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easterneagle87

Got my FIRST Philippine buckle today!!

 

USS Ranger CV-62 , Indian Ocean '82

 

Not old, but still Am pretty pleased.

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  • 4 weeks later...
easterneagle87

Vietnam Coast Guard buckle posted over on Letgo (Glen Burnie, Maryland), only $185. Seems pretty steep.

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@easterneagle87 - Glad you've picked up your 1st Philippine made belt buckle. I've also seen Indian Ocean Cruise buckles from 1980 and 1983 -- I'm still waiting to see if one from 1981 turns up. $185 for the Squadron One buckle seems steep to me too. The more standard design with "Squadron One" in a ribbon, a boat in the middle, and "Vietnam" at the bottom tends to sell on ebay from $45-$65.

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  • 1 month later...
PhilippineBuckles

@easterneagle87 - Nice pickup and thanks for sharing. The buckle looks like it is from the 1950s or 1960s. I did a quick search on Google and R.L.Cole was a radioman on the USS Duncan for its 1952 Westpac Cruise. There is a picture of him and the other radiomen at http://www.ussduncan.org/wespac52_page20.htm

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PhilippineBuckles

It's been a while since I posted anything. I just bought these two buckles that belonged to Bob Downey who started as a Seaman 1964 and retired as a Captain 1992. A summary of his service record and medals are on Together We Served (TWS).

 

https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=SBVTimeLine&type=Person&ID=411235

 

TWS states that Bob was awarded an Air Medal in 1967 with the following comments "Deployed to Chu Lai, RVN and Flew 39 Combat support missions between between Hainan and Hai phong, north of Tiger Island. Missions were 12+ hours long. We were tracking surface contacts and transmitting radar picture to COMSEVENTHFLT fleet units as well as the weather picture in the area.

In addition, we routinely flew throughout the Pacific AOR, penetrating Typhoons at 1500 feet, at night. We collected weather information, barometric pressure, wind velocity, etc. Flew over 1100 hours as Navigator in this weather recon squadron."

 

This helps put the 1965-1967 buckle in context. TWS also says Bob was awarded an Air Medal in 1982 but the comments are marked as "Locked". I wonder what it was for...

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Yesterday an early USN pilot's buckle from March 1945 was sold on ebay. It is a month earlier than the April 1945 pilot's buckle in posts #63 & #64 on Page 3 of this thread. The buckle says... Philippine Islands Manila March 1945 Brewer R. E U.S. Navy Congratulations to whoever acquired it!

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@Chris -- And I thought you were probably the new owner :D

 

I don't think I posted this one. But I have a circa 1945 plain Philippine Made Belt Buckle I bought a few years ago. It's the only plain one I've seen so far.

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easterneagle87

After numerous attempts and messages, I finally secured the sale of my THIRD Philip buckle. This the same buckle I posted ealier with a stratosphere price. Asked for a bottom line and was replied with a totally reasonable price. With a simple return envelope provided, it arrived today. Really happy with the purchase. Said it was their grandpa's from his service in Vietnam. I asked for any historical info: i.e., who, what, where & when, but got zip. I will try again. Hopefully I will find out more.

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easterneagle87

After numerous attempts and messages, I finally secured the sale of my THIRD Philip buckle. This the same buckle I posted ealier with a stratosphere price. Asked for a bottom line and was replied with a totally reasonable price. With a simple return envelope provided, it arrived today. Really happy with the purchase. Said it was their grandpa's from his service in Vietnam. I asked for any historical info: i.e., who, what, where & when, but got zip. I will try again. Hopefully I will find out more.

 

 

Found out the vet's name is Harry (most likely and possible Harold) Herbert. Any one find out info on him?

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@easterneagle87 -- Glad you were able to acquire that buckle for a reasonable price. Good luck in your research.

 

It's been a little over a year since I started this thread with a Fort Mills Belt buckle. I was lucky to have acquired another one this morning. :D CHARLES M. COMBS, 1936 1940, BTRY H. Q. 59TH, FORT MILLS P.I.

 

The seller said the following: "This is unofficial buckle was worn by Charles Combs S/Sgt who was assigned to the Third Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field in the Philippine Islands prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war against Japan. S/Sgt Combs was reassigned, I believe in 1940/41 not too much before the invasion of the PI. The buckle indicates that he was assigned to Battery H of the 59th Coast Artillery and was reassigned to overseas duty in Europe where he spent the duration of the war going on to retire as a Master Sergeant."

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  • 3 weeks later...

Picked this one up at the flea market today. I looked up Branch 61 which is from the Chula Vista area of California.

 

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
easterneagle87

Before the weather closed in, I hit the road and ran down to the Sacramento Antique Street Fair. Did some digging and got a few nuggets. BUT... made a side stop on the way back upthe hill and founf my FOURTH P.I. made buckle. Nice addition to the growing stack. Thanks Forum Members for peaking my interest and traveling down another never ending alley!

 

USS Hector , AR-7

 

 

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Sorry for the radio silence the past two months. Work is crazy this time of year...

@Tonomachi -- I love the dragon buckle!!! Thanks for taking the picture and posting. Thanks for posting the Fleet Reserve buckle too.

@easterneagle87 -- Thanks for sharing your acquisitions with everyone.

@Keith -- Thanks for posting an pointing out the buckles on your site.

 

I picked up a great buckle yesterday on ebay. It isn't dated buy my guess is that it is from the Spring of 1945. I love American Eagles and this one is the first of this style I've seen on Philippine buckles. I'm going to cheat a little and post it in the next reply so that it is on the #100 posting of this thread for symbolic purposes.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've really enjoyed this topic and have been interested in Philippine buckles since getting a couple in Subic back in the 70s. Thought I'd post one I just snagged off ebay to a Navy pilot who started his career during WW2 aboard the USS BIRMINGHAM, which I believe carried float planes. Robert B. Greenwood was a career officer and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Don't know too much more about him. Its an early buckle but not sure if it dates as far back as WW2. Its possible.

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Buckle came with his dog tags.

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PhilippineBuckles

I stumbled across this buckle today which was on the auction block back in 2007 at Hake's. I really want it and even emailed the auction house, but they said they are no longer in contact with whoever bought it. Oh well...

 

While this is clearly a Philippines made belt buckle from 1944-1945, it says...

World War One

1917 1918

USA CPL (around crossed infantry rifles)

A. W. Taylor

Toledo Ohio

My guess without doing any research is that A.W.Taylor's son had it made as a present for his dad.

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  • 1 month later...

Nice VF-121 Pacemakers buckle.

 

Lt. A. J. Hedberg a F9F-8 Cougar and FJ-3 Fury pilot during 1955-1957 onboard the USS Hancock and the USS Lexington.

 

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VF-121 FJ-3 Fury

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Pic of the Lt. From Navy cruise book website.

 

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  • 2 months later...
PhilippineBuckles

It's been a slow year so far for building my collection as there is a new collector in town buying up all the buckles on ebay.... :dry: That said, I did pick up the following buckle from 1946 with a mermaid on it for USN officer R. L. Crawford. Serial number 481206 engraved along the top which is an extra plus.

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