Unknown embroidered wings US Balloon? School?

[ocsfollowme]

I purchased a bunch of WW2 patches and this was a freebie thrown into my lots. Interestingly enough, my specialty and enjoyment comes from Home Front/Schools from WW2. So it looks like I will be happy if it is from a school or an a FE normal wing. It measure three inches in width.

 

It has US in the center. Is that a balloon?

 

Thanks in your advance for helping solve this mystery.

 

 

[pfrost]

No idea, but that is one neat wing.

[ocsfollowme]

I found a second wing out there on an American Legion hat! It is for a WW1 veteran. Very interesting.

 

 

[ocsfollowme]

The seller also sold these. So I think the wings are for the American Balloon Corps Veterans? The embroidered patch appears to be WW2 war time made, could even be late 1930s. The membership cards are from the 1970s-1980s and the patch is well before then. 

 

Regardless, it is a rare wing, as I have only seen two and the wing collectors are stumped.

 

 

[ocsfollowme]

And then I find a 3rd, on this forum! haha.

 

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

I would support the idea that this was produced by the veterans org based on how clearly the patch matches the illustrations on the card. Great finds.

[Scott C.]

Great find. Those membership cards alone would make a great display. A photo of the gravestone of Alvin A. Underhill (and his wife) -the 'Finance Officer' that countersigned those cards-  can be seen here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3855361/alvin-albin-underhill