The Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) is a staff corps of the United States Navy. CEC officers are professional engineers and architects, acquisitions specialists, and Seabee combat warfare officers who qualify within Seabee units. They are responsible for executing and managing the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Navy's shore facilities.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Engineer_Corps   @easterneagle87 Love the cutout USMC buckle.  I missed seeing that one when it was listed.  It might be Philippine Made but the curved line engraved border style gives me Guam and Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) vives.   Thank you for posting the sold buckles you've seen!      @jsand I snagged the R.H. Kaufelt Jr. buckle yesterday while you were sleeping.😁  I think this may be either an early (1945) buckle of this engraver [based on the font style] because the quality of the engraving isn't his best work, or maybe he was working fast, or maybe he had / is an apprentice.  I know @vforvictory1945 has a well deserved soft spot for this engraver (or school of engravers) of "funky font" who has (have) produced some of the best and most original engraved buckles of the 1945-1953 period.  Here is one of the best/original engraved buckles (dated 1945) and the undated Kaufelt buckle.  Opinions?  Is this the same or different engravers. 

Hello Iron Bender Thanks for looking and commenting  Don

I have seen what collectors have identified as German made patches of this design from this time period but I've never seen a bullion version.

David, that drawing is from Batisti s book and indeed shows the type 2 suppression your early MB needs type 1 suppression and no star washers as on my 42 GPW will post the drawing of the frame nuts and bolts of that system from the book when I get home next week   or order here  https://www.thelongolivedrabline.com/product/manual-installation-radio-interference-suppression-system-bonding-straps-bonding-points/  

. hi earlymb,   well it seems you are getting it all together, and I hope there was some help in the post I made, hopefully you will have a finished Jeep that will last another eighty years.   it was great to watch Johan last Sunday just reach into his Jeep and start the Jeep with his hand on the starter switch without any need for choke or accelerator all down to good earthing contacts, no whirling of the starter just brrrmmmh straight off from a six volt system.     Having several Jeeps back in the late 70's these are some of the earthing straps I still have       Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 04 June  2O26.   ..      

Leaping lizards Matt, what a treasure trove of information and some mighty fine material.

The patch in the original posting that originated for sale in Pennsylvania.   There was a Naval Air Station at Willow Grove, it’s a long shot but might help.   Back in the early 90s I got a Navy pilots group from a pilot who flew out of the Grove and had his squadron patch on a summer weight jacket like yours.   I can’t get more specific than that unfortunately.

Based on the movement list below, dated 6 Dec 1943, with him as a passenger, he was a Flight Chief with the 738th BS.   Per the link below for another BS, ref a Flight Chief: "Each of the squadron's four flights had one Flight Chief, who supervised a minimum of four Crew Chiefs and eight Assistant Crew Chiefs. The four Flight Chiefs reported to one Line Chief, who was under the supervision of the Engineering Officer and his assistant officer." So, he was responsible for a number of men who kicked the tires and lit the fires, so to speak- all important aircraft maintenance.   https://b26.com/page/WW2-556th-Bomb-Squadron-387th-Bomb Group-Engineering-Section.htm     Source: NARA   Dan

A unique canteen in my collection, it's a French Mle.1877/15, 2-liter canteen, colonial Khaki color cover, rather than the standard "Horizon Blue". I believe it was used by volunteer with the American Ambulance Service (pre-1917). It is heavily Graffitied

He was overseas with the 15th air force in Italy. 454th bg, 738th bs. No air medals or dfc, so may have been in an instructor role due to his high rank.