Patchcollector Posted June 23, 2013 Author Share #26 Posted June 23, 2013 The computer made patches that I have in my collection all have tiny dots,or holes in the stitching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted June 25, 2013 Share #27 Posted June 25, 2013 Topics merged. It's probably best if we keep all of this information together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 28, 2014 Author Share #28 Posted March 28, 2014 While doing some research on another Pilot class patch I found this photo of one that looks exactly like my Fire Dragon piece. It even has the "S" shaped 5! Here is a link to the photo: http://www.usafupt.com/id128.htm Scroll down to the next to last batch of patches to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share #29 Posted March 30, 2014 Since I have found a patch on a School website that matches my patch,I'm going to call this "case closed" and take this out of my "undecided" box and put it in my "authentic" box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 30, 2014 Share #30 Posted March 30, 2014 Not to start a new thing but I think the one on the site is a fake.Those class patches are harder to find than a squadron patch and I bet it was just a 'filler'.If you notice how ALL the other class patch numbers look like numbers.They wouldn't make a patch for '75-02' to look like '7S.02'.Just my opinion but I still don't think it's authentic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share #31 Posted March 30, 2014 I had a feeling someone would post that.So they are all fakes? I don't see any other fakes on his website.I'm going to believe what I see on an advanced collectors' website over the opinions I've seen here,which by the way,have absolutely no proof to back their statements.I have provided proof of mine by finding another exactly like it on a School patch collectors' website.Now,I invite anyone who has a "real" one to post it here so we can compare it to mine and the one on the School website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffro Posted March 30, 2014 Share #32 Posted March 30, 2014 Patchcollector, have you contacted Mark1? He replied in posts 4 & 6 and said he has one. Maybe he can post a picture of his. Jeffro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 30, 2014 Share #33 Posted March 30, 2014 I'm not being a smarta@@ but If you're happy thats all that matters.Just saying I wouldn't have it in my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share #34 Posted March 30, 2014 Patchcollector, have you contacted Mark1? He replied in posts 4 & 6 and said he has one. Maybe he can post a picture of his. Jeffro Hi Jeffro, Yes he has stated he has one,and I was hoping that he would post it but he did'nt.I have'nt contacted him but he is most welcome to post his,I would love to see it! I'm not being a smarta@@ but If you're happy thats all that matters.Just saying I wouldn't have it in my collection. I understand.This is a forum,and every one is entitled to their opinions.I respect that.What bothers me is when opinion is given with no proof to back it up.I have found a matching patch on a well respected website to post here to back mine up,and it too was dismissed as fake,again with no proof to back the claim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 30, 2014 Share #35 Posted March 30, 2014 Proof. Look at the construction of the other class patches.Much better quality and U.S. made. NONE of the other class patches have a letter in place of a number. No other class patch is foreign made.These students came to the U.S. and were instructed at USAF bases by American instructors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share #36 Posted March 30, 2014 How do you know all of the class patches are US made??Patches back then,as well as now,are sometimes ordered from overseas manufacturers.It doesn't matter if the unit is US based or not.I have many foreign made patches for US units in my collection,and I'm not talking theatre made wartime pieces either.When I look at the USAF class patches I see an amazing variety of manufacturing styles,and I've always felt that the USAF class patches are,for the most part,kind of "cheesy" as far is quality is concerned.The USAF class patches were ordered in "batches" for each class.Batches were relatively small,and for a VNAF class,the batch would be even smaller.Could a batch of patches have a typo on them?Yes.Would there be time to order another batch?Perhaps not. But all this is water under the bridge,so to speak.I've posted visual proof from another respected source to back up my opinions.Until visual proof is offered to the contrary,the patch is going to stand as authentic in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted April 10, 2014 Share #37 Posted April 10, 2014 I have no dog in this fight, but I am wondering if you--Patchcollecter-- contacted the owner of the web site in which you found your comparision patch, to ask him if he thought his patch was an original or a "repro fill in"??? I dont recall his name or email address, but I sold him two class patches a few years back. Unless he states that his patch is a repro, based on the evidence provided, I would have to side with Patchcollector. Also, let me state that I am no where near the authority on patches that the earlier contributers to this thread are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted April 11, 2014 Share #38 Posted April 11, 2014 I did send owner of the site a message a week or so ago, forgot about it.Below is what he sent me.Did not state where he got it from and I still have my doubts about it.Any who this is what he said; Hi Jim. It is one of the South Vietnam training classes.The FIRE DRAGON. Jim Flaviani Mar 31 (10 days ago) It is an original. When it was made, it was made with the error and they used it. me Apr 2 (8 days ago) Jim, Thank you for the information and time.Is the patch U.S. made? Jim Flaviani Apr 2 (8 days ago) Theater made Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsr71 Posted April 12, 2014 Share #39 Posted April 12, 2014 May be somebody on this site might be able to help as they were part of Class 75.02 at Sheppard AFB. There is also an image of the patch on this page. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=vi&u=http://hoiquanphidung.com/showthread.php%3F1011-C%25C3%25A1c-Kh%25C3%25B3a-h%25E1%25BB%258Dc-bay-ph%25E1%25BA%25A3n-l%25E1%25BB%25B1c-t%25E1%25BA%25A1i-M%25E1%25BB%25B9/page9&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSAFB%2B75-02%2BFIRE%2BDRAGON%2BPATCH%26hl%3Den%26qscrl%3D1%26rlz%3D1T4WZPG_enGB492GB492%26biw%3D1333%26bih%3D698 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted April 12, 2014 Share #40 Posted April 12, 2014 Nice find. Nothing better than having a picture of a patch on a uniform worn by the guy who went through the class. Nothing like the one earlier in the post here. As far as the website moderator saying the one he posted is theater made . I don't know what theater it was but it wasn't Vietnam in my opinion. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted April 12, 2014 Share #41 Posted April 12, 2014 That is a great image on that link. You can tell without a doubt that the patch is US made and the details are amazing compared to the original patch posted. Like has been stated there were very few of these class patches made, and they are always high quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted April 13, 2014 Share #42 Posted April 13, 2014 From the aforementioned link...http://translate.goo...iw=1333&bih=698, which appears to be a translation of a South Vietnamese veteran's site, there appears to have been a reunion of pilots from class 75-02 in 2010. Is it possible that the patch in question( an "s" for a 5) is a reunion patch, made for that event. It has been suggested that there is evidence of computer stitching being used to make that patch and this would fall in line with a patch being made for the reunion in 2010, and just may have been made in Viet Nam. Just throwing that out there for discussion!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share #43 Posted April 13, 2014 Thanks for finding the link.I'm posting a pic of it here.So now there is a photo taken in 2004 of a very new looking patch,and a school website owner saying that the "error" one is original.Kind of at odds with each other!Does anyone know how to contact the Vietnamese person who posted the photo?Also,I'm hoping that Mark from this forum could post his patch.If it matches the one in the photo recently found,that would be proof without a shadow of a doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share #44 Posted April 13, 2014 I just sent Mark a message.I noticed he has'nt been on the forum for a few months.Hopefully he will see the message and post his! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsr71 Posted April 14, 2014 Share #45 Posted April 14, 2014 Thanks for finding the link.I'm posting a pic of it here.So now there is a photo taken in 2004 of a very new looking patch,and a school website owner saying that the "error" one is original.Kind of at odds with each other!Does anyone know how to contact the Vietnamese person who posted the photo? Also,I'm hoping that Mark from this forum could post his patch.If it matches the one in the photo recently found,that would be proof without a shadow of a doubt. I have tried to register with that SVNAF site and waiting approval. So if I hear anything after contacting the poster of that patch I will let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share #46 Posted April 14, 2014 I have tried to register with that SVNAF site and waiting approval. So if I hear anything after contacting the poster of that patch I will let you know. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted April 14, 2014 Share #47 Posted April 14, 2014 Ahh, so the patch is Pilot Class 75-02 from Sheppard AFB. It makes sense now. This patch has nothing to do with Vietnam. The originally posted patch might have been simply a civilian jacket novelty knock off. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share #48 Posted April 14, 2014 Ahh, so the patch is Pilot Class 75-02 from Sheppard AFB. It makes sense now. This patch has nothing to do with Vietnam. The originally posted patch might have been simply a civilian jacket novelty knock off. -Ski Actually the patch has alot to do with Vietnam as the pilots trained for this class were Vietnamese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted April 20, 2014 Share #49 Posted April 20, 2014 Actually the patch has alot to do with Vietnam as the pilots trained for this class were Vietnamese And so they stayed in the US then after the fall? -SKi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share #50 Posted April 20, 2014 And so they stayed in the US then after the fall? -SKi I believe some found refuge here,not sure at what point though.I think the pilots were sent back and some escaped later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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