Patchcollector Posted September 13, 2013 Share #1 Posted September 13, 2013 Hi all,Here is another USAF patch from my recent Air Force haul.It is for the 5th Det of the 9th SRW.I believe that this is an "Olympic Fire",or possibly an "Olympic Flame" piece. Here is some info I found: As the importance of intelligence collection increased in the 1980s, the wing operated detachments (permanent units) and operating locations (temporary sites) around the world. The British government publicly announced, on 5 April 1982, the stationing of the SR-71 at Detachment 4, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. The wing also established Operating Location OLYMPIC FLAME (OL-OF), a new U-2 location at Patrick AFB, Florida, on 29 January 1982. OL-OF became Detachment 5 on 1 January 1983. Here's something on Olympic Fire: And it was also used by Det 5 of the 9th SRW at Patrick AFB (Area of coverage - El Salvador / Nicaragua ) until the OL closed in late 1992. A bit more info on Det 5: Det 5 - Patrick AFB, Florida, 9th SRW, U-2, (MIDAS-deployment and HiCAT-deployment) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted September 13, 2013 Back view,no plastic back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted September 13, 2013 Share #3 Posted September 13, 2013 They were temporarily based here in Florida some years ago at Patrick AFB, I had one of the patches and got to see one of the U-2's come in over the beach to land and was parked where it came right over the car, awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It had all sorts of fins and antennae on it, the super long wings and the big wing pods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted September 14, 2013 Share #4 Posted September 14, 2013 Very cool patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted September 14, 2013 Very cool patch. Thanks FF,I agree it is a cool design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted September 15, 2013 They were temporarily based here in Florida some years ago at Patrick AFB, I had one of the patches and got to see one of the U-2's come in over the beach to land and was parked where it came right over the car, awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It had all sorts of fins and antennae on it, the super long wings and the big wing pods. Now that's something I would enjoy seeing while at the beach;a U-2 flying overhead!Was the one you saw pictured on the bottom right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted March 30, 2014 Share #7 Posted March 30, 2014 I presently work in their old hangar. There is a really neat inlay in the floor that they left behind. I'm out on a trip right now, but I'll take a photo when I get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted March 30, 2014 I presently work in their old hangar. There is a really neat inlay in the floor that they left behind. I'm out on a trip right now, but I'll take a photo when I get back. Hi Varangian, I would enjoy seeing that.Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted March 30, 2014 Share #9 Posted March 30, 2014 Now that's something I would enjoy seeing while at the beach;a U-2 flying overhead!Was the one you saw pictured on the bottom right? Yes , but it didn't have the top Big pod , all the other fins and wing pods . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted April 2, 2014 Share #10 Posted April 2, 2014 I was able to check out a U-2 up close and personal while deployed to Taif, Saudi Arabia back in 1992. The 9th was there for Southern Watch and it was very interesting to see the amount of security around these planes, especially when the only thing top secret were the cameras. Once the film was offloaded, the plane reverted to secret. I gave a U-2 Crew Chief a tour of the C-5 including popping the hatch on top of the T-tail which always gets a nice response as a view from the top of the tail is an incredible experience. Anyways, he escorted me to show me around his charge and I learned a heap about the plane. It is pretty simple plane, but is tricky to deal with when taxiing or doing an engine change. I did get the wing patch off of the Wing medical officer, but that was it. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted April 3, 2014 Share #11 Posted April 3, 2014 These are two of my most favorite U-2 patches. The one on the left is the 9th RW Overseas Location RAF Alconbury and on the right, Overseas Location RAF Fairford. I got these while I was stationed over in the UK. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsr71 Posted April 4, 2014 Share #12 Posted April 4, 2014 These are two of my most favorite U-2 patches. The one on the left is the 9th RW Overseas Location RAF Alconbury and on the right, Overseas Location RAF Fairford. I got these while I was stationed over in the UK. -Ski Love the one on the left Ski, still looking for one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted April 5, 2014 Those are some sweet patches Ski.I've never seen those and I really like how they designed them "RAF" style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyking_comms Posted April 20, 2014 Share #14 Posted April 20, 2014 These are two of my most favorite U-2 patches. The one on the left is the 9th RW Overseas Location RAF Alconbury and on the right, Overseas Location RAF Fairford. I got these while I was stationed over in the UK. -Ski I would love to get that Alconbury Patch! Darren http://www.raf-fairford.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted April 24, 2014 Share #15 Posted April 24, 2014 Hi Varangian, I would enjoy seeing that.Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted April 24, 2014 Share #16 Posted April 24, 2014 That's cool.Anyway that would let you pull those tiles and replace them? That would look cool on a wall. I like the RAF style patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48MMS Posted April 24, 2014 Share #17 Posted April 24, 2014 Other than airshows, I have seen the U-2 twice. In 1982 it was at Eielson AFB doing atmospheric (weather) work or so claimed the the 6th Strategic Wing, maybe so. The first time was the day after the Iranian hostage situation. As I was coming into work, there was one near our hanger, roped off and with a heavy compliment of Security Police. As with Eielson AFB, it was there for weather purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted April 24, 2014 Wow,nice!Thanks for posting this.It looks like stone,maybe marble? Other than airshows, I have seen the U-2 twice. In 1982 it was at Eielson AFB doing atmospheric (weather) work or so claimed the the 6th Strategic Wing, maybe so. The first time was the day after the Iranian hostage situation. As I was coming into work, there was one near our hanger, roped off and with a heavy compliment of Security Police. As with Eielson AFB, it was there for weather purposes. The U-2 that you saw around the hostage crisis was probably tasked to monitor that area,possibly doing some advance "prep" work for the Delta Force rescue attempt in the Iranian desert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted April 24, 2014 Share #19 Posted April 24, 2014 Wow,nice!Thanks for posting this.It looks like stone,maybe marble? Only the finest linoleum. Though it must be pretty good to have lasted this long in a high-traffic area... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48MMS Posted April 25, 2014 Share #20 Posted April 25, 2014 Patchcollector, I agree on the reason that U-2 was there. It always amazed me what the Air Force thought people would accept as truth. It was also something in those days to see B-52's at Mildenhall. Once again the "story" was that they were passing through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share #21 Posted May 16, 2015 I was able to acquire another U-2 piece for my collection,so I'm adding it to this post.This patch is marked for the "Olympic Flare" missions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share #22 Posted May 16, 2015 Back view Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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