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Robbins Paratrooper Badge


lakenormanusa
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lakenormanusa

Just wanted to see if anyone knows what this badge represents.

I've heard different theories from Caterpillar club to sweetheart piece.

I found a photo of a paratrooper wearing what appears to be a similar badge

on his overseas hat. The back of the badge is marked

Robbins Co, Attleboro Mass. Sterling.

 

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post-125711-0-71802300-1490317825.jpg

 

post-125711-0-72278200-1490317877.jpg

 

 

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BILL THE PATCH

Nice, never seen something like that, and with a picture to prove it was worn is very cool. Hope someone can shed light on it

 

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lakenormanusa

BILL THE PATCH, on 24 Mar 2017 - 08:21 AM, said:

 

Nice, never seen something like that, and with a picture to prove it was worn is very cool. Hope someone can shed light on it

 

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

To see it worn leads me to believe it was an authorized badge,

but then again, if it were an authorized piece there should be

definitive information as to it's significance.

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lakenormanusa

And alot more of them in pictures if it was authorized.

 

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Very true!

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Others have identified this pin as having some kind of association with the Switlik Parachute Company. It might have been a giveaway as I believe they were one of the parachute companies that gave out the insect looking caterpillar pin for anyone who was forced to bail out with one of their chutes. I do know that there are several variations of this pin. One is hallmarked CTC Sterling, another CORO Sterling both in silver and another with a gold wash and one that is made of brass without a hallmark.

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lakenormanusa

They could have been sweetheart pins, but they sure seem more stripped down and heavy duty compared to most of the dainty and decorative sweetheart pieces I've encountered.

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To see it worn leads me to believe it was an authorized badge,

but then again, if it were an authorized piece there should be

definitive information as to it's significance.

If it was an authorized piece, it would have appeared in the numerous books and articles published on WWII paratroop insignia. Just because someone had found a photograph of a GI wearing one on his uniform does not indicate it must have been authorized. GI's have been pinning and sewing unauthorized stuff on their uniforms for decades, especially the WWII era.

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