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7 unknown patches


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Whenever I see a thread with "unknown patches," I always spend at least a good twenty minutes searching the internet. With these, I am part way stumped with no information or just a little--and the little has not been really corroborated with many militaria collectors.

 

Each square on the blue mat designates one square inch for sizes purposes.

 

#1 The below patch could be foreign. Found this is a military box of patches and being all felt it looked like the oldest. Black felt sewn onto yellow felt.

6029236_orig.jpg

 

 

 

 

#2. Lot's of people this this is a chinese aviation cadet patch. Truth to this? Was this worn in the states? In CBI?

1166350_orig.jpg

 

 

#3. This has thread damage. Looks to be late 1940s to early 1960s by looking at the back.

 

4853697_orig.jpg

 

#4. No clue on this below patch. Most likely foreign.

2830831_orig.jpg

 

#5. This is a Philippines patch of some sort. Beautiful all cotton backing. One website said it was Philippines Constabulary. ??? Post WW2?

1555684_orig.jpg

 

#6. All felt patch. Back is solid green. Early ROTC? Military School?

 

7190693_orig.jpg

 

#7. And lastly, this came with a chenille stitched civilian flight wings. Not sure if it was a military school...or maybe a a highschool patch?

 

9332830_orig.jpg

 

Thanks for any help. What it is. Time period. Etc.

 

 

Steve

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3: 52nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (SAC) 1950's till 1956 Lake Charles (Later: Chennault AFB) AFB, LA. A RB-29/ B-47 Unit. A Squadron assigned to the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 

Attached is the Official Insignia received from USAF HRA Maxwell AFB, Alabama

 

Terry L Horstead TSgt USAF Retired

post-3627-0-97559400-1375237136.jpg

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Johnny Signor

Whenever I see a thread with "unknown patches," I always spend at least a good twenty minutes searching the internet. With these, I am part way stumped with no information or just a little--and the little has not been really corroborated with many militaria collectors.

 

Each square on the blue mat designates one square inch for sizes purposes.

 

#1 The below patch could be foreign. Found this is a military box of patches and being all felt it looked like the oldest. Black felt sewn onto yellow felt.

6029236_orig.jpg

 

 

 

 

#2. Lot's of people this this is a chinese aviation cadet patch. Truth to this? Was this worn in the states? In CBI?

1166350_orig.jpg

 

 

#3. This has thread damage. Looks to be late 1940s to early 1960s by looking at the back.

 

4853697_orig.jpg

 

#4. No clue on this below patch. Most likely foreign.

2830831_orig.jpg

 

#5. This is a Philippines patch of some sort. Beautiful all cotton backing. One website said it was Philippines Constabulary. ??? Post WW2?

1555684_orig.jpg

 

#6. All felt patch. Back is solid green. Early ROTC? Military School?

 

7190693_orig.jpg

 

#7. And lastly, this came with a chenille stitched civilian flight wings. Not sure if it was a military school...or maybe a a highschool patch?

 

9332830_orig.jpg

 

Thanks for any help. What it is. Time period. Etc.

 

 

Steve

Bird sitting on pole is the 75th Recon Group WW 2 AAF US Based , nice find !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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3: 52nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (SAC) 1950's till 1956 Lake Charles (Later: Chennault AFB) AFB, LA. A RB-29/ B-47 Unit. A Squadron assigned to the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 

Attached is the Official Insignia received from USAF HRA Maxwell AFB, Alabama

 

Terry L Horstead TSgt USAF Retired

Terry-

 

I show this as the 52 Bomb Squadron. The 68 was activated as an SRW but soon converted to the bomb mission if memory serves correctly. I don't have my refs with me but pretty sure that's what it is.

 

Randy

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Lineage

Constituted and Activated: as the 52d Reconnaissance Squadron, Weather Scouting and activated on 12 Jul 1947 (War Dept Letter: AGAO-I 322 on 6 May 1947). Inactivated on 27 June 1949 (USAF Reserves Action - I do not have the Order Number). Redesignated as the 52d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Photo and activated on 10 Oct 1951 (SAC General Order: 76 on 15 Oct 1951). Redesignated as the 52d Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 16 Jun 1952, (SAC General Order 35 on 10 Jun 1952 / Admended: SAC General Order 39 on 18 Jun 1952 ). Discontinued & Inactivated on 15 April 1963, (SAC Special Order G-123 on 27 Jun 1962 / Admended: SAC Special Order G-25 on 21 Mar 1963.)

 

Assignments

68th Reconnaissance Group, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1947 (War Dept Letter: AGAO-I 322 on 26 Jun 1947). Second Air Force / 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 10 Oct 1951 (SAC General Order: 76 on 15 Oct 1951)

68th Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952-15 Apr 1963 (SAC General Order 35 on 10 Jun 1952 / Admended: SAC General Order 39 on 18 Jun 1952 )

 

Stations

Hamilton Field (later, AFB), California, 9 April 1947-27 June 1949. Lake Charles (later, Chennault) AFB, Louisiana, 10 October 1951-15 April 1963

 

Aircraft

Consolidated A-11, 1947-1949. RB-29 Superfortress, 1951-1953. B-47 Stratojet, 1953–1963

 

Insignia:

Approved for the 52d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Photo (as imprinted on the Offical Insignia Photo) 12 Jun 1952. (Note the approval was 4 Days before the Redesignation Action)

 

TLH

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The Air Staff/AFMPC Insignia Approval Letter was addressed to the 52d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Photo. The Attached Official Photograph was sent from USAF-HRA on 14 Dec 2011 on a FIOA request. I ID all Insignia to the designation at the date of approval, In this case the Unit was redesignated as the 52d Bombardment Squadron, Medium, 4 days after approval of the insignia. I still retain a copy under all designations, with the official designation removed from the Picture. This unit was never designated as the 52d Bomb Squadron, as it never was reconstituted after General Mc Peak became Chief of Staff, in the 1990's.

 

TLH

post-3627-0-14730100-1375330537.jpg

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Terry-

 

It was for sure a BS from 1952 on, it says so in the official lineage. They flew B-47s, not RB-47s, so I'm not sure what you mean by your reply. The patch as shown by the OP was only worn by Bomb crews. You can't just ID a patch from the original drawing, as many units undergo redesignation and a patch may be specific to that unit's time frame. To call the patch as originally submitted above a SRS patch would be erroneous. Hope you understand what I'm getting at!

 

Randy

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Patchcollector

The Air Staff/AFMPC Insignia Approval Letter was addressed to the 52d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Photo. The Attached Official Photograph was sent from USAF-HRA on 14 Dec 2011 on a FIOA request. I ID all Insignia to the designation at the date of approval, In this case the Unit was redesignated as the 52d Bombardment Squadron, Medium, 4 days after approval of the insignia. I still retain a copy under all designations, with the official designation removed from the Picture. This unit was never designated as the 52d Bomb Squadron, as it never was reconstituted after General Mc Peak became Chief of Staff, in the 1990's.

 

TLH

 

 

Great job on the ID Terry.You nailed it and showed ample proof to boot! ;)

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To Clarify the difference between the designation of 52d Bombardment Squadron, and 52d Bomb Squadron, may I add that in 1972. I (and my airplane) was returning to U-Tapao AB, Thailand from the Boeing Plant (Boeing Military Airplane Company - Wichita, KS) after a repair and the Airplane was also repainted. As we did not return to our home base at Westover our unit markings, nor the SAC Milky Way stripe was applied to the aircraft. The Crew was provided by the 305th AREFW from the Young Tiger rotation pool. We spent the Night at March AFB, The Aircraft Commander only had about 30 hours in the left seat and was not certified to carry passengers, At the departure briefing, the crew received a waiver to carry one passenger to Hickam AFB. That passenger was Retired USAF Chief of Staff Curtis E. LeMay. During flight Gen LeMay asked which unit owned the airplane, I responded we were from the 99th Bomb Wing out of Westover and the crew was from Grissom AFB. Gen LeMay corrected me as the Wing is the 99th Bombardment Wing as the word "Bomb" has several meanings, one of which is "Failure" and failure IS NOT SAC policy. The official title "Bomb" came in to existence with General McPeak and SAC never had a "Bomb" Wing or Squadron designation.

 

Terry L. Horstead

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OK, that was not the intent of my post. The fact is The original patch shown above IS the 52 Bombardment Sq, also acceptably called a Bomb Sq by everyone in the USAF except Lemay. It is not a SRS patch. We are talking about the originally presented patch by the OP, and not the official drawing. Let's not make this harder than it needs to be and muddy the waters further! :)

 

Randy

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BTW, some examples of 50s-60s era units. There are dozens of others like these with "Bomb" on them. Very common, regardless of official designation. Again, we are talking patches as actually used, not drawings or designs.

 

Randy

post-8832-0-98326300-1375406884.jpg

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Read what it says. It's right there in the verbiage from Maxwell. In 1952, it became a Bombardment Sq. Period. It's not rocket science. The original patch posted is not an SRS, it's a BS. But then again, as others here besides myself have observed, it's tough to convince you of anything regardless of the evidence. :dry:

Randy

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Patchcollector

Hahaa,right.So now it's about me. :lol: Evidence?Sorry,I missed your "evidence"What is clear is that Terry provided a straight answer and had proof to back it up,unlike.. :rolleyes:

Read what he posted:
"The Air Staff/AFMPC Insignia Approval Letter was addressed to the 52d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Photo. The Attached Official Photograph was sent from USAF-HRA on 14 Dec 2011 on a FIOA request. I ID all Insignia to the designation at the date of approval, In this case the Unit was redesignated as the 52d Bombardment Squadron, Medium, 4 days after approval of the insignia. I still retain a copy under all designations, with the official designation removed from the Picture. "
I don't buy your story about the design approval and the insignia being different.
In case you hadn't noticed ,the image Terry posted matches the patch posted.

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BTW, some examples of 50s-60s era units. There are dozens of others like these with "Bomb" on them. Very common, regardless of official designation. Again, we are talking patches as actually used, not drawings or designs.

 

Randy

In the 1950's and 60's units purchased there own patches, the cost involved in using BOMB instead of BOMBARDMENT in the tab is an economic choice based on an outlay of squadron funds

 

TLH

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firefighter

In the 1950's and 60's units purchased there own patches, the cost involved in using BOMB instead of BOMBARDMENT in the tab is an economic choice based on an outlay of squadron funds

 

TLH

 

Thats funny.I guess even patch makers charge by the letter. :D You have some really nice looking patches.The only ones i recognized was 1, 2 & 5 but they were already ID's.

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In the 1950's 60's and early 70's, most Air Force units procured insignia locally. It was not uncommon to procure patches during deployments. I ordered several patches from the "Dennis The Menace" Embroidery Shop on Gate 2 Street in Koza City, Okinawa. These patches, Dennis would make bulk for shipping to units, or sell by the piece. As the were hand made, there was a cost depending on the the font size and wording. Most units would send the Official Photo and instructions what was to embroiled on the tab. What I miss is the hundreds of books and drawings in the shop, These were priceless. The I have seen prices on the same patch and the price would very as much as 5 dollars.

 

TLH

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ocsfollowme

Randy and TLH,

 

Thanks again for your helping ID'ing the 52nd Bombardment patch. I know with ordering patches today in Afghanistan or even when I wanted to make a BN guidon in Alaska, we had to pay by the stitch. And that gets expensive quick!

 

I ending up putting the 52nd patch up for sale here. Trying to sell of patches to get a WW2 pathfinder cuff badge for my quilt. Hopefully, I'll get more than $30 for it b/c of the stitching error.

 

It's unbelievable the history behind AAF and USAF insignia as it can go down to 4 days after a redesignation of a unit to who actually wore a patch. As an Army guy, I wonder if there have been units with that close of a lineage that it has happened for insignia there.

 

Steve

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There is a process in place for units to named and redesignated and Inactivated/Inactivated & Discontioned (Disbanded). I was not uncommon (at least in WWII) under Army (AAF) Regulations for a unit to be constituted and redesignated prior to activation. In a organization the size or a Military Department, It's common that the left hand (Organizations & Manpower Directorate) is unaware or other actions being processed by the right hand (other Directorates). In the case of an Insignia, a unit may request TIOH an emblem, or may design there own design and submit it to (1) Unit Commander (2) Higher HHQ at Base level (Group, Group/Wing Historian, and finally Group or Wing Commander). After the proposal meets current/or then current regulations the proposal was submitted to the Major (Air) Command Awards & Decorations Department for approval, ([At least Strategic Air Command in the 70's,] Most proposals would be returned for corrections to the unit or drawing details, colors, or description and signification of design) and final to Air Staff (in the past Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas, and later (and currently) to USAF Historical Research Center at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. I have seen several insignia letters that have been returned up to 6 times for corrections and approvals. Finally the insignia when approved is forwarded to The Department of the Army / TIOH for the Official Painting.

I have seen several insignias, that took 8 to 12 months or more for approval. I know of several units had the insignia's approved after the unit was disbanded after WWII.

 

Reference

Army Air Forces Letter 35-46 issued on 10 September 1945 established procedures for designing

and submitting emblems for approval. This letter contained policy on the design, approval, and

use of organizational emblems. On 1 October 1984 the Air Force heraldic program

transferred officially from the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas, to the

US Air Force Historical Research Center now, Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA),

at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. At the same time, USAF historians at all command levels assumed

responsibility for processing emblem requests. Currently AFI 84-105, chapter 3, provides

guidance for Air Force heraldry In the 1960's to the 1990's the Regulation was AFR-900-3

 

Terry L Horstead

TSgt USAF, Retired

 

 

Current USAF Insignia Guidelines http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130506-005.pdf

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