Some time ago I purchased this pocket patch at one of the gun shows here in Oklahoma.  The vendor had purchased a very large collection and while going through the bags, I came across the PP.  On the back side, the original collector had placed labels on the backs of the patches indicating some information.  According to the original collector, this patch came from Germany, which is where the 11th Abn Div arrived after leaving Japan from their duties as an occupational force.  I would like to know if it is a period patch or reproduction.  All comments are appreciated.  Thanks.

 

Larry

Here is an 127th Abn Eng Bn pocket patch on an 11th Airborne Division set of fatigues (see photos).   It of course doesn't look anything like your patch.  In addition your patch doesn't look German made from the US occupation era.   I am not an expert but have never seen this particular design sewn on a uniform.  For it to be a reproduction then an original period patch must exist.  I am not 100% sure that one exists.  However I have a photo of one that based on construction looks to be genuine which is contrary to what I just said.  Maybe someone else knows if the 127th Abn Eng Bn had two different pocket patch designs.  

 

 

7 hours ago, Tonomachi said:

Here is an 127th Abn Eng Bn pocket patch on an 11th Airborne Division set of fatigues (see photos).   It of course doesn't look anything like your patch.  In addition your patch doesn't look German made from the US occupation era.   I am not an expert but have never seen this particular design sewn on a uniform.  For it to be a reproduction then an original period patch must exist.  I am not 100% sure that one exists.  However I have a photo of one that based on construction looks to be genuine which is contrary to what I just said.  Maybe someone else knows if the 127th Abn Eng Bn had two different pocket patch designs.  

 

 

Dennis, the last patch you posted appears to be Vietnamese made. I have always thought these to be the shop pieces as the 11th was not in Vietnam. As for the piece that start this post, I believe that to be a post Vietnam copy made for collectors/vets. 

3 hours ago, Wake1941 said:

Dennis, the last patch you posted appears to be Vietnamese made. I have always thought these to be the shop pieces as the 11th was not in Vietnam. As for the piece that start this post, I believe that to be a post Vietnam copy made for collectors/vets. 

Thanks for the input.  What is a shop piece?  The insignia maker in SVN must have copied this design from something so did this patch exist during either the occupation in Japan or Germany?

I did locate a photo of a second pocket patch design based on their DUI.  This unit also wore a red on white airborne tab.  Supposedly the WW2 tab is very scarce which differs from one that was produced post war in the 1950s.  I also found a photo of a bullion 187th RCT SSI with the numbers 127th embroidered in the wing.  However I have no reference regarding a post war occupation era patch that started this post which looks like a copy of the 188th PIR patch.

5 hours ago, Tonomachi said:

Thanks for the input.  What is a shop piece?  The insignia maker in SVN must have copied this design from something so did this patch exist during either the occupation in Japan or Germany?

Here’s another one I had, as for shop piece. Meaning something created by a shop, either for veterans of the unit or just to show what the shop could produce for prospective buyers. 
 

 

I appreciate the information and some good examples of what is still out there.  According to ASMIC's Cloth Patch Insinga, Part 5, Engineers, the book has the two above patches in the catalog from the period d (1945-1965).  I have seen a similar patch that was hand-made in Japan at a ASMIC convention in the 1970s.  But one area that I did find interesting is that my patch does not look like it was made in Germany as I have a number of patches from the mid to late 1940s that were made there.  It would be interesting to view a picture of the patch being worn on either fatigues or civilian jacket.  Again, I thank you for the input, and a great example of the 127th DI posted by Tonomachi.

7 hours ago, Wake1941 said:

Here’s another one I had, as for shop piece. Meaning something created by a shop, either for veterans of the unit or just to show what the shop could produce for prospective buyers. 
 

 

Thanks for the follow up and here is theater made 127th Abn Eng Bn piece of insignia from the Japanese occupation years.  If someone has a photo of the mentioned Japanese hand made 127th Abn Eng Bn pocket patch it would be nice it you could post it here.