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Rare Patches - Bring Out Some Photos


Airborne-Hunter
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Geez, nothing but Army stuff!

 

I don't much of a collection left these days, but here is a USAF item you will find hard to come by.

 

This is a Thai made patch for the 432nd Tactical Fighter Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Thailand circa 1974.

 

Why is this rare?

 

A) "Tactical Fighter Reconnaissance" is not a normal unit designation in the USAF. Wings are either "Tactical Fighter" or "Tactical Reconnaissance". There are some USAF vets who believe the name change was made to accomodate the careers of Fighter pilots who did not want their flying record implying they had flown recon.

 

B) The unit was only designated as such for a period so short it does not even appear in the official USAF history.

 

Still not convinced this one is rare?

 

Look at the size of the patch in the photo. This is a 2 inch reduced sized patch made for a woman's party suit. And yes, it came straight from the vet. (Sorry, the bright yellow party suit is long gone!)

 

The document along with it is an invitation to a farewell party also showing the unique unit insignia.

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432ND_INVITATION_SMALL.JPG

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Here are a few of my nicer AIRBORNE and pre airborne Division SSI since many of you like Airborne related patches.

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and a few more airborne related. You guys have some really incredible patches out there. IF you did not share them here most of use would never see them. thanks

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forgot one, more recent but interesting.

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Ok, I'll throw out a couple USAF patches. Rarity is subjective, especially when dealing with USAF units. Some have 20 patches made up and that would make just about any army patch common, hehehe... Anyways, the 531st TFS flew F-100's during Vietnam, and the 7th TFS flew F-105s out of Germany during the same period. The U-2 patches are Overseas Location crest patches for their stays in RAF Alconbury and RAF Fairford. I was pretty excited when I landed them while over in the UK..... :)

 

-Ski

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HERE ARE A COUPLE OF AIRFORCE PATCHES FOR SKI...NOT REAL RARE BUT EARLY.

 

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AIRFORCE FLIGHT SUIT FROM THE MID 1950s.i GOT THIS AT AN AUCTION.I WAS BUYING A SMALL OAK TABLE THE AUCTIONEER KICKED SOME CLOTHING BAGS,THE HANGING TYPE NEXT TO THE TABLE TO GET A BID AND GET RID OF THE BAGS.THE SUIT WAS INSIDE.I GOT TABLE AND ALL FOR $20.I BELIEVE THE SUIT WAS FROM A LOCAL DENTIST HERE IN TOWN THAT WAS A SABRE JET PILOT.HE HAD THE SAME PATCHES IN A FRAME IN HIS OFFICE WHEN I WAS A KID.

 

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THESE ARE SOME THEATRE MADES.THE 5TH ARMY AND AFRS CAME TOGETHER.TWO OF THE AIRCORPS ARE DONE ON LEATHER.I BELIEVE THE 1ST DIV ID GERMAN MADE.

 

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WW2 USMC DEATH RATTLERS DECAL ON CARDBOARD AND A NAVY UNKNOWN(TO ME)PRINTED ON CANVAS.

 

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GROUPING TO JACK CONGER,USMC NAVY CROSS RECIEPIANT AND DOUBLE ACE.A FRIEND OF MINE FOUND THIS IN A CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE.PATCH IS ON CANVAS AND UNTRIMMED.V-MAIL ALSO HAS THE SQUADRON DESIGN.

 

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VP4 9 PLANE NAVY SQUADRON THAT PATROLED ALASKAN BORDER CIRCA1949.THEY WERE PATROLING FOR RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT.BASED AT ADAK AND KODIAK.I PURCHASED THIS AT A FLEA MARKET FROM A LOCAL MAN,ELWIN HODGES IN THE LATE 1970s.

 

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14TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ON A MEDICS IKE JACKET.WILL POST THE IKE UNDER THE UNIFORM SECTION.

 

RON

 

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Here are a couple more.The MAAF and AAF bullions came from the same man.I like how the AAF patch is based on a 15th AF design.Its Italian made.

RON

 

 

 

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Here is a sampling of the 41st patches in the collection...not all of them.

Note the beaded patch(bottom left corner of riker case)...it is the second beaded patch I have had and came in a group of patches from a 146th Artilleryman who volunteered for the Air Corp and became a B-17 Pilot. Him and his crew died in a crash before going overseas.

I also have a pile of patches on uniforms, 41st and 88th division stuff.41stdivptchs.jpg

 

BTW, Killer patches have already been posted...good stuff!!!

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Steindaddie

I figured we needed some more representation from the Air Force side of things thumbsup.gif

 

Here's Korean War and Vietnam

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Couple more

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Couple of F-86 Sabre units from the 1950's

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Two more - I better stop hogging the topic for now !

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Okay - two more, this time the Army Air Forces

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here are two early Aviation related. 3rd Air park and a 1st Army Avn. I believe. Both flea market finds. w00t.gif

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daniel griffin

Here are some of my less common WWI Aero related patches .

13th & 139th Aero Squadrons

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825th Aero Squadron

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3rd Army Aviation

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99th & 85th Aero Squadrons

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99th & 169th Aero Squadrons

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22nd Balloon Company

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28th Balloon Company

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Balloon Companies

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Doesn't look like much but it's pretty uncommon , Aerial Photographer

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.

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Liberty Loan

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Liberty Loan

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Aerial Gunner School

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Anti-Aircraft

pt1.JPG

 

Anti-Aircraft

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I am not sure if this fall under the category of "rare" or not. 1 of less than 50 made Australian squadron patches for the VMSB-234. This was obtained directly from one of the original squadron pilots.

 

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Reverse:

 

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I don't know who Mort is so obviously he wasn't talking about me....anyway, here is a patch so nicely made, it should be declared rare....

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Like the WWII & other eras that have been posted so far. Like the WWI stuff even better! Here are a few of my WWI contributions...

 

 

1) A variation of the 5th Division SSI

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2) 13th Engineer Corps...

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3) 89th Division variant...

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4) 1st Gas & Flame

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6) This unusual WWI era SSI is ID'd to the 3rd Army Train

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39th Coastal Artillery Brigade

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last but not least (for now...) a 307th Tank Brigade SSI. Very unusual in that it's 'squared' instead of the traditional triangle...

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Garth Thompson

The Korean War hasn't been represented very well so here are a few.

Garth

 

The Turkish Brigade fought with the 241st Infantry Regiment:

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Turkish Brigade First pattern with the Korean War Service lapel pin.

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Ethiopean Battalions served with the 32nd Infantry 0f the 7th Division. Patches with the UN Korea Medal Arameic version.

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The Colombian Battalions fought with the 24th and 7th Infantry Divisions.

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The Netherlands Battalion attached to the 38th Infantry of the 2nd Division.

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The Greek Battalion attached in turn to the 7th Cav of the 1st Cav Div then the 15th Infantry of the 3rd Division.

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Swedish Contingent operated a field hospital from 1950 to 1957.

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Royal Thai Forces attached to the 187th A/B RCT then 1st Cav then 9th Inf Rgt/2nd Inf Div plus the UN War Correspondant

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The 2nd CMB was the only such bn active in Korea; they took more casualties there than they did in WW II. Throughout their many redesignations, they remained a 4.2 mortar unit.

 

The first patch illustrated is typical Japanese full embroidery. Note the one piece tab. In Jan 53 the battalion was redesignated the 461st Inf Bn (HM) but some REMF was confused by two units in theater with the same numerical designation (never mind there were many others) so in Apr 53 it was redesignated the 88th Inf Bn (HM) (next post). Both of these patches are also Japanese fully embroidered.

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...and the elusive 88th Inf Bn (HM). Sometimes you find only one of the tabs, so keep on truckin' 'till you get both.

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This bullion patch just cracks me up. Do you all remember the thread about the funny looking "Seahorse" on the 36th Cbt Engr Regt patch out of the "Millionaire's collection?"

 

Well, this is a Japanese version, probalby based on some itinerant GI's drawing, of an M-26 tank transporter carrying a M-4 Sherman. 57th Ord Recov Co.

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My best 40th ID patch, unknown to this day.....but I like it a lot. Thanks, G!

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Anyone out there have any other great MP Patches? Dave K put your hand down, let some one else post. Just kidding!

Bill

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Hey Bill K, whats the story behind that patch? I don't think I've ever heard of "Pattons SS" before.

 

 

It's a nickname just like "Blue Devils" (88th Div) or the "Railsplitters" (84th Div). The 30th Div used FDR's SS. It was a tribute of sorts to the 30th, I can't remember if the Germans came up with it or not, about the fighting quality of the Division. The Waffen SS had a ferocious fighting reputation and the 30th gave as good as it got. The 65th fought under Patton and I guess the 65th liked the SS part and adopted it.

Bill

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Garth Thompson
Bill K said:
Anyone out there have any other great MP Patches? Dave K put your hand down, let some one else post. Just kidding!

Bill

Bill,

Here is one for a 24th Div POW interrogator, one from the security section of the large POW camp (sorry I can't remember the name) and an unidentified MP patch Japan ese or Korean made.

Garth

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UNPFK two versions.

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2nd Log Command standard and locally made versions.

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Four unusual KW period patches including a really bizzare 5th AF.

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40th Division "Ball of Fire" type

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Garth Thompson

Neutrality Inspection Team patch and one for the 571 EDT C. (Engineering Dump Truck Company)

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KCOMZ both styles. The second style comes in almost infinite variation.

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KMAG Korea, again lots of variation in this one.

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Couple of ROK Army patches and the Korean version UN medal.

 

TH-TH-That's all folks.

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Here are a few of my "rare " patches, both WW1 and WW2 enjoy..Paul

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12th Photo Section USAS

 

Early 502nd PIR, larger than the normal patches most likely off a football jersey.

 

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163rd Aero, direct embroidered to the uniform.. a real screamer..Paul

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Croix de Guerre

Here is probably one of the most beautiful and rarest patches that came out of the AEF in WWI. The one most people are familar with is the Lion of St. Mark patch worn by the men of the 332nd Infantry regiment that served in Italy. This patch was worn by USAAS (United States Army Ambulance Service) Provisional Section A. Section A was comprised of maybe a hundred guys. I haven't seen one but I have heard of a YMCA Lion patch worn by the Y volunteers who served with the 332nd. THAT one has got to be crazy rare! If your interested, check out grouping connected with this patch in the "Groupings" forum.

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