You may find this to be an informative read:   https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Timelines/World War II/WWIIDFCandAirMedalCriteriaChronological.pdf?ver=2016-09-16-111147-907    

I found these photos of this patch on what looks like an athletic jacket but there was no identification as to which school or sports team.    I found information on the Internet that Alameda High School had a Varsity Dance and Drill Team with the nickname of Hellcats.  There was also information that "Hellcats" refers to an Alameda middle school flag football team.

Hey yall Quick question.  Why is it the air medal seems to not have just rhe same requirements. Why didn't they just make it so each group followed the same. For example my great grandfather flew as a tail gunner 50 missions. First 25 with the 5th in the pacific then 25 with the 15ht in Italy. He only got 3 air medals. One with two OLC. But I see pilots or other crew members of similar units or in the UK or even pacific again that got them like crazy up to 5 sonetimes or 6. I know his first one was for 100 hours of air where enemy combat was expected. It just seems like the pilots got more medals for example even the DFC got handed out like candy it seems on almost every pilots uniform I see it has one ore more. 

Thank you so much Lyle for your response to my question.  I really appreciate it!  The information you provided will be very helpful in the future for me.  I don't want to start a collection of Victory S&W's but I would like to at least purchase one S&W Victory Model that is in great shape and that is in 38 Special as opposed to 38 S&W, which evidently I didn't know was a thing.  Also, although getting one with provenance would be nice, it's not necessarily something I would have to have so a letter wouldn't mean that much to me unless it did have great provenance.  I'm pretty sure if it did have great provenance I wouldn't be able to afford it anyway, ha.  Again, thank you kindly for the great information.    Matt

Thank you Manay! When the antique dealer brought it out of the box I thought......oh boy, Merrill's Marauders, no way! I am just as tickled: a Mars Task Force mule skinner from Colorado... awesome.

Doing great. Nice collection you have there. I put my buckles in Ryker mounts (12”x16”). It helps with displaying and I can usually get 31 buckles per each case.    Chris      

(Not sure of the best category to post this item In, this seemed appropriate.)   This is a large 48-star US in my collection. It measures 7.5ft wide by 12ft. long. Being that it's 48 stars that gives a range for date but I'm not sure if there are ways to narrow that down? The only markings are a stamp for the size, it appears to made if wool or thick cotton. The stars are multi piece, a reinforced square is sewn in the top right corner of canton, the flag has a rope loop through the header(?) has rope loop through it to attach it to the pole.   I assume it's production 1940's? I assume a flag of this size would have been flown at a large State or Fed government building/office,Or a sizeable military base, perhaps a naval ensign for a good size ship?   I'm not a vexillologist... I'm curious What do others think? Thanks!  

Thank you Dan, this is a lot of help! I'll have to meet his son and take better photographs of everything. I just got this snapshot of the shadowbox which is also on the table. Story goes Marion put the Purple Heart and Bronze Star on his car keys, which the son is still looking for but says he has them somewhere. 

here is a vintage Naval Communications station Asmara

Hete's one I just found in a junk shop. Maker unknown.