CATERPILLAR CLUB , GOLDFISH CLUB , SEA SQUATTERS CLUB

[GAZOO]

Just noticed this WRITTEN QUOTE from 1945

"has to FLOAT upon the sea for a considerable period"
they were picked up almost immediately sooooo

[Thrifter_01]

Bought a scrapbook recently that belonged to an naval air crewman from VPB-135. Still waiting for it to arrive, but did see that he had the Sea Squatters Club card.

 

[KASTAUFFER]

On 1/5/2025 at 11:25 AM, GAZOO said:

  

This is ANOTHER GOLDFISH PATCH
Without WAVES
Issued for a Pacific Theater DITCH.

I have seen 3 without the WAVES and all were from the Pacific theater, is this a CLUE


 

I recently picked up a Group with this STYLE (NO WAVES) Goldfish patch. When purchased it ha NO History
just the soldiers name on the back of his DFC (script style, privately done)

  After some research through FOLD & ANCESTRY
I have Found
Samuel L. Burch was a WWII Army Air Corps, Flight Engineer
Assigned to Aircrew 84-04, 484th Bomb Squadron, 505th Bomb Group (VH), 313TH Bomb Wing Command, 20th Air Force
at North Field on TINIAN in the Mariana Islands; PACIFIC Theater of Operations
as Flight Engineer aboard the B-29 Superfortress Named "THE DEACON'S DELIGHT" serial # 42-24818

Flight Officer BURCH Flew 35 B-29 Combat strikes against the Japanese
homeland as a flight engineer Master Sergeant, and subsequently commissioned a Flight Officer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Event that earned him the Goldfish I assume was as follows

History of the DITCH.
Please Note the B-29 Needed to be RAMMED by the "USS Bering Strait"



A few reasons for this different style come to mind
MAYBE
1) this style was issued for pilots in the PACIFIC by a different goldfish organization (US Based maybe)
2) this style for NO RAFT or Life support equipment used
3) for immediate rescue
4) or maybe simply because they did not have enough materials to add the waves ?? war time rationing of materials
 





BOTTOM LEFT ROW

 

Believe it or not that is actually official script engraving on that DFC. It was done in the 1946-1947 time period. 

[GAZOO]

12 hours ago, KASTAUFFER said:

 

Believe it or not that is actually official script engraving on that DFC. It was done in the 1946-1947 time period. 

  Awesome, Thanks. I assumed it was privately done (sold as such), liked it anyway. Now very excited to hear

its official, + the time period for that style script +++.

  Thanks very much for taking the time to post that very important information, for me anyway 🤩

Much appreciated

[GAZOO]

14 hours ago, Thrifter_01 said:

Bought a scrapbook recently that belonged to an naval air crewman from VPB-135. Still waiting for it to arrive, but did see that he had the Sea Squatters Club card.

 

I Now find it VERY INTERESTING they made a POINT to include the time in the Raft +++++

[Thrifter_01]

13 hours ago, GAZOO said:

I Now find it VERY INTERESTING they made a POINT to include the time in the Raft +++++

The couple i have seen on this thread also had the time marked on the card. Once it gets here I hope to see if it had his plane numbers

[Thrifter_01]

On 1/27/2025 at 9:05 AM, Thrifter_01 said:

Bought a scrapbook recently that belonged to an naval air crewman from VPB-135. Still waiting for it to arrive, but did see that he had the Sea Squatters Club card.

 

 

Got the scrapbook in today, and it had more than i had hoped for. The book not only had the card, but the incident report signed by the VPB-135 commanding officer and newspaper clipping describing it as the first rubber craft rescue in the Aleutians. 

 

[AxolotlHelmet]

Amazing find! These clubs and its’ members always have interesting stories!

[AxolotlHelmet]

IMA updated tonight with a uniform belonging to a Goldfish Club Member. I'll copy paste the little biography they give him below:
 

"John Andrew Martyniak was born on September 14th, 1917 in Bristol, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the Army on September 24th, 1940, joining the Air Corps. He trained as a B-17 Pilot and was eventually commissioned as a Lieutenant. He traveled overseas and joined the 534th Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force on April 6th, 1944. He bailed out of B-17 42-97238 30 miles west of Jersey on June 8th, 1944 after suffering flak damage, later joining the Goldfish Club. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He returned home and worked as a refrigeration mechanic. He passed away on July 4th, 2005 at the age of 87."

[AxolotlHelmet]

Here's a unique uniform that popped up on eBay along with some knick knacks. Don't think I've ever seen a cloth / bullion Caterpillar Club Insignia like this (although I'm not sure if the uniform itself is the real deal!)

[easterneagle87]

An example I’ve recently seen. Already have one forum members opinion that it’s not good. Definitely not period, but maybe a later make - rather than a fake? Chime in with opinions. 

[KASTAUFFER]

Id say that pin is newer. The waffleback is something you don't see on WWII insignia of any kind.  My instincts say its from the 70s or 80s. Ive never seen another like it. 

 

What does the hallmark say? I cant read it. 

 

Kurt

[Spartan19]

On 4/22/2025 at 4:03 PM, easterneagle87 said:

An example I’ve recently seen. Already have one forum members opinion that it’s not good. Definitely not period, but maybe a later make - rather than a fake? Chime in with opinions. 

Did they use these in Korea or Vietnam? If so maybe it's from one of those conflicts.

[LuftStalg1]

The pattern on the back and the style of the pin setup remind me of those found on other fake/copies of OTHER pins I have had in the past. 

[GAZOO]

Just received this CATERPILLAR Lapel Pin to add to my collection ++
Still need an Evader Patch to complete the trifecta 😉

Interestingly this one DOES NOT have any engraving on the back of the Round Fastener
It is however marked 14k on reverse of Pin and done with very good detail, 

  I dont expect this is a Reproduction/Fake so a few possibilities 

 Since this one looks to have its original Fastener ? and I see no evidence
of engraving I suspect either the original Fastener was lost or this one somehow
got sent without the engraving
OR

Could these have been available additionally by members at one time in the past ?

Anyway here are some CLOSE up Photos and comparison size photos Oh
and a little quick display I put together to showcase the collection so far





 

[easterneagle87]

Zowee!!! 

[KASTAUFFER]

I think that pin is 100% right, perhaps the fastener is just a replacement.

[easterneagle87]

2 hours ago, KASTAUFFER said:

I think that pin is 100% right, perhaps the fastener is just a replacement.

Which pin are you referencing? 

[KASTAUFFER]

The Pioneer pin.

[WarRelics]

On 8/29/2023 at 2:34 AM, Noelle said:

I wonder if anyone can help me find some info.  WASP Elizabeth Gardner was a two-time Caterpillar Club member, according to these on August 8, 1945, and then December 13, 1945.  The Wiki, and every site that copies it, claims that she had two flights in December 1945 that required bail-outs, yet I can only find reference to one for that month. This Life article is about her December 13, 1945 jump.  (Gotta love how they make sure to call her a girl pilot, as if we can’t just be pilots, and they have to make sure to mention that she’s pretty before literally anything else about her.)

 

Now, being that that article was in January 1946, surely if there were two that month, both would be mentioned.  So I think that the claim that there were two in December 1945 is just flat out wrote, and that it should be two in the year 1945.  But I can’t find any reference to the August 8 jump.  Can anyone please help with this?

 

 

.

I found this post from 2023 on the thread about the same pin. I didn’t see a definitive answer there as to who issued this type but I may have missed something. KASTAUFFER might have more information about them.

[GAZOO]

52 minutes ago, WarRelics said:

I found this post from 2023 on the thread about the same pin. I didn’t see a definitive answer there as to who issued this type but I may have missed something. KASTAUFFER might have more information about them.

  Thanks Yes I have read that thread and the "PIONEER" is engraved on the back of Fastener along with date and name .
Also I have seen more than 1 and both have the PIONEER name engraved on the reverse side of Screw fastener

[KASTAUFFER]

2 hours ago, WarRelics said:

I found this post from 2023 on the thread about the same pin. I didn’t see a definitive answer there as to who issued this type but I may have missed something. KASTAUFFER might have more information about them.

Those were sponsored by the Pioneer Parachute Company, but I dont know who manufactured the pins.

 

Kurt

[KASTAUFFER]

Caterpillar pin to a pilot who survived a crash in the US in 1943 , only to be KIA in the Pacific flying a B-29 on May 24,1945.

 

https://texastabernacle.blogspot.com/2014/11/b-17f-crashes-and-burns-four-miles.html?m=1

pin has some enamel damage. 

 

[AxolotlHelmet]

eBay listing #376485365597 proposing to show the B-14 and Pioneer Parachute Pin of S/Sgt. Albert A. Smiley (who parachuted on October 4, 1944). I've attached photos of the grouping, front of the ribbon bar to show the pin, the backing of bar where you can see the engraved pioneer fastener, and the (copied) letter Pioneer sent to Smiley. Not an expert on these pins, so I don't know if it is legit or not 👍

[GAZOO]

Interesting photo of A WINGED BOOT from DEC 1943 Issue of
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
(bottom right corner of image below)

Its noted as
Civil Air Patrol COURIER SERVICE
Bottom Right Patch

I had posted this in another thread but figure it would be of interest here as well