WWII Amphibious Forces Patches

[USAF29thINFvet]

Can someone explain the "differences" between these three patches? I have seen the red one on the shoulder of WWII U.S. Navy jumpers. How about the other two? Do they all designate the same thing? Would you find the red and black on a uniform at the same time?

 

Thanks

[USAF29thINFvet]

Third patch...

 

 

[Bearmon]

All three represent the same thing, Amphibious, the first is the only authorized one to the best of my knowledge.

Nice group of patches.

[Garth Thompson]

While Bearmon is correct that doesn't make the other two copies. #2 was meant to be a distinguishing mark rather than a shoulder patch. It would have been worn on the cuff of the uniform vs the shoulder. #3 is one of the designs considered in 1943. #1 was approved as the official shoulder patch of Navy Amphibious personnel on 11 Jan 1944. The navy abolished all unit shoulder patches on 17 Jan 1947. ref US Navy Rating Badges and Marks1833 to 2008 John Stacey page 101