309th Fighter Squadron | 31st Fighter Group | Twelfth and Fifteenth Army Air Force | Disney | Donald Duck in Fighting Mood

[walika]

309th Fighter Squadron | 31st Fighter Group | Twelfth and Fifteenth Army Air Force

 

LINEAGE. Constituted 309th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 21 Jan 1942. Activated on 30 Jan 1942. Redesignated 309th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

 

ASSIGNMENTS. 31st Pursuit (later Fighter) Group, 30 Jan 1942-7 Nov 1945.

 

STATIONS. Baer Field, IN, 30 Jan 1942; New Orleans AB, LA, 6 Feb-19 May 1942; High Ercall, England, c. 12 Jun 1942; Westhampnett, England, 1 Aug-23 Oct 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 8 Nov 1942; La Senia, Algeria, 14 Nov 1942; Thelepte, Tunisia, 6 Feb 1943; Tebessa, Algeria, 17 Feb 1943; Youks-les-Bain, Algeria, 22 Feb 1943; Kalaa Djerda, Tunisia, 26 Feb 1943; Thelepte, Tunisia, 11 Mar 1943; Djilma, Tunisia, 7 Apr 1943; Le Sers, Tunisia, 12 Apr 1943; Korba, Tunisia, 17 May 1943; Gozo, 3 Jul 1943; Ponte Olivo, Sicily, 13 Jul 1943; Agrigento, Sicily, 21 Jul 1943; Termini, Sicily, 5 Aug 1943; Milazzo, Sicily, 5 Sep 1943; Montecorvino, Italy, 21 Sep 1943; Pomigliano, Italy, 14 Oct 1943; Castel Volturno, Italy, c. 19 Jan 1944; San Severo, Italy, 4 Apr 1944; Mondolfo, Italy, 4 Mar 1945; Triolo, Italy, 15 Jul-5 Aug 1945; Drew Field, FL, Aug-7 Nov 1945.

 

AIRCRAFT. P-40, 1942; P-39, 1942; Spitfire, 1942-1943; P-51, 1943-1945.

 

OPERATIONS. Combat in ETO and MTO, c. 17 Aug 1942-3 May 1945.

 

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe; Algeria-French Morocco with Arrowhead; Tunisia; Sicily with Arrowhead; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

 

INSIGNE. On a blue disc “Donald Duck” in fighting mood, wearing Air Force blue jacket, Air Force flight cap flying off head, wrench in his upraised left hand, and holding board with nail protruding from it in right hand. Uncensored exclamations are coming from Donald’s mouth. Approved on 27 Nov 1944.

 

I acquired this patch years ago, attributed to Maj. Samuel J. Brown, #4 ace in MTO. It remains the only authentic WWII issue I have seen.

 

Theater made. Incised leather, hand-painted. | Design by Walt Disney Studios.

 

 

 

Maj. Samuel J. Brown

 

 

 

Browns P-51D Restored

 

 

 

Sources

"Factsheet 309 Fighter Squadron (AETC)"

Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force - World War II.

 

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Awesome patch!