The Transitional VF/VA-152 Patch

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

 

Recently, I was fortunate enough to procure a fairly rare and what I believe to be the first version and or the 1959 VA-152 Squadron patch. Although the life of the squadron predates 1959, it was that year in which VF-152 transitioned from the Banshee to the Skyraider and to take on the VA or Attack Squadron designation & as seen below.

 

 

 

What leds me to beleive that this squadron patch is the transitional VF to VA-152 patch is those patches from the earlier time and when the squadron was had a Fighter designation those patches had two drops of blood as seen here

 

 

 

 

As time went on those same VA-152 attack squadron patches began to include a banner.

 

 

 

 

This following VA-152 version of the patch is known to me as the last version. It was adopted following the squadron's final Skyraider combat deployment off of the USS Oriskany(CVA-34) in 1968. From there the squadron transitioned from the Skyraider to the Skyhawk. Thereafter, the squadron was decommisioned in 1971 following their fifth and final Vietnam deployment.

 

 

Thank you,

 

Dave

[Patchcollector]

Dave that is one sweet set of patches!I love the Skyraider stuff,and enjoy your informative posts!I noticed too that some have 4 lines behind the arrow and some three.Did that and the 2 versus 3 drops of blood have any symbolic significance ?

[Maverickson]

Dave that is one sweet set of patches!I love the Skyraider stuff,and enjoy your informative posts!I noticed too that some have 4 lines behind the arrow and some three.Did that and the 2 versus 3 drops of blood have any symbolic significance ?

 

 

It was always my understanding that the three drops of blood were symbolic of the three aviators lost in the squadron during the Korean War. Those three drops of blood are found on all known (to me) VA-152 patches. On the other hand, those known VF-152 patches have only two drops.

 

 

This following VF-152 patch is a good example of that.

 

4.75" X 5.50"

 

Please note that this example of a VF-152 patch seen directly above differs from that the other I first used. This one is fully embroidered and in fact one of the most heavily emboidered paches I own and very thick. On the other hand, that first and earlier example is in fact embroidered on twill.

 

Also, you are correct in your assumption about the four lines behind the arrow. However, I believe that trait is one of the carry overs from that just earlier version of the VF-152 patches. All those VA-152 patches used throughout the life of the squadron and for which had a banner attached also exhibited only those three lines seen behind the arrow.

 

Thanks, Dave

[Patchcollector]

Thanks for the info.I think I like this last patch that you posted best,it is a real beauty!