It is the result of the color rendering properties of the black and white film used.

Just a friendly suggestion...you can photograph small pieces on a piece of computer paper..I've even used a square of toilet paper for wings. It makes it easier to see the details vs. having too busy a background.   Mark sends

It isn't much and would be difficult to find information, but the 96th Infantry Division used 2 overlapping diamonds (blue and white) within a dark diamond for their SSI. The significance is that as an inter-War Reserve division, they were based in the PNW (Oregon/Washington) and known as the "Columbian Division" after the river. Given the number of coincidence, could this be an early example or variation of their insignia? 

I got a small grouping today. He had two sets of dog tags. They are 95700 apart in serial no. Any ideas. Thanks.

There were variations. In this case it may be the film. Certain B+W types of film available in those days would register shades differently. Vintage "Film Scientists" on the Forum will be able to identify the exact film in question.

> Maybe a tiny tiny bit of color variation now and then, but nothing remotely as radical as the photo shows... it almost looks like those insignia were drawn in with a pen or pencil.

Looks like a dead ringer. Was there variation in the color? I see blue behind the star and background of the picture, but his patch doesn’t seem to have that, unless it’s just not showing in black and white pic.

VS-21

Got it VS 21  1952 to 1955    VS 21

USAAF 4th Air Force