Recognition marker panel

[sgtdorango]

I just picked this up and I dont know much info on it, Im hoping some of you guys can help, it appears to be a red marker panel, really kind of pink in person, it also had a jungle inflation bladder roled up with it inside, dont know if these two items are related but they came together, cant find a date on the marker panel, it has PANEL VS - 9/G RED, the jungle bladder is dated 45 , so please let me know if this is a rare item, WWII or not, whats up with the jungle bladder?....thanks in advance.....mike

[doyler]

These panels are often reffered as signal panels used by airborne troops to ID there drop zones.Used in various combinations to form a letter or emblem to mark a re supply/drop zone.I believe they are shown in the books Geronimo and the GI collectors giude.I know other units use them as well.

 

RON

[sgtdorango]

[sgtdorango]

[sgtdorango]

[sgtdorango]

[kphfun]

Way neat item . I like the "Different" stuff as they are the kind of things that you can look at and say "You can't just go out and find one even if you need it!".. Cheers, Kev

[sgtdorango]

Thanks for the info guys!....yeah, if you were looking for one of these it would take years before you found it! So am I right in assuming its WWII vintage?....and I guess the jungle bladder thing just found its way inside the case by accident , and if so does anyone know what it is for?....also does anyone have a clue on the marker panels value as I might sell it because its not really my area of collecting...thanks.....mike

[craig_pickrall]

Glenm did a layout on these panels not to long ago. Do a search with his name and "marker panel" and you should find it.

[craig_pickrall]

btt

[General Apathy]

 

Hi Mike, the panels were also used by vehicle crews to identify American vehicles, once the Luftwaffe were virtually beaten and the American fighters had open skies these panels were heavily used by vehicles to save friendly fire cases.

 

Cheers Lewis

[General Apathy]

 

and I guess the jungle bladder thing just found its way inside the case by accident , and if so does anyone know what it is for?....because its not really my area of collecting...thanks.....mike

 

Hi Mike, apologies I didn't realise how old this post was and that Craig had revived it again.

 

You will have probably already found out about these flotation bladders by now, but I was in the process of adding a photo when I saw your question was dated back to 2008.

 

The photo shows the bladders in use during a 1942 training excerise in Panama, there were two patterns of these bladders, the one you show with the inflation tube in the top corner, and the other pattern has the inflation tube midway along one side seam. This photo is from page 101 of ' Doughboy to G.I. ' and is the only photo's I have seen regarding the use of the bladders.

 

Cheers Lewis