nreed_94 Posted November 7, 2019 Share #1 Posted November 7, 2019 Hey everyone, Picked this up because it was cheap and unique. Its a DUI from the 505th PIR, but it looks nothing like the official DUIs that Ive seen before. This one is completely different from the WWII Ready style and the post WWII H-Minus style. The pin back is stamped NS MEYERS INC. N.Y.C., indicating it is likely from the 1950s. Can anyone shed some light on this design? Is it an unofficial DUI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nreed_94 Posted November 7, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted November 7, 2019 Photos arent the best quality, but here is the back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredhed2 Posted November 7, 2019 Share #3 Posted November 7, 2019 The "WW II 'Ready' style is a well post-war fantasy piece made for collectors/vets/hallucinations and is listed as 505F (F) class in the ASMIC Infantry DI catalog; the Regiment never had an official or unoffficial DI during WW II (yet). There is another "WW II" collectors/vets/hallucinations piece 505G (F) class w/ motto Terror From the Sky for the 505th. The example depicted is listed as 505A in the ASMIC Infantry DI catalog © class meaning worn by the unit but the samples never approved by TIOH. Nothing unique about it. All the other variations are 1950s and later and all (incl beer cans) were worn by the Regt at various times. There is another fake one made in the 60s which is an unpierced version of one officially made by A.H. Dondero. The catalogs are available for sale to members and non-members alike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nreed_94 Posted November 7, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted November 7, 2019 I figured it was an unofficial DUI because I’ve never seen it before (not even when I was in the 505th). Do you know why these were created in the first place, if they were never authorized for wear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredhed2 Posted November 8, 2019 Share #5 Posted November 8, 2019 For the same reasons the authorized versions are created - foster esprit de corps, show to which unit a soldier belongs, yadda yadda UA insignia is much more interesting to collect IMO. The best part is no one knows how much UA insignia is out there. Most WW II/Korea/VN has been accounted for, but UA insignia, whether cloth or metal, still shows up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vzemke Posted November 8, 2019 Share #6 Posted November 8, 2019 When tredhed2 says "unauthorized", that means Big Army never gave the OK to do it. Don't confuse that with what local commanders authorized. The DI you posted was definitely worn by the unit and they are uncommon but not rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted November 8, 2019 Share #7 Posted November 8, 2019 The plastic "Geronimo" crest of the 501st PIR is another one of those unauthorized DUIs, but they were absolutely worn. The metal Geronimo DUI for the 501st WAS authorized, but the 501st PIR didn't wear it in WWII. As for the 505th PIR DUI that started this discussion, I have a PB example that has plenty of age to it that I got from a 505th veteran of WWII and the immediate post WWII era. He had no idea where he had picked it up, so it will just have to stay as a UA example. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nreed_94 Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted November 8, 2019 I’m a fan of these UA DUIs. I’ll have to dig around more and see if I can find some more examples. Maybe not rare, but definitely unique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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