if a person was employed as a electrician i the air force in thw 1950s would they be given certificates of skills when leaving the forces?'?

Well they would have received certificates for having completed training and schools they attended and that also would be documented in their training records. If you are referring to the civilian certificates like what those in skilled trades receive then no;probably not. The way it works now is that a service member takes a test to obtain that from the perspective union for whatever trade it is. The certificates that the military gives are not recognized in quite the same way. That's because the training the military member receives is not totally the same in some ways as that of their civilian counterpart making it necessary for the service member to test for it if they want to pursue employment on the outside in that trade. Both the plumbers and the electrician that I have had work on my house the last ten years were prior service in civil engineering and were plumbers and electricians in the Air Force. Upon leaving the military they had to take the test given at the journeyman level and then acquiring so many hours working in the civilian sector before they could become licensed plumbers and electricians. Back in the 1950s I am not sure how much this and skilled trades were regulated though but the above is what is true for now I know.

The military does not issue civilian certifications.

However, if a person goes to any number of military schools that closely match a civilian equivalent, they can often go take the civilian certification exam on their own time and get the license. The exact requirements vary, but things like electrician, pilot, HVAC technician, IT, and many others can lead to great jobs as a civilian.

But they aren't just handed to you.

Nope. Military certifications do not carry over to the civilian world. Even if you're a military aviator you do not have a pilot's license that the FAA recognizes. In many cases military training meets all the requirements for a civilian certification, but you still have to apply for whatever license it is you're after. Sometimes it's as easy as filling out a form. Sometimes you have to take a test. Depends on what certification you're after.

no