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CATERPILLAR CLUB , GOLDFISH CLUB , SEA SQUATTERS CLUB


KASTAUFFER
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KASTAUFFER

So what is the give-away on this B&W photo that it is / was a "cadet" uniform?

It's the sewn belt that doesn't actually have a buckle.

 

Kurt

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  • 1 month later...
Patchcollector

Here are sellers pics of a Caterpillar Club pin I picked up some years ago.It is still on the card in the original envelope.IIRC,I got this from eBay seller Freshfound.

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  • 4 weeks later...
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  • 2 months later...

Us Brits always have to throw a shoe into the works so here's the British equivalent of the caterpillar club called the Irving silk Shute club, however its worn on an American owned British made uniform so presumably he was awarded whilst in the RAF's service and later moved across to the AAF

​Enjoy

Tom

 

 

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  • 7 months later...

Navigator of a B-17 named " The Joker" with the 94th Bomb Group. He was captured 10/7/44 and held in Stalag Luft 3 in the South Compound.

 

 

Standard Irving style pin.

 

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  • 3 months later...

I can't find another example of the Hayes Skyhook Club pin. Has anyone seen it before?

They are scarce. I have never found one,

 

Kurt

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  • 1 month later...

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.

 

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Glad to say this one is in my collection now thanks to Bill!

 

Kurt

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This is the last item I have. It is very unusual and I do not know its background, however I have seen a few more of these.

 

It is an aluminum plaque with a parachute D-ring named to a 15th AAF crewman who had to bail out and was a POW. Notice the time and place are noted on the tag.

 

I have seen tags like the one attached this item on WWII equipment and on the inside of WWII submarines , so it may be from the 40's or 50's .

 

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If you have any items in your collections.. please post em here!!!!!!!!

 

Kurt,

 

I just saw this post and your comment. The plaque you have is from the Switlick company and was available for private purchase in their newsletter to members. I have never seen one, other than in the newsletter.

 

Gary B

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Kurt,

 

I just saw this post and your comment. The plaque you have is from the Switlick company and was available for private purchase in their newsletter to members. I have never seen one, other than in the newsletter.

 

Gary B

 

Thanks Gary, I did not know that.

 

Kurt

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  • 1 month later...

There have been a rash of suspect IRVING pins showing up on Ebay lately.

 

This is a known real pin:

 

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Below are the suspect pins:

 

 

They appear to be cast and are marked "sterling" which the other WWII Irving gold washed silver Pins I have seen are not.

 

The red eyes are also very sloppily painted which the originals do not. The pins also open 180 degrees on these. The originals only open 90 degrees.

 

Here are some pic snaps from Ebay on some I have found that sold , 2 from one seller and a third pin from another.

 

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Does anyone have any thoughts?

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I was going to say they came from He Whom Shall Not Be Named (HWSNBN) although the detail on the front seems better then I would have thought the back shows they are clearly cast. With castings the edges alway role away from the mold leaving that soft rolled edge and slightly sunken middle. Have you noticed them coming from a particular seller or maybe HWSNBN had a sale and saturated the uneducated market?

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I was going to say they came from He Whom Shall Not Be Named (HWSNBN) although the detail on the front seems better then I would have thought the back shows they are clearly cast. With castings the edges alway role away from the mold leaving that soft rolled edge and slightly sunken middle. Have you noticed them coming from a particular seller or maybe HWSNBN had a sale and saturated the uneducated market?

 

I would say you are probably right! I have seen a seller from Arizona selling these and 1 in Florida.

 

Kurt

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  • 3 weeks later...

The "Gallery" has flooded the market with these things and sadly they continue to be perpetuated even by some that should know better.

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I thought I would show this viariation, a British made bullion caterpillar club patch that was in a 6,600 piece patch collection I purchased a couple of months ago.

 

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  • 4 months later...

Caterpillar Club pin from the Pioneer Parachute Company to a POW captured 6/22/43 serving with the 305th BG, 8th AAF.

 

Also shown are his lead Bombardier wing His initials are on the back.

 

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Another new Caterpillar Group:

 

Gunner from the 484th BG , 15th AAF who had to bail out on a mission to Blechammer Germany on 10/14/44. This is part of a large Scrapbook group with his medals and original general orders.

 

Beautiful bullion Caterpillar Club patch in the scrapbook. The certificate is a color copy. Somehow the original got parted out.

 

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  • 2 months later...

Here's my first and only Catapiller Club award, but a great story. First hand account of bailing out of a U-2 at 53,000 feet in 1957! And he survived! Wish I had the pin, but it still may turn up, I haven't given up. If you google his name you will find the write up about this bailout.

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  • 2 months later...

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