Set of USN squadron patches from 50'-60's. Need some ID help please

[pfrost]

Hi  I got these this weekend.  A bunch of patches (I suspect at least some of these are Japanese made, but I have no real idea) from the same guy.  Probably most cut off of his flight jacket.  I believe the latest patches are from the USS Hornet 1960's far east cruise with VS-37 (a small hat size patch, the cruise patch and two large VS-37 squadron patches.

[pfrost]

I have ID's the next one as a VFT-4 (fighter training squadron 4), but i could be wrong.  I suspect that this guy may have been an instructor during/post KW.  A little dirty.

[pfrost]

This is a relatively easy one.  VMT-18 Devil Pups.  Although I could use some clarity.  I see this patch listed as either a torpedo or training squadron, I suspect it is actually the latter.

 

Also a BTG-5 patch.  I think this one is for Basic Training Group 5.  I believe that these were basic flight training units from the 50's

[pfrost]

Then a couple more unknowns.  Again I suspect that these were all training squadrons.  One for ASW or patrol and the other for instrument(?) flying?  The yellow/blue one looks like an artificial horizon dial.  But I am totally guessing here.  The duck dropping a bomb is neat.

[pfrost]

The last one seems to be similar to a USMC patch, but frankly I have NO idea what it is for.  Air Group 4? 

Again, I suspect that it may have been a training squadron.

 

With the mixture of USN and USMC patches, could it have been an instructor type pilot?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[ocsfollowme]

I have posted it before. Yours is the 4th that I have seen. Still has yet to be positively IDd. 

[ocsfollowme]

 

[pfrost]

I saw some things that made me think it could be the 4th Air Wing Training Squadron?  That would kind of fit, no?

 

[ocsfollowme]

19 minutes ago, pfrost said:

I saw some things that made me think it could be the 4th Air Wing Training Squadron?  That would kind of fit, no?

 

It was brought up again in another thread. But nothing that positively IDd it to it. Makes sense though. 

[pfrost]

Thanks for your insight.  It looks like the 4th Marine patches.  But not like the 4th marine air group because it doesn't have the EGA.  I cannot imagine a USMC patch without the EGA motif somewhere....

 

What about the other two, any ideas?

[ocsfollowme]

The ducks and sub was IDd twice in the past 4 years on the forum. Cannot remember it. 

[pfrost]

The duck one is ATU-400. Advanced training unit!  Thanks!

[CUBUSMC]

I am not an expert at these early patches, but here is what I have been told.  I am almost certain that the Eagle w/4 patch is VT-2, Flight 4 from the early 60's.  I know we discussed this before in a post.  I have a group from a Marine pilot from the very early 60's and he had this identified next to his VT-2 patch.  In the 60's there were several different flight patches made for several of the VT squadrons.  The one with the paddles is BTG-5 which was the BTG in charge of carrier quals, hence the paddles and deck lights.  I believe they became VT-5 in 1960.  The gyroscope is also an early BTG or flight patch, but I still do not know which one?  I have been told that the VMT-18 was a Marine flight in VT-1 at Saufley in the early 60's.  I have seen it with several different Marine groupings.  The significance of 18, I do not know, as the other flight patches I have from VT-1 are flights 1 through 3.  Again, there is no real documentation for these early Navy flight patches.  It would be nice to find something on them.  Semper Fi! - Jeff  

[Matt-M]

I agree with Jeff on all of his observations. I was shown these patches about 2 months ago and asked for my opinion on them and all seemed clearly training related. All of the designs are of aircraft instruments, training type aircraft, or the obvious VT Training designation, and being that Navy and Marine aviators follow many of the same qualification courses, it's not hard to believe that it is a mixture of USN and USMC patches. All really neat designs and a great addition!

[Salvage Sailor]

For Reference, these are the links to the Naval Aviation training topics on the Naval Boards

 

VT HT ATG BTG Naval Aviation Training Squadron Patches

 

VFT Fighter Training patches - Any References or original examples?