doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 18, 2016 A small recent find locally to a ground crew armorer who served wih the 8th and 9th AF 361st FS. Recieved a few insignias,dog tags,named good conduct,uniforms,trunk,trench art aluminum cigarette case and lighter,.50 cal ammo can and section of german camo chute.There was also a couple photos of aircraft and some negatives I may see if photos can be produced off them.Included was this squadron patch.The same insignia is on the lid of his private purchase trunk in decal form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted February 18, 2016 Some smalls o in clude timing gauges for the .50 BMG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted February 18, 2016 Reverse of cigarrete case. Reminds me of a Brit Mosquito. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 18, 2016 Share #4 Posted February 18, 2016 Great find! I agree on the Mossie appearance on the cigarette case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltz41 Posted February 18, 2016 Share #5 Posted February 18, 2016 Nice little grouping there! Great find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted February 18, 2016 Share #6 Posted February 18, 2016 Nice pickup.That patch is sweet.The case may have been made in North Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted February 18, 2016 Nice pickup.That patch is sweet.The case may have been made in North Africa. Thanks I thought the same.I have had things similiar that were made in Oran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted February 18, 2016 Nice little grouping there! Great find. Thanks Waltz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted February 18, 2016 Great find! I agree on the Mossie appearance on the cigarette case. Thanks Mike First embossed case I have found.The vet is still active.He was also very involved in the 8th AFHS Chapter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted February 18, 2016 Share #10 Posted February 18, 2016 That's a sweet little group- the cigarette case and patch are especially neat. Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted February 18, 2016 That's a sweet little group- the cigarette case and patch are especially neat. Congrats Thanks Thor There are some standard english made wool patches too.He had a Brit battle jacket in the trunk and a enlisted Brit made service cap too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted February 18, 2016 Share #12 Posted February 18, 2016 Very nice stuff Ron! The patch is super cool! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted February 18, 2016 Very nice stuff Ron! The patch is super cool! JD Thanks JD I made a error in the Squadron number.Should be 365 Fighter.Have a copied photo the vet had famed of a tent with the 365 FS painted over the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted February 18, 2016 Share #14 Posted February 18, 2016 That's a great patch, Ron. I wouldn't mind seeing that battledress and cap if you get the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted February 18, 2016 That's a great patch, Ron. I wouldn't mind seeing that battledress and cap if you get the chance.[/quot Thanks J Its unique.Must be a little rare/uncommon as I havent seen it listed on a couple of the patch sites. May try to get a picture of two planes he had made photo copies of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted February 18, 2016 Share #16 Posted February 18, 2016 Awesome finds "ALL" but that patch WOW , man that's a beauty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted February 18, 2016 Thanks Johnny.Hoping you would "fly" in and comment on the patch with you having a huge data base on the patches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted February 18, 2016 Share #18 Posted February 18, 2016 Here's a photo of a 365th "Jug",and a little of their history. The 358th Fighter Group flew seventeen missions with the Eighth Air Force from Leiston air base. At the beginning of February 1944 the Group were transferred to the Ninth Air Force in exchange for the 357th Fighter Group. With the Ninth, the Group went on to win three Distinguished Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for the part they played in the liberation of France and their support in pushing the German armed forces back east of the Rhine river and in southern Germany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted February 19, 2016 Share #19 Posted February 19, 2016 Here's another photo "P-47 Thunderbolt “Chunky” of 365th Fighter Squadron, 358th Fighter Group at High Halden, Kent in June 1944. (U.S. Air Force Photograph.)" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted February 19, 2016 Vet had these photo copies.Im assuming his aircraft he was assigned to possibly. "PRINCESS MARIANNE" 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted February 19, 2016 Share #21 Posted February 19, 2016 Doyler, yes the patch you have is an really fine one, the unit emblem is of "Unofficial" type not one "approved" via regs as many WW2 unit emblems were , but I'm sure your's is the "real deal" as the saying goes as it matches the decal nicely that is one the trunk, they must have at one time had others made as I have seen an "image" not a real patch , but the unit's design with an Orange' tail as the unit's P-47's carried , or it was the "original" concept design and they just made them with blue tails , or another possibility was the blue one may have been for other "Squadrons" in the group , regardless all's good in my opinion Here's the image I mentioned ..................... Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share #22 Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks Johnny You confirmed my thoughts of it being an unofficial design. I do have the vets dog tags and various items.Im working on removing the items from a shadow box as he has things mounted with small nails.Hes still with us but Im waiting for the family to forward a copy of the letter he sent home detiling his areas of service and stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted February 19, 2016 Share #23 Posted February 19, 2016 Glad I helped you Good luck on the rest of his history with the unit !!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share #24 Posted April 12, 2017 A bit more surfaced on Monday. More photos,unit history,reuion rosters,also a bound copy of his letters he wrote home.I was told this book was put together as part of college degree project.Copies of the unit newspaper.H was quite acte in te association and attending the reuions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share #25 Posted April 12, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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