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VMF-221 Patch Information or Provenance?


jpstout
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VMF-221 was formed in July of 1941 and deactivated in September of 1945. It deployed overseas after Pearl Harbor and following the Battle of Midway (1942), returned to Ewa. In January of 1943, VMF-221 deployed to Espiritu Santo and on to Guadalcanal, transitioning to F4U-1 aircraft. They returned to the united States in December 1943 for reorganization and deployed again from January to June 1945 on the USS Bunker Hill. After the war, VMF-221 was recommissioned in the Marine Air Reserve.

The patch identified in Millsteins is dated 1943, american embroidered on wool and uses the F4U in its design, perfectly suitable for the known history. I have been able to document this same patch in several groupings.

There is a second patch circulating that is american embroidered on twill, has the same design and lettering, but also added "V.M.F.-221" just below the "FIGHTING FALCONS". There are a few differences in the lettering, notably the N and A. While it appears to be original in design, I have not been able to satisfactorily identify its date of origin by documents or vet provenance.

 

Does anyone have any solid evidence that this is a Late war patch, or perhaps, a postwar made patch?

 

Here is the original patch from Millsteins research:

 

 

 

 

post-3673-0-38164300-1442007723.jpg

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I neglected to include some information on the first patch shown, the embroidered on wool patch. From all accounts I have seen, this is the patch worn while on the USS Bunker Hill. This particular patch belonged to a pilot on the carrier credited with 2 kills. He flew his last mission on April 28th, the Bunker Hill was damaged May 11, and the pilots next flight entry in his log was in August back at El Centro. One thought is the twill patch was procured in the July - September 1945 period. Perhaps....FWIW

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Since no one answered your post, I would say that this patch went cheap on eBay FWIW. IIRC this exact patch has gone for $400 in the past. If you picked this one up I would say nice score.

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No, just trying to nail the actual period/years this particular patch was issued. No one can tell me.

 

Yeah, I have seen at least 3 sold in the last 3? years or so, of course the one you mention which sold for $475.

 

Thanks for posting!

 

pat

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Pat, Mule Holmberg's book shows the WW2 version (no unit designation below "Falcons") and says it was used while at Memphis during the 1950s-1960s time period. I wonder if this patch could be from the period and maybe Holmberg used the wrong patch as an example from the period. Jeffro

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Pat, Mule Holmberg's book shows the WW2 version (no unit designation below "Falcons") and says it was used while at Memphis during the 1950s-1960s time period. I wonder if this patch could be from the period and maybe Holmberg used the wrong patch as an example from the period. Jeffro

Jeff,

I do not have Mules book at hand, so I can't fully comment right away. Perhaps, you could send a scan of his example. The squadron was deactivated 1959 or so? Perhaps other patches were procured in that later time frame. The one I posted for comment seems to be 45ish construction and not 50s to me.

 

pat

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Pat, the patch he shows in his book is the same one in your original post. It is the WW2 version on felt. His caption below it states that it was used during the "1950s-1960" time period while the squadron was based at Memphis. He does not show the patch on twill with the unit designation in his book. I think this may be an error. Most of his patches are illustrated in chronological order, but he only shows the one example in his book. I think he may have mistakingly left out the 1940s era description that should have gone with the patch shown. Also, he likely left out the embroidered on twill version photo of the patch that you are seeking info on, but did include the timeframe in the erroneous description for the WW2 patch. Sadly, we can't ask him now. Maybe you can dig up something about NAS Memphis during the 1950-1960 timeframe to nail this one down. I have a late 1950s VMF213 patch from the Memphis Air Station period. I think they were designated a reserve squadron then maybe? Jeffro

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  • 3 weeks later...

Pat,

I was at the Marine Corps Museum today and they have one of these patches on display. I can post a photo when I get home in a couple days.

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  • 1 year later...

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