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USAAF ARROWHEAD


BEAST
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I bought this coat last year from the vet's daughter. The vet served with the 318th Fighter Control Squadron, 7th Air Force. What made it unusual was the arrowhead on his pacific campaign ribbon. I don't recall seeing very many USAAF uniforms with the arrowhead.

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duarte1223

One option regarding the arrowhead on AAF uniforms is that the wearer somehow participated in an invasion, whether it be through preparation of planes, bombing of targets crucial in making the invasion go smoothly, or flying C47s to "drop off" paratroopers.

 

Nice jacket by the way! thumbsup.gif Always nice to get them from the family!

 

Adam

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I'm not exactly sure what a member of a Fighter Control Squadron would do, but is there the possiblity that he landed with the invasion or assault forces to coordinate air support?

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He was a communication specialist of some sort. He originally enlisted in the Signal Corps and was assigned to the AAF. His coat does not have it, but his shirt with the 7th AF SSI also has the triangular specialist patch.

 

I believe he went in on the ground and helped coordinate the air strikes.

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According to the book AAF published in 1944, Fighter Control Squadrons were used to 'direct aircraft by radio and furnish navigation aids'. They set up control centers to coordinate air/ground operations. I'm guessing he probably landed with the invasion troops to set up this type of operation. As a side note, I believe that Glider Pilots were the only Aircrew entitled to the invasion Arrowhead. Hope this helps, Mark

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One option regarding the arrowhead on AAF uniforms is that the wearer somehow participated in an invasion, whether it be through preparation of planes, bombing of targets crucial in making the invasion go smoothly, or flying C47s to "drop off" paratroopers.

 

Nice jacket by the way! thumbsup.gif Always nice to get them from the family!

 

Adam

 

Thanks Adam. BTW, I noticed I posted this uniform in the uniforms section earlier this year. Sorry about the double posting!

 

It was sort of a pain to get this coat. There were other family members there that told the daughter to keep all the ribbons and insignia, "because they were what's valuable." Fortunetly the daughter wanted to clear space up in her house, so everything went.

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