Bringing this back to the top. It's been 108 years since his sacrifice during the First World War. You are gone but not forgotten.   Private Charles Francis Brown 77th. (C) Company 6th. Machine Gun Battalion 4th. Marine Brigade Allied Expeditionary Force

Superb work.  Modelers who can assemble an entire kit (tank, airplane, ship), then begin painting it are amazing (I'd still be painting all the tiny bits individually). Looking forward to more in-progress painting photos.

I have some old tow missile tubes that don't have the box and flap. The flap is spring loaded. I was wondering if anyone know what its purpose is.

And until long poles appeared, how did they do it? How can I do it? This is the CIB I have and I'd like to use it... I've already "emptied" around and inside the hole, but nothing....

It is entirely possible that it was modified at some point, I’ll get some clearer images once I get some down time.    Would pilots of worn these with the flaps?  I’ll keep that in mind appreciate it, I am over in England though. 

The U.S. Naval Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) is a staff corps of the U.S. Navy responsible for planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining the Navy’s shore facilities worldwide. CEC officers are professional engineers, architects, and Seabee combat warfare officers who manage public works, environmental programs, and construction contracts.    The CEC’s role expanded during World War I with base expansions and infrastructure projects. In World War II, the corps became central to the Navy’s construction efforts. Rear Admiral Ben Moreell, Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, founded the Naval Construction Force (Seabees) in March 1942 to meet urgent Pacific theater needs grokipedia.com. CEC officers led major projects such as airfield construction in the Pacific, base development in the Philippines, and humanitarian and combat engineering missions worldwide. Wikipedia.

Not much to go on with those photos other than stylistic overall characteristics. Take a look at  Swords & Blades of the American Revolution by George C. Neumann.  I don't have a copy here or I'd skim it to see if give you more of a ballpark.   I think its fine to call it a saber.  It looks long enough and with a single cutting edge and curvature, that would be reasonable description.

Kyfshauserbund

The fact they are white many were stained and not kept up well, I have a set of whites 1895 USN with the pants.

I'm with you that this is a reproduction as it doesn't match any of the known originals that I am aware of.  The vendor does not claim to be a patch expert but believes that this might be a rare and original piece coming out of an old collection from a deceased Korean War veteran.  He or she further states  that he or she is an honest ebayer unlike most these days as he or she prides himself or herself in honesty yet he or she does not accept returns.   The postage at 20 dollars is kind of high.  The bidding with 18 hours to go is a little above 100 dollars.  Original bullion 509th P.I.R. patches probably sell for close to 1000 dollars or more now a days so these bidders are probably new collectors and the vendor may or may not realize that he or she is selling an outright fake patch.