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What are the Rarest WWII USMC Patches


BOB K. RKSS
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Mag-25: I understand there are 2 variations, one with the MAG-25 printed on the cloud and one with no MAG-25, both Aussie made. This ithe one without the MAG-25, attributed to a flight surgeon, Cmdr Grossman. jpstout

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VMF-225: First Design silk screened on canvas-unused. Tough to find! I believe this design has been copied/faked/reproduced in recent years. jpstout

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VMF-223: Aussie embroidered on wool-one of my favorites and very desirable. I have seen a near mint patch but the wear and tear and knowing it was on a jacket can be appealing. Has been copied (and very poorly at that). jpstout

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bronxboymike

VMF-133 marine reserve squadron based at NAS Oakland. This squadron was only in exitance from 1958-1962. This particular patch was made by ace novelty of Japan.

 

 

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Here's one from VMTB-143 on the USS Gilbert Islands, one of the WW2 all-Marine escort carriers.

 

I think it's rare as there were only 12 planes in the squadron. The patch was designed by the shipboard combat artist Alex Raymond and US produced in the spring 1945. Before the war Raymond created Flash Gordon. Here is his version of a winged warrior standing on a rocket. The new mission of the squadron was CAS so they used only rockets and bombs on their 1945 cruise.

 

The squadron adopted the nickname "Rocket Raiders". My patch was a gift from one of the pilots I write about on my site www.adamsplanes.com I don't know of any sales so really can't say how much it's worth.

 

IMO it rates as one of the most artistic patches of the war too.

 

Adam Lewis

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teufelhunde.ret

From ebay sale on 7.5.09 for $599.

 

"Rare WWII vintage US Marine Corps aviation flight jacket patch for Marine Air Group 25; Walt Disney design approved by Headquarters Marine Corps; Australian embroidered on wool; 5.3 inches wide, 6 inches high, near mint condition, no holes soiling or defects, 100 percent original. I doubt you can find a better original patch. See 'US MARINE CORPS AVIATION UNIT INSIGNIA 1941-1946 by Jeff Millstein for additonal information and photographs of the same patch and check the the final section "A Word to Collectors" in which he describes the manufacturing details on Aussie-made patches.original and unconditionally guaranteed. Patches of this quality don't come around often. A final note: MAG-25 was a transport unit flying R5D aircraft, the USMC and Navy version of the C-47. It won the Presidential Unit Citation for its role at Guadalcanal and the Solomon Island campaigns. Its motto Secuite En Nuages, which translates as 'saftey in the clouds' alluded to the need of the unarmed R5D to head for cover when enemy aircraft showed up"

 

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teufelhunde.ret

VMSB - 245 Mickey Mouse Patch. Sold on ebay 8.15.09 for $721. From the sellers description...

 

What A find. This original WWII canvas Bomber Squadron patch measures 6 1/2" across and features an early Mickey Mouse (Steamboat Willy) aboard a bomb. The letters spelling out United States Marine Corps VMSB - 245, Red Mousie Squadron, and the Mouse himself are flocked (velvety) in blue and red respectively. Some of the flocking has worn off. This patch does not appear to have been stitched. There is what appears to be green paint coming out of the front of the bomb. There is one spot on the back of the patch as well that does not come through the front. (see photos) This is a vintage patch and although it is not perfect, it is in great condition for its age. Very rare and an awesome addition to your collection! For more info about the Red Mousie Squadron, I've included the Wikipedia history below. Please ask any and all questions prior to bidding. We accept Paypal only for payment. Immediate payment is requested. Item is sold as is/as described. Item will be shipped within 24 hours of cleared payment.

 

History VMSB-245 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro on September 15, 1943. After training for a few months, the squadron deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii arriving there on December 31, 1942. On January 5, 1944, they moved to Midway Atoll to conduct anti-submarine patrol duty. They returned to MCAS Ewa on April 1, 1944. On May 5, 1944, the squadron left Hawaii onboard the USS Copahee headed for Majuro where they arrived on May 15. Later in the same month, they moved to Makin Atoll from which they conducted combat operations against bypassed Japanese garrisons in the Marshall Islands from June 1 until October 29, 1944. Late October saw the squadron move back to Majuro where they continued carrying out strikes. March 1945 saw the squadron move again, this time to Ulithi where they remained until the end of the war. VMSB-245 was deactivated on November 17, 1945.

 

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teufelhunde.ret

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron - 931; 15. April 1944 VMSB-931 Established at MCAS Cherry Point NC; 1 October 1944 VMSB-931 was redesignated VMBF-931; 30 December 1944 VMBF-931 was redesignated VMSB-931; 31 January 1946 VMSB-931 Disestablished at Oak Grove

 

Sold on ebay 8.17.09 for $1450.00 :crying:

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teufelhunde.ret

VMF-911 was formed on June 25, 1944 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Kinston, North Carolina. Their initial training was on the F4U Corsair however they transitioned to the F7F Tigercat on October 16, 1944 and would be the only Marine Corps squadron to receive the Tigercat. In mid-August 1945, the squadron was sent to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California from which they were to deploy to Okinawa to support the planned invasion of Japan.

 

Following the surrender of the Japanese and the end of the war; aviators, aircraft and a small number of ground personnel deployed from Miramar to Okinawa, Japan. Upon their arrival, the squadron’s assets and personnel were absorbed by VMF-312 and remained so until their return to the United States in February of 1946. During their time overseas, VMF-312 adopted the Devilcat insignia and nickname. The squadron was deactivated on March 15, 1946.

 

Sold on ebay 8.17.09 for $1125.00

 

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teufelhunde.ret

USMC VMF 514 Whistling Death Squadron Patch. This is a Walt Disney design and fits what a USMC Squadron was suppose to do Bring Death to the enemy. Sold on ebay for $1082 on 8.23.09

 

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You would need to add the US Marine Corps Recruiting patch, the Cape Gloucester tab and 1st Marines (aussie made) tabs to the list.

Not to start a firestorm here but the Marine Detachment Iceland patch is actually the patch of the British 43rd (West Riding) Division who were on garrison duty with the Marines on Iceland at the same time. Out of respect for the USMC the british divisional commander (MG H.O.Curtis) awarded the patch to the Marines as an honorarium. This would be why it had to be removed when the detachment left Iceland. The "heads down" bear was the design used by the brits at that time. In 1943 the bear went "heads up" to form a more defiant pose.

Garth

 

One slight correction - the British Division was the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division NOT the 43rd as stated. Some of the Units worked again with the US but this time USN when they embarked at Newhaven in US LCI(L)s which took them over to Gold Beach, Normandy.

 

Bill

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VMF-322: 1st(fully embroidered), 2nd(aircraft fabric), and 3rd(embroidered on wool) Designs! Each one is tough-I do not know which one is "rarest"-but I suspect the 2nd design may be the toughest to find-it certainly is the ugliest. jpstout

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