16th FS 23rd FG 14th AAF CATF CBI | Theater-made patches

[walika]

16th FS 23rd FG 14th AAF CATF CBI
For its impenetrable nature, known as "The Great Wall in the Air", or "The Flying Wall".

 

The 16th Fighter Squadron was constituted on November 20, 1940 as the 16th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). Equipped initially with Curtiss P-40 fighters, the squadron was activated at Hamilton Field, California on January 15, 1941. Assigned to the Tenth Air Force, the squadron deployed to the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater in March 1942. The squadron initially defended the Indian terminus of the vital "Hump" airlift route over the Himalayas between India and China, operating from the Assam Valley of northeast India. The squadron flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943. In October 1943, the 16th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force and redeployed to southeast China for the defense of the Chinese end of the Hump and the air bases in the Kunming area. In 1944, the squadron was reequipped with North American P-51 Mustangs. The squadron returned to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the United States in November. The 16th Fighter Squadron was deactivated on December 13, 1945.

 

Operations. Combat in CBI, Jul 1942-25 Jul 1945.

Campaigns. World War II: New Guinea; India-Burma; China Defensive; China Offensive.

Aircraft. P-40, 1941-1944; P-51, 1944-1945.

 

 

Left: 4-1/2" round. SIlk embroidered with leather rondell.

Right: Embroidered on silk. 4-5/8" round.

 

 

 

 

Multi-piece hand-painted leather. 5" round.

 

 

Multi-piece hand-painted leather. 5-3/8" round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

U. S. Air Force Academy Cemetery plaque

 

Stations. Hamilton Field, Calif, 15 Jan 1941; March Field, Calif, 10 Jun 1941-11 Jan 1942; Karachi, India, 12 Mar 1942; Kunming, China, 27 Jun 1942 (detachment operated from Lingling, China, 10 Jul-Aug 1942); Chungking, China, 17 Aug 1942; Kweilin, China, 27 Oct 1942; Chenyi, China, 29 Nov 1942 (detachment operated from Yunnani, China, 26 Dec 1942-Mar 1943); Kweilin, China, 31 Mar 1943; Hengyang, China, 20 Sep 1943; Chengkung, China, 25 Nov 1943 (detachments operated from Tsuyung, China, 25 Nov 1943-Apr 1944; Nanning, China, Feb 1944; Szemao, China, Apr 1944; Yunnani, China, May-Jul 1944; Liangshan, China, 16-31 Dec 1944; Kwanghan, China, 24 Dec 1944-30 Jan 1945; Laohokow, China, 1 Jan-16 Mar 1945; Poseh, China, 1 Feb-13 Apr 1945; Pakhoi, China, 7-19 Aug 1945); Nanning, China, 19 Aug 1945; Loping, China, Sep-Nov 1945;

[doyler]

outstanding examples

[The Iron Brigade]

...

 

[Boy Howdy]

Sir,

I have this patch on the forum in the REAL OR WHAT section and the FOR SALE section.

I am getting mixed opinions as to it's authenticity.

It was suggested that I attempt to contact you and get your take on it.

I was unable to PM you so I am trying this avenue.

I will take whatever you say as "the final word"

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

BH

Feel free to PM me.

[walika]

3 hours ago, Boy Howdy said:

Hi,

 

I don't think the patch is original WWII vintage. The dark leather backing is not typical; the colors of the "wall": deep blue with very dark red on top, lacks color contrast for both the painted black brick lines and the red "teeth". In this example the teeth are more like posts. Note on this patch the "teeth" have no roots extending down into the wall like other examples. The patches I have seen with a blue "wall" are very light blue so one can see the contrasting painted black brick outline and a bright red (suggesting blood) on top, while this example has deep red. The blue leather also seems too dark.

 

Rick

 

3 hours ago, Boy Howdy said:

 

 

 

 

Sir,

I have this patch on the forum in the REAL OR WHAT section and the FOR SALE section.

I am getting mixed opinions as to it's authenticity.

It was suggested that I attempt to contact you and get your take on it.

I was unable to PM you so I am trying this avenue.

I will take whatever you say as "the final word"

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

BH

Feel free to PM me.

 

[Boy Howdy]

Sir,

Thank you for you fast reply.

I will consider this mystery solved and will pull the patch from the FOR SALE section.

Thanks again for your time,

Leonard AKA Boy Howdy