Second Shortest Man in the Air Force

This picture and caption ran in papers back in October 1951. It's not clear why it was considered newsworthy. It also left unanswered the question of who the shortest man in the Air Force was, if Sgt. Perkins was the second shortest.

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Posted By: Alex - Thu Oct 25, 2012
Category: Military | 1950s

Comments

He was in for just a short hitch.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/25/12 at 09:53 AM

I'd like to know what his rating was. A technical sergeant perhaps? I could see him doing repair work in tight spaces in an aircraft. Small humans were hired to do such work during the Second World War.

Posted by KDP on 10/25/12 at 09:57 AM

Mascot? 😉

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/25/12 at 10:12 AM

In a pre Sputnik short story, the first astronauts were short people. A very short right handed carpenter once told me that his best co-worker had been a very, very tall left handed journeyman.

Posted by BMN on 10/25/12 at 12:15 PM

Maybe a turret gunner. Maybe they kept him as an example for the recruits. "If *he* can do <fill in the physical training blank>, so can you!"

Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 10/25/12 at 12:59 PM

Maybe a TANK RAT?
He'd have made a great one! :coolsmile:

Posted by Tyrusguy on 10/25/12 at 02:02 PM

So who was the shortest in the Army ? Radar O'Reilly ??

Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 10/25/12 at 04:05 PM

Yep BD, you got it!
I do not want any job where I have to wear a breathing mask.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/26/12 at 12:31 AM

I wonder which *-gate story AP was ignoring at that time to come up with this diversional pap.

Posted by stan on 10/26/12 at 08:42 AM

I bet he’s short yet very talented. Stg. Robert B Perkins must not be ashamed of what his height is, he got what it takes to be in the Aviation!

Posted by Aircraft Test Equipment @ AvionTEq on 02/06/13 at 08:58 PM

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