What are the Rarest WWII USMC Patches

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Marine Fighting Squadron 314 (VMF-314). Sold on ebay 11.6.10 for $600.

 

Marine Fighting Squadron 314 (VMF-314) was commissioned on October 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron was originally given the nickname of, "Bob's Cats". The squadron was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 32 (MAG 32) flying the F4U Corsair and began training immediately for combat in the South Pacific. In February 1944, the squadron, along with VMF-324, was among the first units aboard Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Field Kinston. They left MCAAF Kinston for the Pacific theater and arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on June 18, 1944 and were reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 23, 3rd MAW. From there they deployed to Midway Atoll.

 

VMF-314 returned to MCAS Ewa in December 1944 and remained there until April 1945, when they moved to Ie Shima in May 1945 to take part in the Battle of Okinawa as part of Marine Aircraft Group 22 (MAG-22). During the ensuing campaign, VMF-314 pilots were credited with 11 kills and the squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. After the surrender of Japan, VMF-314 moved to Kyūshū, Japan as part of the occupation force. VMF-314 returned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in November 1945 and in March 1946 they arrived back at MCAS Cherry Point. For a short time they were re-assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 22 (MAG-22), 9th Marine Aircraft Wing but were decommissioned on April 30, 1947

 

 

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VMF-124 USMC Marine Fighter Squadron Patch (second design) sold on ebay 10.3.10 for $600.

 

 

VMF-124 was formed on September 2, 1942 at Camp Kearney, San Diego, California. They were declared fully operational on December 28, 1942 even though the squadron’s pilots had only an average of 25 hours each in the plane. They arrived on Guadalcanal on the morning of February 12, 1943 led by their commanding officer, Major William Gise. The squadron flew their first mission before lunch that day, with twelve F4Us escorting a PBY Catalina on a 230 mile mission to pick up two downed pilots at Sandfly Bay, Vella Lavella.

 

 

The first F4U pilot to be decorated with the Medal of Honor came from VMF-124 — 1st Lt Kenneth A. Walsh for a mission on August 30, 1943, during which he shot down four Japanese Zeros before ditching his borrowed Corsair. The squadron remained in the Solomon Islands until September 1943, fighting over the Russell Islands, New Georgia and Vella Levella.

 

Kenneth A. Walsh, USMC (1916-1998); fourth-ranking Marine Corps ace in World War II; Medal of Honor recipient

 

Following the fighting in the Solomons, the squadron was disbanded and reconstituted back in the United States where it trained in the Mojave Desert at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Mojave for the next year.When they received their orders for carrier assignments they had 5 combat experienced pilots as their training nucleus. VMF-124 left the States again on September 18, 1944, heading to Hawaii. While in Hawaii they were attached to Navy Air Group 4 who were operating off the USS Essex (CV-9). Along with VMF-213, 124 became the first Marine squadron to be based on an aircraft carrier. While deployed aboard the Essex, they took part in fighting over Lingayen, Luzon, Formosa, Tokyo, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. On January 3, 1945 VMF-124 and VMF-213 struck Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands in the first Marine land strike off a carrier

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VMF 322 Patch nickname "Fighting Gamecocks" & "Cannon Balls". Sold on ebay 11.7.10 for $400

 

 

Marine Fighting Squadron 322 (VMF-322) was established on July 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flying the F4U Corsair. In the fall of that year they moved to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina to continue their training. They moved again in January, 1944 to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii.

 

 

In October, 1944, the squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33) when they moved to Espiritu Santo. The squadron was part of the Battle of Okinawa and on April 3, 1945 over 150 of its members were killed when its lead support element was struck by a Kamikaze. They rebounded quickly and were able to fly their first combat mission on April 9, 1945. VMF-322 remained on Okinawa for the rest of the war as they made bombing runs over the Japanese mainland. Following the war, the squadron moved to Midway Island in November 1945 where they remained as part of Marine Aircraft Group 44 (MAG-44) until they were deactivated on November 30, 1949.

 

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WWII USMC Fighter Attack Squad VMF 312. Sold on ebay 10.14.10 for $700.

 

Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was commissioned on June 1, 1943, at Page Field, Parris Island, South Carolina. Originally it was part of MAG-31, 1st MAW. As first aircraft the squadron received 10 SNJ-4 Texans and one F4U-1D Corsair. As their unit crest the squadron members choose a satan-like bulldog wearing a flying helmet and carrying -at that time- six .50 caliber machineguns (the armament of the Corsair) drawn by Technical Sergeant James R. Wroble. In honor of their commanding officer, Major Richard M. Day, the men nicknamed their squadron "Day's Knights". Also at this time, the Checkerboards emblem began to appear on both the cowling and rudder of the aircraft.

 

After being transferred in August 1943 to MAG-32, 3rd MAW, the squadron relocated to San Diego, California, and departed Parris Island on January 2, 1944, and headed for Miramar. They departed MCAS Miramar on February 28, 1944 and headed for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on Hawai. VMF-312 trained at Ewa for 3 months and then headed out for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides to become part of MAG-11, 2nd MAW.

 

 

Assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 on June 25, 1944, the squadron was transported to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, where they received 24 FG-1 Corsairs. VMF-312's first combat action came on April 12, 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa as part of Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33), when four squadron aircraft intercepted 20 Japanese Zeros and achieved eight kills without a loss. VMF-312 continued to operate from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa until the cessation of hostilities. By war's end, the squadron had accounted for 59.5 air combat kills in the Pacific Theater. Between September 1945 and February 1946 VMF-312 participated in the occupation force stationed on Okinawa.

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VMF-213 Hell Hawks 1st Issue Australian made--embroidered with coarse muslin backing

The squadron arrived at Guadalcanl in April 1943 and did three tours of duty there before leaving the Solomons for the States and rest and retraining for carrier ops. Along with VMF-214 they were the first Marine squadrons to be deployed on a carrier when they went aboard the USS Essex. They returned to the PTO and participated in actions at Iwo, Okinawa, Phillipines, Japan and elsewhere as part of Essex's air wing. At the end of the war they had been credited with 117 air to air victories and produced 6 aces and one Navy Cross recipient.

 

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VMF-311 Marine Squadron Patch, "Hell's Belles" Corsairs, 1st Issue On Leather and listed on page 69 of Jeff Millsteins book. Sold on ebay (rarepatchman) on 11.16.10 for $1000.

 

Marine Attack Squadron (VMA)-311 was initially commissioned a fighter squadron on Dec. 1, 1942, at Cherry Point, N.C., flying the SNJ Texan trainers. In April 1943, they received the new Vought F4U-1 Corsair and entered the Pacific Theater where they served with distinction until the end of WW2. On Oct. 6, 1943, the squadron catapulted from the deck of the USS Nassau to Samoa Naval Air Station, in one of the earliest catapult operations of the F4U. Two days later, VMF-311 flew to Wallis Island and remained there until January 1944. During America's "Island Hopping" campaign across the Pacific, the squadron's mission was to isolate Japanese forces on the bypassed islands, deny their escape and prevent their use of airstrips. The squadron continued strafing and bombing missions until moving to Okinawa March 1945, and was the first Marine squadron to use fighter aircraft for dive bombing missions. The squadron, now flying the F4U-1C (a modification which include four 20mm cannons and pylons for 5-inch rockets), downed its first aircraft on April 7, 1945. Combat air patrols were the predominant mission until the war ended.

 

 

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Second Issue cloth VMF-311 patch. Sold on ebay (rarepatchman) 11.16.10 for $826.

 

 

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WWII USMC LEATHER SQUADRON PATCH VMSB-151. Failed to make reserve ebay listing on 11.21.10 High bid was $760.

 

Marine Observation Squadron 1 (VMO-1) was commissioned on July 1, 1937 at Marine Corps Base Quantico. They were redesignated Marine Observation Squadron 151 (VMO-151) on July 1, 1941. The squadron left for San Diego, California in December 1941 with the rest of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, but returned to MCB Quantico in January 1942. From January to April, they trained at Naval Station Norfolk until departing for Samoa on April 9, 1942. They arrived a month later and remained for the next 13 months. On September 15, 1942, the squadron was re-designated again, this time as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 151 (VMSB-151).

 

On June 10, 1943, the squadron moved to Uvea Island in the Wallis Group. The squadron remained there until February 29, 1944 when they arrived at Engebi. From March 9–12, the squadron covered Marine landings on Wotho Atoll, Ujae Atoll and Lae Atoll. During this time, they also made bombing runs against by-passed Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands until May 31, 1945. On June 9, 1945, the squadron boarded the USS Silverpeck for return to the United States.

 

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VMF-115 Squadron patch. Sold on ebay 10.12.10 for $1190.

 

Santa Barbara, 1944. Joe Foss is standing in front of the down prop.

 

Marine Fighting Squadron 115 (VMF-115) was organized on July 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, as a F4U Corsair squadron. One of the Marine Corps most famous aces, Major Joseph Foss assumed command 16 days later. The squadron gained the nickname "Joe's Jokers", and in May 1944 joined the Pacific campaign. VMF-115 was a contributor to the American victory in the Philippines providing close air support, fighter cover, and deep air strikes in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. With over 18,000 flight hours during 5,856 combat sorties, VMF-115 was credited with shooting down 6 1/2 enemy aircraft while losing 28 aircraft with nine pilots killed in action.

 

To protect U.S. interests after the war and support Marines supervising the surrender of Japan, the squadron deployed to Peking, China. Communist troops began patterns of hostility leading to convoy coverage and "air presence" missions. 31 months after initial deployment, VMF-115 left the Pacific theater.

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WW2 VMF-511 Sqdn Patch. Sold on ebay 12.6.10 for $800

 

Marine Fighting Squadron 511 (VMF-511) was activated on January 1, 1944 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Field Oak Grove, North Carolina. They were a part of Marine Aircraft Group 51 (MAG-51) and their original mission and training was as a part of Operation Crossbow (Project Danny), an ill-conceived plan to have Marine squadrons onboard escort carriers hunt down V-1 flying bomb launch sites in eastern France. While training for this mission, the squadron was sent to Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California and Naval Auxiliary Air Field Manteo, North Carolina. By July 30, 1944, the Allies had overrun the V-1 launch sites so there was no longer a need for Operation Crossbow and VMF-511 needed another mission.

 

 

The new mission for MAG-51 and VMF-511 was to begin training for deployment onboard Navy carriers in the Pacific. They moved to Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California on September 10, 1944, began carrier qualification training where they would fly a mixed bag of eight F6F-5N Hellcat night fighters, two F6F-5P photo reconnaissance Hellcats and eight F4U-1D Corsairs. This mix of aircraft gave the squadron both a night fighting capability and photo reconnaissance capability on top of its ability to provide close air support. On October 28, 1944, the squadron was also re-designated (VMF(CVS)-511) to reflect their special training and participation in the escort carrier program. Upon completion of this training they were assigned to Marine Carrier Air Group 1 (MCVG-1) where they were partnered with VMTB-233 on the USS Block Island (CVE-106). The squadron left the West Coast on March 20, 1945.

 

 

On March 10, 1945, the squadron saw its first combat during the Battle of Okinawa when it ran plowed up Japanese mortar positions. For the next month provided close air support for Marines and soldiers on the ground during the battle. The squadron was also a part of the effort to reduce Shuri Castle and interdict small water craft. During this time the squadron lost its commanding officer, Major Robert Maze, when his F4U Corsair was hit by flak from Ishigaki Island and crashed into the East China Sea. In mid-June, the USS Block Island was relieved from the coast of Okinawa and ordered to Leyte in the Philippines. From there, they supported the early stages of Australia's 7th Division invasion of Balikpapan in July 1945. They returned to Leyte on July 4 and did not see combat for the rest of the war. Still aboard the USS Block Island when WWII ended, VMF(CVS)-511's final missions were flown in support of the Japanese surrender of Formosa.

 

Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron returned to the Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California and were eventually deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California on March 10, 1946.

 

During the Pacific Ocean air activities, flying from the deck of CVE 106, the following US Marine Corps pilots and aircrew personnel lost their lives: 2nd Lt. Goldberg, pilot, USMCR, VMF-511; 2nd Lt. Robert Haire ,pilot, USMC, VMF-511; Lt. Harold Harmer ,pilot, USMCR, VMF-511 and 2nd Lt. Charles Harris ,pilot, USMCR, VMF-511

 

A distingushed member of the Sqdn was Colonel R. Bruce Porter. After a tour in the Pacific, Bruce joined VMF 121 in 1943 at Guadalcanal and soon downed 4 Zeros. He served tours with VMF (N) 511 (first all-Marine carrier squadron) and later VMF (N) 533. He helped lead that squadron on one of the longest over-water flights of WWII for a single engined aircraft - flying from the Marshall-Gilbert islands to Saipan-Iwo Jima. On June 15, 1945 he scored a double night victory at Okinawa, making him an Ace. He was probably the only Marine pilot to gain two or more kills in both the Corsair and Hellcat; and became only one of six Marines to score a double or triple kill in one mission.

 

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USMC WW2 patch to VMF-471. Sold on ebay 12.10.10 - $400

 

VMF-471 was established Mar 1944 as a replacement traing Squadron in El Centro. They absorebed the assest of VMF-482 in October of that year. The Squadron was deactivated September 1945. A notable pilot of the Squadron was Lieutenant Colonel John F. Bolt (May 19, 1921 - September 8, 2004), was an aviator in the United States Marine Corps and was one of seven American pilots, and the only Marine, to achieve the title of ace in both World War II and the Korean War. He was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism in Korea and to this day remains the Marine Corps' only jet aircraft ace.

 

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Really enjoy reading this section;very helpful. Went back in earlier posts and saw that this same unit patch, one year earlier in Oct 2009 sold for $1812. This new listing was not quite in as good shape; but question is did first person pay too much or did the last person pay too little? Could cost difference be due to condition? What does forum think? Mort

 

Your observation about patch condition is correct the first (shown below) is in pristine condition and does not show wear and tear and little to no "ravages of time". While the second does show condition problems and of course is a "book patch" and forever will be one. So, is the first worth $1800, one might say yes as it is likely the finest you will ever find, thus commanding a top dollar. There will always be the "elite" who are willing to pay these amounts for the best, and if it pays off for them only time will tell ... if you are the type willing to take the gamble!

 

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ORIGINAL AUSSIE MADE USMC 1st MAC ARTY PATCH-SILK. Sold on ebay 1.6.11 for $1247.!!!