Chris Posted February 17 Share #1 Posted February 17 I just acquired this Japanese made patch. It's on the way, but I haven't received it yet. I am just wondering if anyone could help me nail down its age? My efforts to find any specific info on 4 Detachment, 1955th Squadron, AACS has been fruitless so far. But I love this patch. Thanks for any assistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted February 17 Share #2 Posted February 17 Fantastic patch! I'm highly envious. Certainly '50s-'60s but I could not narrow it down any further. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted February 17 Share #3 Posted February 17 430th Fighter-Bomber Squadron C-Flight with the same "Character". I think ACCS squadrons were redesignated "Communications" squadrons at some point in 1961. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 17 Author Share #4 Posted February 17 That's awesome Yokota! Where did you find that? So, do you think Detachment 4 supported the 430th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted February 17 Share #5 Posted February 17 Typo: Meant to type AACS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted February 17 Share #6 Posted February 17 No, only that they use the same character. Perhaps someone knows the origin of this guy. It's on the USAF patch sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 17 Author Share #7 Posted February 17 I know that the 430th was a "fighter bomber" squadron during the Korean War. So, I am thinking 50s most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted February 17 Share #8 Posted February 17 Well, since that's my patch that appears to have been "borrowed" from the usmilitarypatches.com site, I can state the two have nothing in common except the weird design. They both may have gotten this from something making the rounds back then. The 430 patch is circa 1954 IIRC, I'm not home to confirm. As far as the ACCS one, I know the parent unit was at Itazuke, Japan. Have to look into Det 4, they seemed to have had at least 5 Dets altogether. By 1961 all ACCS units were designated as Communications Sqs. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 17 Author Share #9 Posted February 17 Thanks Randy. Yes, I was able to put the 1955th at Itazuke, but have not been able to drill down on the atrachments. The 430th relieved a National Guard squadron, in Japan, in 1952. They went home in 54. After that, their designation changed from fighter bomber to fighter. I can't help but think that this patch likely dates to the 52-54 period when the two units overlapped in Japan. The design is so unique, I can't believe that it would be 'pirated' by an outfit that had no relationship to the other unit that used the exact same character. But, who knows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted February 17 Share #10 Posted February 17 The 430th was an FBS until July of 1958, when all FBS and FDS units became Tactical Fighter units. I looked, and the pilot that owned this was in Korea only in 1954. So, that predates yours by a year. The reason I think it might have been a popular design (like Big Daddy Roth in the 60s) back then is flight patches are typically made in very small amounts, so it would be tough for someone to see and copy it like that. Of course I'm guessing, but this is most logical to me. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted March 3 Share #11 Posted March 3 Exact location of Det 4 remains a mystery!?!? Here is a flash photo minus the carefully removed dry "crud" formerly at the 12 & 10 o'clock. I think I have seen this "guy" used as nose-art. Was this an influence on Ed "Big Daddy" Roth? According to his memorial site he served in the USAF in the early 1950s in Africa (Morocco? Wheelus?). Who was the original artist? 5 1/2" (vertical). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted March 8 Share #12 Posted March 8 Can anyone in "Forum Land" translate this? I've also posted this request/pic on the WMF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted March 8 Share #13 Posted March 8 On 3/2/2023 at 9:13 PM, yokota57 said: Exact location of Det 4 remains a mystery!?!? Here is a flash photo minus the carefully removed dry "crud" formerly at the 12 & 10 o'clock. I think I have seen this "guy" used as nose-art. Was this an influence on Ed "Big Daddy" Roth? According to his memorial site he served in the USAF in the early 1950s in Africa (Morocco? Wheelus?). Who was the original artist? 5 1/2" (vertical). That is an amazing piece especially for 1955. It has to be one of the coolest patches I’ve ever seen. Did anything come with it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted March 8 Share #14 Posted March 8 3 minutes ago, manayunkman said: That is an amazing piece especially for 1955. It has to be one of the coolest patches I’ve ever seen. Did anything come with it ? Just the patch. I agree, it is insanely cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted March 9 Share #15 Posted March 9 New Member "Joe" over on the WMF solved the Japanese translation. It reads: Bob O'Connor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokota57 Posted March 9 Share #16 Posted March 9 1955th AACS Squadron Det 1: Ashiya AB, Japan. 1955th AACS Squadron Det 5: Brady AB, Japan. Nothing yet on Det 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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