JDK Posted May 13, 2014 Share #76 Posted May 13, 2014 1 victory P-47 Pilot Caterpillar Pin set: Wearing Pin: Him with his 47: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share #77 Posted June 13, 2014 I've been wanting one of these Sea Squatter pins for a LONG time. Finally got one as part of a group on Ebay. I will post more pics once I have it. They are very tough to find, much harder to find than a Caterpillar Club pin. He was the bombardier on a B-18 Bolo that crashed in the Atlantic off of Panama in 1942. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted June 13, 2014 Share #78 Posted June 13, 2014 I've been wanting one of these Sea Squatter pins for a LONG time. Finally got one as part of a group on Ebay. I will post more pics once I have it. They are very tough to find, much harder to find than a Caterpillar Club pin. He was the bombardier on a B-18 Bolo that crashed in the Atlantic off of Panama in 1942. Congrats Kurt, I think the card is even more rare! I added my Sea Squatter pin to my Rickenbacker display as he was one of the five founding members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share #79 Posted June 13, 2014 The card is tough too! I had a card to a Naval Aviator, but a pin kept eluding me until now , Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share #80 Posted June 14, 2014 Here are better shots of the pin. We didn't have any good close up shots showing the markings so I am adding it here. As you can see it is screwback not clutchback and is hallmarked by American Emblems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted June 15, 2014 Share #81 Posted June 15, 2014 Awesome! What a rare score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share #82 Posted August 3, 2014 I just realized I never added Harry Korger's pins to this thread. He was a POW in WWII and survived a B-52 crash in 1956. He was a 2 time member of the club! This is a thread about him: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/93319-wwii-ploesti-veteran-and-pow-harry-korger/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share #83 Posted December 15, 2015 Here is my most recent pin. It is also the very first engraved " Irving" pin I have seen. This is the US made pin that is gilded sterling, The solid gold IRVIN pins from England are almost always named and dated. I see WAY more of these IRVING pins to US POWs than any other pin including SWITLIK pins. This member was a pilot from the 376th BG captured 12/18/44 . He was held in Stalag Luft 1, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Scott Posted January 27, 2016 Share #84 Posted January 27, 2016 Kastauffer asked me to add this to the thread.I picked this up yesterday in a trade out of Ohio.The pin and card are IDed to Harold G. Russell shot down 6-22-43 during the Attack on the synthetic rubber factory at Huls Germany.He bailed out and was taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war as a guest of the Germans.After the Men and Women of the Forum helped with his unit which was the 337th bomb squadron 96th bomb group, the attack and becoming a POW I found out he is from Wisconsin my home state.If you Goggle search the net there is a ton of info on Mr. Russell, the attack, and the crews capture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 27, 2016 Author Share #85 Posted January 27, 2016 Thanks for posting Scotty. It's a great example. The mark on the back of the card is the German censor mark from Stalag Luft 3. That means his card was mailed to him while he was still in the camp. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 2, 2016 Author Share #86 Posted July 2, 2016 I found a copy of his POW ID card online Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaaf93 Posted July 2, 2016 Share #87 Posted July 2, 2016 That's a lot of nice pins ! Kastauffer could you please tell me where you found the card online ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 2, 2016 Author Share #88 Posted July 2, 2016 Here is a card I picked up recently to a 379th BG Navigator captured 3/26/44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 2, 2016 Author Share #89 Posted July 2, 2016 That's a lot of nice pins ! Kastauffer could you please tell me where you found the card online ? Thanks It was here: http://stichting-vliegeniersmonument-giessenlanden-wo2.nl/English/22-6-1943 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaaf93 Posted July 2, 2016 Share #90 Posted July 2, 2016 It was here: http://stichting-vliegeniersmonument-giessenlanden-wo2.nl/English/22-6-1943 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted December 31, 2016 Share #91 Posted December 31, 2016 Found this newspaper article while working on my Airmail Flyers Medal of Honor Wikipedia stuff and new I had to post it. Airmail Pilots Paul J Kanuit, S. J. Samson both on 22 March 1929. And Lt John H Tilton of the Army Air Corps Reserve. P.S. Happy New Year everyone! Another newspaper article. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 23 May 1930) Notable data: * Now 225 members with 236 jumps. (Can't make sense of this with the number of multi jump names listed.) * Col. Charles Lindbergh with 4 jumps. * Rutledge, Barksdale, Hutchinson, Hunter, Miller, Messrs, Wilson, Stevers, Dryer with two jumps each. * Six candidates initiation simultaneously making the jump from a crippled Army Transport. * Woman Mildred Kaufman while trying to set a new record for consecutive loops. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted February 26, 2017 Share #92 Posted February 26, 2017 Found another article. This one is for Caterpillar #1. I wonder where this plaque is today? Aviation Week magazine. November 1943 page 261 Col. Harold R Harris (At time plaque was given) Jumped 22 Oct 1922 Dayton, Ohio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share #93 Posted April 4, 2017 My most recent Caterpillar Club item. It is difficult to find the envelope. This certificate is different than most of the others since it does not reference Switlik anywhere on it. The story behind the jump can be found here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/287662-unusual-wwii-8th-aaf-pow-story-when-a-man-loves-a-woman/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBMflyer Posted June 30, 2017 Share #94 Posted June 30, 2017 Found this photo in a 379th BG vet's photos and thought it might interest some. The T/Sgt. vet is wearing a caterpillar pin and winged boot on his uniform-no collar brass (the black dot is on the negative) on what I think is an aviation cadet tunic, wish I had a name to go with the photo. Enjoy, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share #95 Posted June 30, 2017 Cool pic Mark! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted June 30, 2017 Share #96 Posted June 30, 2017 Found this photo in a 379th BG vet's photos and thought it might interest some. The T/Sgt. vet is wearing a caterpillar pin and winged boot on his uniform-no collar brass (the black dot is on the negative) on what I think is an aviation cadet tunic, wish I had a name to go with the photo. Enjoy, Mark resized_Caterpillar.jpg I'll second Kurt, "Great Pic"! Can't imagine a Cadet would have a "Walking out Boot' though. It almost looks like an 8th AAF patch on his shoulder! And is that a "Soldiers Medal" ribbon bar? But why no brass!? Even after discharge you would keep your brass wouldn't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share #97 Posted June 30, 2017 Those old aviation cadet uniforms were issued to regular enlisted men. I think that's what's going on here. It does look like an 8th AAF patch! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBMflyer Posted July 1, 2017 Share #98 Posted July 1, 2017 Guys, I think you are right about the 8th patch-the cadet uniform is neat as well. I looked on the back of the photo and it has Rapid City, SD-a drugstore name and the date of May 1, 1945. Maybe the vet was an instructor there or preparing for discharge? Not sure as to the ribbons but looks like a GCM and ETO on the bottom and maybe an Air Medal with clusters above, can't tell the others. This photo came with a bunch from a 379th BG gunner. Just thought it was a nice example of the un-official being worn out. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted July 1, 2017 Share #99 Posted July 1, 2017 Yea I think they re-used some of those cadet uniforms, I have a 5th Air force jacket that you can tell had the cadet patch removed from the sleeve.As for this photo that is def an 8th patch. The no color brass is strange though. But I have learned to never say never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted July 1, 2017 Share #100 Posted July 1, 2017 So what is the give-away on this B&W photo that it is / was a "cadet" uniform? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now