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Identify Parachute Oval?


johnny12550
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Hi,

  Can anyone identify the yellow and black para oval? I’ve tried to find it and found many black and yellow ovals, but not this one. Looks like he may have been involved in some parachute competition in Germany in the early 70s  and collected all these parachute badges as a souvenir at his time in the competition. The Red Devils I thought were the 508th regiment of the 82nd Airborne, but It could also be a British Para Group. I don’t really know. Thanks

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Thanks for the info. It makes sense that the GK oval would be on this banner. It seems like this is a souvenir of some para competition that this soldier was involved in. Would there have been such a competition during the Cold War (possibly 1971 based on one of the badges) that the Russians, Romanians, etc.... would have participated in?  I just don't see communist countries gathering with Nato countries for a friendly parachute competition during that time in history. From what I can tell there are Polish, Russian, Romanian, Guatemalan, Yugoslavian (small lapel badge, not a para badge) USPA, French and US parachute wings on what looks to be a  British Para banner. The small lapel badges seem to be communist block as well, but I have not identified everything.

 

Thanks

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I would speculate that what you have in this grouping is from a Golden Knight's experience and souvenirs from a World Parachute Meet. The date is unknown, but most likely after 1971. There are parachute badges from: France, Guatemala, Poland, Germany, USSR, Romania and the USA. With a little research, you might be able to determine where the meet was held and who this grouping belonged to. It looks like from the USPA wings, he had made 3000 jumps (USPA Gold wings with double diamonds). The USPA pin with the ruby is also special, but I can't recall the meaning. Also on the pennant are the USPA gold wings (1000 free falls). Very nice grouping.

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Seems like there were "world military parachuting championships" almost every year where multiple countries were involved. Many were in Europe during the early 70s. I think it may be impossible to narrow down to a certain event

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There were annual International Free Fall, Halo competitions held at Altenstadt and at Bad Tolz Germany during the 1980's. Altenstadt was the home of the German Airborne school has has since been closed. 10th SFG(A) was located at Bad Tolz during that time period. 1st Bn. 10th SFG(A) is one of two forward stationed battalions within Special Forces tracing its history to 10th SFG(A) establishment in Bad Tolz, Germany in 1953. 1st Bn. 10th SFG (A) moved Panzer Kaserne on Aug 1991 where it is still based today. 

 

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Thanks for all the info. No, nothing else came with the group. I bought it the way it is. I think this group is from the early 70s. some of the wings are marked on the back. I'm happy to take them off and share some of the back markings upon request. Some are not not marked on the back

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I suspect that the wings from Guatemala are real silver and are probably marked "JOYAS LISCUTIN Guatemala 925" on the back. That is the marking of the jeweler who made them.  The large French wings may have DRAGO Paris on the back (or another maker). It would be interesting to know if they are serial numbered as that adds some personal significance (and value). Also you might contact the Army Parachute Team at Fort Bragg, NC 28307 and see if they have any clue as to whom these might have belonged to if you don't know. They keep pretty good records.

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Both great wings! That is a very nice serial numbered French parachute badge with the DRAGO Romainvile address.

'Reproduction Interdite' means reproduction Forbidden!  I believe that badge is from the 1950's time frame.

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1 hour ago, johnny12550 said:

These pics are the backings of the Guatemalan and French wings

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Based on this number of 320922 your French paratrooper wing was issued in 1971.  

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Yeah, I was  thinking  very early  1970s  on all the wings, just based on the 1971 German badge.  It could have been a later para event, but I'm thing sometime around 1971.  Let me know if anyone needs any other pics. Thanks

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