ocsfollowme Posted April 23, 2014 Share #1 Posted April 23, 2014 Just picked this patch up. It doesn't look WW2, but it appears to have "AAF" after Douglas. There was a Douglass AAF base in Arizona during WW2 though. Can anyone ID this guy and give a time period for it? Thanks, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wailuna Posted April 23, 2014 Share #2 Posted April 23, 2014 Douglas Army Airfield: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48MMS Posted April 23, 2014 Share #3 Posted April 23, 2014 That is an AWESOME! patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtepak6 Posted April 23, 2014 Share #4 Posted April 23, 2014 Just found this which might explain the dual snake heads: "The Army activated the former Douglas Air Field on May 28, 1942, as a twin-engine advanced flying school for training bomber pilots. It was also used to train soldiers as post mechanics. Douglas Army Air Field was an advanced flying training school where aviation cadets received their pilot wings and commissions as second lieutenants or appointments as flight officers in the Army Air Force. The base came under the command of 83rd Flying Training Wing (Advanced Twin-Engine), Army Air Forces Western Flying Training Command, headquartered at Santa Ana, California. Aircraft assigned to the base were North American BT-14 Yales, North American AT-6 Texans, Beech UC-78 Bobcats, Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Fledglings, Cessna AT-17 Bobcats, and North American B-25 Mitchells." I agree with 48MMS ... super cool looking patch! Dale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtepak6 Posted April 23, 2014 Share #5 Posted April 23, 2014 ".... as a twin-engine advanced flying school for training bomber pilots." That would explain the bomb in the center. And AAF stood for Army Air Field, I believe. Looks WW2 era to me. Dale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted April 24, 2014 Share #6 Posted April 24, 2014 She's a beaut! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbunnyB/3/75FA Posted April 24, 2014 Share #7 Posted April 24, 2014 as a friend from boston would say, "wicked awesome" i would agree WWII , probably later in the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 28, 2014 Share #8 Posted April 28, 2014 I have several books on DAAF but none of them have this patch shown in them. My books are from '43 and '44 and none show any kind of insignia for the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted April 28, 2014 I found this patch on usafpatches.com a few days ago too. See link here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted April 28, 2014 Not to say you are not correct 5thwingmarty. At least two people had the patch, that is all I know. Could have been just a few unauthorized officers that had them made up or something to wear. I do not know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted April 28, 2014 Share #11 Posted April 28, 2014 It could a very early design for the base and possibly unofficial ................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted April 28, 2014 Share #12 Posted April 28, 2014 Could it be a patch for instructors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 28, 2014 Share #13 Posted April 28, 2014 Sorry, wasn't trying to imply it wasn't a patch from Douglas AAF. Just saying I couldn't find a period photo in the books I have from 43 and 44. If anyone has a book from 45 they might find a photo with the patch shown, or a rendering of the patch. My books all just show Cessna Bobcats for the trainers. At some point they started flying B-25's there as well so maybe that was when the patch was developed. Marty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted May 10, 2014 it is 6" wide from the red explosion to the side of the patch. A large SSI! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOKIEMAN Posted May 11, 2014 Share #15 Posted May 11, 2014 If I understand the thread so far the question is, is it an SSI or what?. I have one in my collection and it is a large one, so I say it is a Flight Jacket Patch, the type that would be worn on an A2 jacket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted June 13, 2014 Just picked this up on eBay this last week for $49. Couldn't believe I won it for that and was the only bidder--listed in WW2 patches as "unknown squadron." This one is missing the bottom tab portion and it's hard to tell if one was ever attached to it. It's in mint condition though. Front Back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted June 13, 2014 Share #17 Posted June 13, 2014 An education can make all the difference. You were the only one who knew what it was. Good score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted June 28, 2014 So I just picked up another one on ebay yesterday for $22. Maybe they may not be that rare after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted October 11, 2014 Picked up another one. It is almost impossible to find a perfect one. 50% of them so far have the white eyes and white part filled in on the bomb. Also, about 30% of them have error stitching on them as well. There are two little black specks above the heads too, and about 50% have at least one. I have seen about 8 in person or online so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted November 28, 2014 Still doing more research on this patch. It was an advanced school in operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share #21 Posted November 28, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Scott Posted December 4, 2014 Share #22 Posted December 4, 2014 I was told years ago that Douglas Airfield during WW2 was an Advanced Flight School for two engine bombers.The guys trained there so they could fly B-25 Mitchells or 26 Marauders.I have owned many of these over the years and have always thought the twin snakeheads represented the twin engines on the bombers.I love insignia with great snakes on them so its always been a favorite of mine.Scotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF Posted June 14, 2015 Share #23 Posted June 14, 2015 Steve, There is another one on ebay!! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-World-War-II-Douglas-Army-Air-Field-Douglas-Az-Patch-5-1-2-Across/301659214163?_trksid=p5713.c100042.m2062&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140109134348%26meid%3De93848a942d547a18eb2d1a1356282af%26pid%3D100042%26rk%3D9%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D400936192029 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share #24 Posted June 14, 2015 Yep, i was bidding on it yesterday. One of my favorite designs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted January 16, 2018 Share #25 Posted January 16, 2018 Here's a B-25 with the emblem on it ........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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