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'Low Level Hell' C Troop 1/16th - D Troop 1/4 AIR


snake36bravo
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snake36bravo

Does anyone know exactly how many variations there were of the Outcasts patch?

 

At Can Tho I believe the skull was white and at Soc Trang I believe the skull was redesigned to black. Another variation after the Outcasts went to D 1/4 AIR was a black skull with white thread highlights. I don't own any early patches and figure someone has already been down this road. I also dont think they redesigned the shoulder scroll. Does anyone know?

 

Thanks all

 

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snake36bravo

I believe 4 is the number of variations based off my own look into it. Any I've owned or handled appear to all be ME, Machine Embroidered as well. Happy to learn more.

 

Top patch from Rod Willis shows the all white skull while bottom patch from Jim 'Moon' Sheetz is another variation of the black skull with white accents.

 

Also of note is some of the OH-6As they flew had either white skulls or black ones.

 

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The Iron Brigade

I believe 4 is the number of variations based off my own look into it. Any I've owned or handled appear to all be ME, Machine Embroidered as well. Happy to learn more.

 

Top patch from Rod Willis shows the all white skull while bottom patch from Jim 'Moon' Sheetz is another variation of the black skull with white accents.

 

Also of note is some of the OH-6As they flew had either white skulls or black ones.

 

attachicon.gif Outcasts pocket patches.jpg

 

 

Hugh Mills and Rod Willis in front of Miss Clawd IV

 

post-164190-0-44873900-1529459396.jpg

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Based on the first photo in post number two, I know that you have already visited the OUTSTANDING Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Association (VHPA) virtual museum,https://museum.vhpa.org/16thcav/ctroop/ctroop.shtml as that appears to be where the photo came from, I'd say that you've probably got a pretty good handle on the subject matter. You might email the webmaster at the VHPA website and see if he might be able to give you a good answer.

 

Allan

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snake36bravo

I contribute regularly at the VHPA museum as well as provided some images for John Brennan's books. Hopefully I'm on the right track on the variations. Ive never seen a hand embroidered version but never say never.

 

Here is a better example I missed out on of one of the types worn by Moon during the Soc Trang period. You can see it's a multi-piece ME pocket patch.

 

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jwilliamsfnp

Because of the squadron signal book early asian reproductions of this patch are around, Also when Hank Johnson published Winged Sabres additional Korean made repos surfaced in the 80s. The D/1/4 patches along with the latter C/16 are found in both Hand and Machine embroider and have a couple of distinctive styles. I have some documented patches from my collection I will post when I get time. If you notice as a collector these examples surface quite often in unused condition but documented or removed patches are quite scarce. Again I will post some examples in the next couple days. Of course John Conway's VHPA Museum examples are wonderful and kudos to him for his effort so we have those examples to view. Jeff Williams

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jwilliamsfnp

Here is the Handmade version of the Scouts of C/16, This patch is from the pilot and was worn from 7/72 until 1/73.

 

Here is a MM version from the pilot worn in 1971 Both were worn in Can Tho.

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jwilliamsfnp

My collection of 6 variations of C/16 Outcasts, 4 patches are from the same 2 pilots.

 

Two variations of the lift platoon that match construction in the previous post both named.

 

Jeff

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post-11806-0-06624000-1529586418_thumb.jpg

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jwilliamsfnp

A named EM Jacket from 1/4 Outcasts, with a "Screaming Skull" I had a loose patch of this nature I traded.

Jeff

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post-11806-0-49340600-1529586718.jpg

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snake36bravo

Jeff

 

Simply stunning! Thank you posting for comparison on style and manufacture as well as the details on your extensive collection. I'm very appreciative as I try to learn more about the pocket patch styles worn by the Outcasts.

 

The screaming skull has to be my favorite variation for the Outcasts.

 

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