edward]

My understanding is that it was up to the local base commander what mix of uniform officers should wear in terms of the pinks and chocolates, trousers and shirts. If period photos and film are any guide, it seems the pinks were vastly more popular - could it be as simple as that popularity led to fewer chocolates being purchased? (Weren't officers given a uniform allowance with which to buy their uniform rather than issued a uniform like the enlisted men?)

 

[Peacoat]

Good point, Edward. That is probably the main reason chocolates are hard to find.

And yes, officers are given a monthly uniform allowance to buy clothing. I've forgotten what it was, but for me it was more than I needed as all I wore were flight suits.

That is not to say that officers weren't issued basic uniforms such as fatigues, field jackets (Peacoats for sailors), etc. when they were in basic training. And almost all officers* go through some form of basic, whether they are commissioned through OCS, ROTC or one of the service academies. Each has its own version of basic training.

When I got my wings, I just added bars on the shoulders and the wings on my chest to my field jacket, and it worked just fine, when I needed a field jacket. Mostly wore a flight jacket as I was in a warm climate.
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* But I'm not sure about Medical Corps, or JAG (lawyers) officers.

 

[1961MJS]

My Dad was ended the war as a Master Sergeant in the USAAF. He has a dress uniform jacket that was never worn being stationed in the South Pacific and ending the war in Panama. He said he wore his trousers out wearing them as a civilian because they still rationed clothing after the war. He wore out say 2 or 3 pair before 1948.
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