The only way that the blouse could be the KIA Marine's is if it was issued and then left behind when the marine went overseas. If he was killed in the Pacific, his uniform would have never been sent home to the next of kin. It would have been taken back into the supply system, rehabilitated, and then issued to the next marine who needed one.   The only uniforms that were sent home were officers' uniforms as they were privately purchased. Issued items remained the property of the US Government and would have been recovered for reissue.   Allan

ragpick; Thanks for your response. Attached is the design in the official AF file  file as representing the 479thFtrGp during WW!!, and the emblem I used in Battle Colors/Vol.II. It's entirely possible that the 'Bug's' image was an early, predeployment emblem and I'm going to check this possibility out. Thanks again for the lead. RW

This one is not mine. It belongs to an old high school friend who served on a Newport Class LST and was presented the wheel when the ship was being dismantled in Texas. Really nice looking wheel. The second picture is of the navigation bridge with the wheel prior to removal.   

According to the book "The 479th Fighter Group in WW2" by Terry A. Fairfield, this insignia was created while the 435th was at Oxnard, California at the request of squadron member Captain Albert Myers before they went overseas. 

Hello all, found this interesting video that could somehow dating an helmet's accessories earlier than I thought, I wondered whether anyone here is able adding some more infos. In this video titled as from 1956 the NAA test pilot George Smith is back to fly F-100s for the first time since his incredible adventure of February 1955, when he ejected from a Super Sabre supersonic at 785 MPH at low level    -   he survived although very badly injured, and had to stay hospitalized many months.   I had read elsewhere it took about one year for Smith after the accident to be able flying again the F-100. Here he talks about this flight as being the very first F-100 flight so, time of this interview could be around March or April 1956, I guess not much after anyway. Smith does talk about trials and experiments with dummies and rocket sleds coming as a logical consequence of his impressive feat, thus suggesting (at least, so it looks to me) the things we see in the video are earlier than the interview or, more or less contemporary. The matter:  we clearly see that helmet fitted with 'Hardman Tools' receivers for the MS-22001 mask and its 'Christmas Tree' bayonets, meaning they already existed in service well earlier than I thought  (say, mid-1957 or early 1958).   Please anyone having more precise dates for this accessory?    Thanx!!     

Here's the grave of Nello Simonetti, the first name I was able to find and showing his unit.  I believe the flag was his, as he lived in my area and where the flag came from.

Thanks so much for the info and comments!   I was hoping to find a roster and AxolotlHelmet  hit a home run on that, thanks!

Apparently a separate firm and not Waterbury Button Company if that's what you've been looking at. According to Bazelon &McGuinn's "American Military Goods Dealers and Makers", they made brass buckles and buttons. Established in 1837 but not incorporated until 1876. They report the backmark is found on post-CW eagle buttons (apparently this one), Albert's GI-98A5.

Great flag!

Very sad to hear this.  What a gentleman he was on the forum, and generous and kind with his knowledge and insights.  A great loss to the community.