trenchbuff Posted August 31, 2018 Share #1 Posted August 31, 2018 I'm working on a group from a man who served in 3 wars. Was a fighter pilot in WW2, a jet fighter pilot in the Korean War and from what the family tells me, he served as an enlisted man in the USAF during Vietnam after having been riffed following the Korea War. Unfortunately, the family did not do a very good job preserving his service history and I'm trying to piece it together before posting his bio. Here is a patch from the group that looks to be either Thai or Vietnamese made. I was told he served as a forward controller but I have no idea what unit this patch is for. Any help would really be appreciated. I'm trying to get copies of his records and the family is still digging thru paperwork. Hopefully it will all come together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted August 31, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted August 31, 2018 photo of reverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted August 31, 2018 Share #3 Posted August 31, 2018 From WorthPoint: VIETNAM ERA AIR FORCE DET 1 460TH TAC RECON WING PATCH VIETNAM WAR ERA U.S. AIR FORCE DETACHMENT ONE OF THE 460TH TACTICAL RECON WING. THIS UNIT WAS ATTACHED TO PROJECT PATRICIA LYNN THAT FLEW OUT OF TAN SON NHUT AIRBASE IN SAIGON. PATRICIA LYNN WAS A SECRET U.S. AIR FORCE PROJECT. THEIR MISSION WAS TO FLY NIGHTIME RECON MISSIONS. INDENTIFYING VIET CONG CAMPS, FACTORIES, SUPPLY TRAILS, AND TRAINING AREAS. THEY WOULD ALSO FLY "BDA" BOMB DAMAGE ASSESMENT MISSIONS INTO LAOS AND CAMBODIA. THEIR AIRCRAFT WERE REFURBISHED B57 BOMBERS THAT HAD BEEN REFITED WITH INFRARED AND TERRAIN FOLLOWING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. THEY WERE NORMALLY PAIRED WITH A C-130 FLARE SHIP ON THEIR MISSIONS. MONITORING VC RIVER MOVEMENTS IN MEKONG DELTA WAS ALSO PERFORMED BY THE UNIT.. THIS WAS A SMALL DETACHMENT AND I DO NOT BELEIVE T ARE MANY PATCHES FROM THIS UNIT AROUND. THIS EXAMPLE IS VIETNAMESE HANDMADE. THE SHAPE OF THE PATCH IS IN A BIG ONE SIGNIFYING DETACHMENT ONE. THEY WERE CALLED THE GOLDEN COCKS. THIS IS WRITTEN IN FRENCH AT THE TOP OF THE PATCH " LES COQS D'ORS". AT THE BOTTOM IT SAYS W'S CHARLIE. PROJECT PATRICIA LYNN MISSIONS WERE TO FIND CHARLIE WERE EVER HE WAS HIDING. THE GOLDEN COCK HAS ELECTRONIC SIGNAL BOLTS COMING FROM HIS EYES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted August 31, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted August 31, 2018 This guy really had an interesting career! Thanks for the info. Thanks very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted August 31, 2018 Share #5 Posted August 31, 2018 You're welcome. Good look with the rest of your research. Take care... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted September 1, 2018 Share #6 Posted September 1, 2018 And note as well, the background is black, possibly signifying night missions. It's fun to figure out the design elements of these patches and the thought behind them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted September 1, 2018 Share #7 Posted September 1, 2018 And note as well, the background is black, possibly signifying night missions. It's fun to figure out the design elements of these patches and the thought behind them. So true... Often in thinking about a patch ID, it is those subtle elements which can, sometimes, yield a source. Some patches show direct hints, some others are more obscure, and heaven knows my amateur deciphering has been completely erroneous many a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted September 3, 2018 Share #8 Posted September 3, 2018 Great looking patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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