This is a shock.  I've known Eric since he was a kid through his Dad, Bob Queen, a fellow USMC collector.  We have kept in touch all these years, and we would visit when he still lived in California.  As said above, a very nice and knowledgeable person.  Along with his love of dogs and war dogs, he was also an expert in WWII German paratroopers, and wrote an excellent book on the gear they used:  "Red Shines the Sun".  I will miss him.   Steve   

Nice finds!

Ah yes.  Upon closer inspection, it is a piece of tape.  (Not quite the same as an integral piece of khaki material! ) Thought this was a great variation I had never seen before.

The medal insert is indeed enameled and should be purple in color, though early medals are often very dark just like your example.   Allan

This is tragic news. I am so sad to learn of Eric's passing. He was a good friend and a wealth of knowledge on many subjects. RIP Eric... we will meet one day on the high ground.

Looking for named WW2 CBI Flight/Field Jacket with bloo chit and unit patches. Must be wartime applied patches. Posted examples of jackets like that Id love to add. Been having a hard time finding one thats orginal and not had patches added post war. 

. Hi Flibble    I caught up with this ' Signal Corp Cameraman ',  he had constructed himself a resin / fibreglass motion camera but hidden inside is a go-pro camera      .   Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, June 16  2O25.    ….

I am so sad to be reading this. I'm just gutted. I did my first deal with Eric's Dad, Bob Queen about 35 years ago. Eric was fairly close in age to me and one of the few "young" collectors that I knew. Eric was always a gentleman, and he never failed to provide me with information/ assistance when I asked for it. Eric's love of dogs and his philanthropic work to support them is notable ad clearly portrays the kind soul that he was. May he rest in peace.   Allan

It appears that the tab is taped to the patch using scotch tape. I don't think it is an attached tab.   Allan

C. Older 5th and 4th Deg  5th Num 285 4th Num 466 10 Victories A member of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron (the "Hell's Angels"), he is credited with 10 victories, making him a double ace. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to lieutenant colonel. BTW I have found more than one with paperwork calling this Version with White edge Ribbon & Rossette a SPECIAL BREAST ORDER.  and now thinking there may have been a later War Updated VERSION for foreign military, I also found one with paperwork STATING the highest deg for the SPECIAL BREAST ORDER was 6 th deg. Thinking they may have created this SPECIAL BREAST order and started to award them later in the war. His official Paperwork from China requested he send back the earlier 5th deg award. also this one was called a 4th Deg in paperwork, This may be the reason for the cut ribbon ? maybe they did a fast re-ribbon for the second award (4th deg) he received but never corrected the paperwork ? just a theory)   they may have created this SPECIAL BREAST order around the same time as his higher 4th deg award, May also explain this alternate box Version