This was an odd case of fate and chance.... About four years ago or so I saw an auction on Ebay for what were claimed to be Air Force Gen. Maurice A. Preston's WWII Wolf-Brown ribbons as well as an 8th AF patch, his Colonel's rank insignia, and regular and miniature sized Silver Star medals. I thought the grouping was very interesting, especially since I'd never seen a Wolf-Brown UK DFC. I can't remember if I bid on the grouping or not, either way I didn't get it but I saved some pics of it. A year or so after that I remember seeing an Air Corps jacket for sale on Ebay with the same ribbon grouping tacked on, though the jacket wasn't his and nor did the seller claim it to be. Again I didn't get the jacket (I don't even think I bid on it that time). Just a few days ago another jacket (not sure if it was the one from a few years ago) popped up on Ebay yet again with the same ribbons on it. I contacted the seller and asked him if he would be willing to sell me just the ribbons as I knew the jacket wasn't Gen. Preston's. The seller agreed to and the ribbons arrived yesterday. They are the exact same grouping that was for sale on Ebay that many years ago! The top picture below is one I took of them and the two below are of the original auction from a few years ago. These are definitely the same ribbons that Gen. Preston was awarded during WWII however whether or not they were his actual set that he wore I don't know for sure. Either way it was definitely a great find and worth it! Also below is a link to his bio on Wikipedia.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_A._Preston

Very cool!

Who switched placement of the EAME and WWII Victory ribbons, I wonder.

Who switched placement of the EAME and WWII Victory ribbons, I wonder.

No one switched them out, in the original picture they just had the ribbon bar flipped the wrong way. If you look at both pictures the silver star device on the EAME is next to the American Campaign ribbon on both.

Interesting ribbon bar. I wonder what happened to the devices? The oak leafs are lower in the listing than they are in the photo you posted, are they loose?

 

Philip

Interesting ribbon bar. I wonder what happened to the devices? The oak leafs are lower in the listing than they are in the photo you posted, are they loose?

 

Philip

I noticed that too but I think it's just the angle of the bars in the picture from the original listing. It looks like those ribbon bars are slanted down a little instead of sitting completely upright.