I’m so sad to hear this.  I never met Eric in person but I corresponded with him on a number of occasions through the forum.  He was always so nice and helpful.  I’m so sorry for his loved ones.

Just my opinion, but the kanji could translate accurately and still be a "fake".  Another indication is how poorly the dye on the sun held.     Could it be an original homemade flag that used food or plant dye?  Sure, but I've seen very few original prayer flags that suffered from this issue.   I'd wait for other opinions - that is just mine.

Thanks Blacksmith,   I paid like $180 for it. If the translation turned out to be Japanese gibberish it could be a CB creation. If it made sense a valid Good Luck Flag I guess🧐

AIT, Ft Sill, Oklahoma, MOS 17A Combat Surveillance Target Acquisition.  An extremely loud Chinook took me out to nowhere land and dropped me off. I had to find my way back alone with a crude map they gave me.  My most memorable flight in military aircraft was flying extremely low all the way under radar in a C130 cargo plane over the jungle canopy  from Vietnam, over Cambodia to Thailand.

Hey all, thinking about possibly bleaching a post ww2 OD7 cartridge belt. Anyone ever done anything similar? Or know how it could turn out? Let me know 👍

I agree.  The castings were naturally done by a foundry/casting company.  The Agricola Furnace Company was one of the largest in the nation.  Before the war they made cast iron stoves and also worked in steel.  They were likely the Prime contractor.     The Agricola Furnace castings were then shipped to and filled by a small fireworks company (Antonelli Firework Factory) used to working with flash powder (the filler).  Here are some of their workers holding their wares (fireworks) https://live.staticflickr.com/32/93777833_04fb184b76_z.jpg The were likely a sub-contractor.    Any lists that show who made AF grenades should be changed to Agricola Furnace.     

Good word  - soundscape   Hands down, loudest sound was sitting in front of the controle tower as 2 top fuel dragsters did pre burn outs & 16,000 horsepower was let loose at the green light. The ground, & tower shook. Could feel it in my chest   

Ron, g'afternoon.  I just tried to ask you a question but not sure the note reached you.  I may have clicked on the wrong button.  me and computers and the forum site.  !  humph.  My question is - did CORO ever manufacture regulation insignia ?  All our Coro is Sweetheart.  Thank you, Donna Wosk / San Diego. p.s.  What does the "like" actually mean ?

Just got these three great older LARGER size, U.S. Naval Facility Midway Island, patches. Super pleased!    

Good questions.  I used to have a picture of a war-time CB "studio", where they basically had (as I remember it) a tilted drafting table that a sailor was painting a bogus prayer flag on.  I think there might have been an original reference flag next to it - so basically copying an existing flag.    So yes, a US Navy CB (I guess it could have been any MOS, but I've always heard them referred to as "Seabee Specials") would make these flags for sale / barter with other servicemembers.  If you look at ship newsletters, painted ship / jacket / other insignia, and so forth, there were a lot of true artists on these ships.  While quality varied, some of these flags are really convincing.