The Zippo appears to be authentic, with decent engraving, but frankly I am “on the fence” about this being a non-fake for several reasons:   1. “III CALC” would seem to be for some advisory unit in III Corps. But I cannot determine what that abbreviation stands for.   2. In 1963 we had relatively few advisors in-country, an estimated 16,000.   3. I’m unsure whether the whole in-country Zippo lighter engraving business had even started up by 1964.   4. Yes, the black paint in the letters is troubling.   5. The name and service number could have been “plucked” from the Internet.   Summary: My opinion is that it is unknown, absent more information, whether this is the “real deal.”

One thing you can count on with this Forum is aznation!

Whether it be yard sale/garage sale/estate sale or online listings (craigslist, liveauctioneries, local auction houses etc., or from where ever... The point I was trying to make, and thank you all for contributing by the way, .... IF you see and add for a sale with a good nugget pictured, maybe NOT featured... post the picture and add the comment or something to the effect of... I Spy.... 

Good morning. What do you think of this lighter? The black paint on the engraving makes me wonder.

I believe and hope this is your guy.  The ring represents the 3rd Engineers Champions of the Hawaiian Division and the dome looking item atop the ring represents a basketball because they were basketball champions in 1937.  The initials on the ring are for Richard Charles Merkle as you'll see more information about him below.                                                       You can download and save the Adobe .pdf files to your computer and/or print them as you wish.  Thanks...Matt                 Ancestry - Richard Charles Merkle .pdf WWII Morning Reports - Richard C Merkle.pdf WWII Pennsylvania Compensation - Richard C Merkle.pdf

. Everyone has a Jeep, perhaps I should be looking for something else     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 20 April  2O26.   ..

If you share your Great Uncle’s full name and date of birth (service number too if you have it), there are folks on here who may be able to find information on his servce.

Wow! Those are really cool! 

Do you have any connection to Wisconsin? Only ask because I'm going off the assumption that the shield in the middle has the initials (J.Y.) and the only member in the passenger list of the 107th Engineer Train (part of the 32nd) who was on the Tuscania is John J. Young (1895-1980) from Wisconsin. He would survive the sinking only to be wounded by shrapnel in the battle of Chateau Thierry in October 1918. He would also go on to serve in the Tuscania Survivors Association.   Linked here is a collection of articles pertaining to Mr. Young compiled by a site. In it, there is a full recounting of Mr. Young's experiences during that night (on the newspapers dated 1933)     But, again, this is just speculation that's what the shield means (or maybe its something entirely different than initials!)

Some great stuff jonesy, love your flight test badges. I see mine, yours and others all have different color numbers and symbols. I know ID badges all have unique numbers, but I wonder what the different colors and symbols mean. I actually interviewed a man who had been considering taking a job in flight testing for the A-10, but he decided to pass as he said it was very strenuous.    Funny enough, I also just came into another local Fairchild haul, I will not share it all as to keep as on topic as I can but I think it belongs here for the history of the A-10.   - Local newspaper bearing the news of the closure of the Fairchild Plant, talks a good bit about the wind-down of the A-10 contract and when the last ones would be finished - Union agreement booklet, the last one for Fairchild workers in Hagerstown. The last A-10 was finished in March 1984 - A brochure all about Fairchild has a couple of cool photos of our beloved A-10 and has a directory listing out what all the different Fairchild departments are.