[robowombat]

Both the Us Army and the US Army Air Corps (the Air Force was technically part of the Army until 1947) used the rank of Technical NCO. For the Army here is some information that may be relevant to your case:

With the increase of technical skills needed in the Army, a new category of NCO was created. Known as technicians, these were men who needed to be paid more for specific skills, but did not need the command authorization of a higher rank. They were first authorized in January 1942. In September 1942 the rank stripes had a letter “T” on them to indicate there were a Technician. Long after the war these would turn into the “Specialist” ratings still in use today.

Technician ratings are not to be confused with the rank of the more traditional rank of technical sergeant. For command purposes technicians ranked just below the equivalent of their strips. A technician 3rd grade (Tech/3) ranked just below a staff sergeant when it came to giving orders.

[jmacusa]

Thanks for the info. My friend Jim says he was from Washington State, Walla Walla actually and I have a feeling he in was in the USAAF.