These chained buttons, which serve as the closure for the Air Force Men’s Mess Dress Coat, feature the “wing and star” design that is commonly referred to as a “Hap Arnold star” or “Hap Arnold wings.” Connected by a silver chain, these buttons worn only with the Mess Dress Coat when it is part of the Mess Dress uniform; they are not used when the Mess Dress Coat is worn as part of the Men’s Formal Dress uniform.
Chained buttons are not worn with the Women’s Formal Mess or Mess Dress uniforms. Interestingly, chained buttons are found on the Mess Dress jackets of every branch of the United States Armed Forces, but only the Army authorizes their wear on Women’s Mess Dress Coats (both blue and white).