85th Fighter Squadron | 79th Fighter Group | 12th AAF | "The Flying Skull" | theater-made insignia

[walika]

85th Fighter Squadron | 79th Fighter Group | 12th AAF | "The Flying Skull"

LINEAGE. Constituted 85th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on g Feb 1942. Redesignated 85th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942.

ASSIGNMENTS. 79th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-15 Jul 1947.

STATIONS. Dale Mabry Field, Fla, 9 Feb 1942; Morris Field, NC, 1 May 1942; East Boston Aprt, Mass, 23 Jun 1942; Bedford, Mass, 1 Jul-28 Sep 1942; Egypt, 12 Nov 1942; Libya, 24 Jan 1943; Tunisia, 13 Mar 1943; Malta, c. 6 Jul 1943; Sicily, 18 Jul 1943; Southern Italy, 15 Sep 1943; Salsola, Italy, 5 Oct 1943; Madna Airfield, Italy, c. ig Nov 1943; Capodichino, Italy, 16 Jan 1944; Pomigliano, Italy, 30 Apr 1944; Corsica, c. 11 Jun 1944; Southern France, c. 22 Aug 1944; Iesi, Italy, c. 5 Oct 1944; Fano, Italy, 5 Dec 1944; Cesenatico, Italy, 24 Mar 1945; Horsching, Austria, 26 Jul 1945-25 Jun 1947.

AIRCRAFT. P-40, 1942-1944; P-47, 1944-1947.

OPERATIONS. Combat in MTO, 14 Mar

CAMPAIGNS. Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Amo; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

 

 

Theater made. Incised leather, hand-painted. (Capri).

 

 

Theater made. Hand-painted on canvas.

 

Theater made. Embroidered on wool.

 

These patches came from an attributed lot with several photos and 79th Fighter Group newsletter. Below is the pilot, wearing the insignia, from whom they came.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Maurer. Combat Squadrons of World War II.

 

85fg 79fg 12aaf

85fg79fg12aaf

[walika]

Insignia I've posted for the 79th Fighter Group:

 

79th Fighter Group

85th Fighter Squadron

86th Fighter Squadron

87th Fighter Squadron

[The Iron Brigade]

As always, thanks for posting this thread Rick.