USAF Missile/ICBM/Cold War Patches

[coli8344]

Does anyone collect USAF missile related patches? Interested in just seeing what folks have.

[Texas36th]

My dad was a Missleman in the fifties and sixties. I have his patch and coffe mug from one of the units he was in. Try to get his service records to find out his exact units right now.

 

[coli8344]

Very nice display, very cool that you kept these.

[coli8344]

I started collecting missile patches from my old missile base, 351st SMW, in the early 1980's-housing Minuteman I early in the Cold War and then transitioned to the Minuteman II. The first one is a large handmade leather patch of the 351st Strategic Missile Wing shield. I also have a handmade one of the 509th Strategic Missile Squadron, I'll post later.

 

I think this was a very important period-sometimes the patches tell a great deal about the history of the unit. I hope more folks share pics of their collections.

[coli8344]

This shows two leather handmade patches at the top, the large 351st Shield and right below it is a 1980's leather 509th SMS handmade leather patch. I was an idiot and sold my original handmade leather 351st SMW patch a few months back and regretted it so much that I spent a month remaking another one-the one in the first post picture is the original. I've got leather patches for the 508th SMS and 510th SMS that I am giving some TLC to correct 30 years of peeling paint. Below that are two sizes of the 508th SMS, 2 variations of the the 509th SMS, and finally two variations of the 510 SMS patches. The 510th SMS devil patch was also a design we took from the WWII 351st Bomb Group-510th Bomb Squadron (our unit owes it's history to these great soldiers so our initial missile squadron patches mimic their bomb squadron patches), I was just lucky to find one for the 510th.

[coli8344]

Here are a couple of final pictures of part of the collection. Thank you for looking. I look forward to seeing what you all have.

[Texas36th]

Do you know this patch?

[m1ashooter]

I only have the unit patches that I wore. If you weren't in the 400SMS then everyone one else didn't matter.

[coli8344]

Do you know this patch?

I thought it was Pershing at first but not sure. I have seen this one before but no information came along with it. It looks in great condition.

[coli8344]

I only have the unit patches that I wore. If you weren't in the 400SMS then everyone one else didn't matter.

It would be interesting to see a pic of those, if you get a chance.

[coli8344]

Here are few more patches. I know I've met other guys that have an amazing number and variations of the embroidered missile patches. I found the silver bullion basic missile patch in the Netherlands.

[coli8344]

Here are some new additions to my collection. Please note the leather patch made by Johnny Signor, a member of this forum. The oval leather patch is a 1980's one I resurrected.

[Mark1]

Do you know this patch?

This patch belongs to the 579th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM Atlas) attached to the 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing out of Walker Air Force Base.

 

Mark

[coli8344]

Here's a picture to compare original patch with Johnny's. Johnny's looks much better, no question.

[MWalsh]

Great collections gents! Not sure why, but personally I just seldom see USAF missile related ANYTHING. Not patches, not badges, etc.

 

I have come across ONE full sized badge, metal, nicely sterling marked and no doubt private purchase,at the time I wasn't sure if the price was good or not so I passed and then missed it entirely. Never have seen another. I wish I had bought it as it just had a great look to it.

 

I personally think it's another of those under appreciated areas of collecting. I guess when the units are somewhat shrouded in secrecy then often little is know to potential collectors, thus fewer collectors? I dunno.

 

Keep posting your pics tho,again, great stuff!

 

MW

[coli8344]

MW, I agree. There was a time when you couldn't get anyone to buy Strategic Air items-no real interest, or the asking price for some items is crazy at times, I don't know. But now with the way things are going in Russia some believe the Cold War may be making its way back and I've seen a surge in not just SAC items being sold but an increase in interest. Here is another updated set of missile patches. I also have two different sets of SAC missile overalls (navy blue and gray versions).

[Lee Ragan]

Great collection! I collect anything SAC and any USAF for that matter. I was wondering, how come no pocket rockets with the Operations Designator wreath in the displays? I agree that many SAC items are not that easy to find and many collectors do not perceive SAC material as being as glamorous as other areas of interest.

[coli8344]

I was in SAC before the operations wreath came into use, so I'm nostalgic about the pocket rockets with no wreath. I do have a couple of lapel pins with the wreath for master and I think basic but I was considering selling those. I also like the original bullion rockets we use to wear. It's great to see another Texan, I definitely agree with you about the lack of glamour when it comes to SAC with some folks-I think in part it was due to a lack of knowledge of what we did. I was talking to some recent Air Force Academy grads and some said a few of their military history professors that had been in SAC painted a dim picture of how hard it was to progress under SAC.

 

If you have any pics of your collections you can share please do.

[coli8344]

An example of pricing with SAC items since the Cold War issue has come into play in the news is this item. I bought this months ago for about $10, it's a 6 oz replica of the Minuteman II which was our missile. Not exact in detail but not bad. I thought with a little imagination I can create a base and info plate for less than the $100 plus you see for the wooden models on line and I can exhibit it with my other ICBM models. The seller recently jumped the price to over $40 per missile.

[coli8344]

I'm glad there are folks out there with an interest in Strategic Air Command. I was hoping there was some interest out there and this seems to be a very good outlet to share with folks.

 

 

 

[coli8344]

Here are some updated missile related patch pictures

[coli8344]

Picture set 2.

[coli8344]

Picture 3. The Patch on the lower left with the Falcon and 2 bombs is the 351st Bomber Group. I was told the following from a member of the 351st BG reunion group-Disney originally submitted this patch proposal to the War Department and it was rejected because they didn't want the Eagle depicted dropping bombs-Disney said it was a falcon and the patch was accepted.

[coli8344]

Picture 4: This are mainly patches from my 351st Strategic Missile wing, the 508th SMS (left), 509th SMS (missile), and 510th SMS (right).

 

The neat thing is our base used the 509th BS (bomb with wings) and 510 BS (devil with 3 bombs) patches initially then transitioned to the patches you see with the missile logo. Can't get a confirmation on whether the 508th BS (has an Eagle with an Uncle Sam hat) was used initially by our missile unit. The 351st maintenance patch on the upper left is unique in that it displays our three squadron colors (red 508th, blue 509th, green 510th).

[coli8344]

Picture 5: These are all velcro patches. The SAC operations patch with the Eagle on the right has what looks like a checkmark which represents the air crews and the symbol below that is a missile for the missile crews.