Whats the best site for South Vietnamese and Cambodian army stuff

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Here is a beret with a question behind it. Anyone ever hear of the blue eagles. Not to be confused with the blue angels!

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

flash

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

The Blue Eagle Nest Just found this site, I think this must be the unit. I never heard of it before, Jeff

[nguoi tien su]

Jeff, very nice berets again !!!

I also know that many of these tailor shops bought their goods in quantity from the same source. Then put their own labels on them after sewing on the flash or badge.

I do recon that. I will try to make some interview of tailors or people who did procuce berets in the futur. I have to find time...

As for Hung Dao, I will make some lable photos next week (I'll be back home, that will be like Xmas at Easter!!! ) I think I remember three different designs.

This morning I went to one of my favorite dealers, and asked him about the silver VNMC badge. He says it is very unusual, but seemed to know what I spoke about. He thinks that is might be for officers (would it be like the early ranks, silver for the officers?)... Nightmare...

NTS

[hochiminhtrail]

Wow blue eagle beret, i love the internet you can find so many infos there, just learned something new today, thanks Jeff.



my theorie is that a famous Saigon maker had subcontractors in the province and that tailor labels and material was bought by the smaller shops and sweing was made in all region or provinces, that you must have had copies of original Saigon makers during the war, when a buck can be made Vietnamese do not hesitate do counterfit anything.

NTS a question for you, you know there was a black market in saigon during the war for uniforms weapons ect..... I did read that in some journalist account that you could be fully equipped just by going to the black market, from jungle jacket and jungle boots to even weapons, i wonder what they were reproducing at that time allready ( uniform , or if they stold it from US depots) , maybe you can ask

we do not have to forget that vietnamese are extremly skilled craftsmen, ( Look at Hoi An today, south of Danang this little tourist town is a pure tailor workshop, you have tailor shops every 50 meters, you get a Chanel suite for your misses out of a magazine bring it to them in 24 hours you have almost the same as in the picture)

LET SEE WHAT NTS FINDS OUT

I think you have a quite big treasure trove Jeff, i wonder what else you will show us

[Simon F]

101 lrrp, your pj badge looks to be a late wartime piece from what I can see! Jeff

Jeff, many thanks for your help

[ETN]

This has been a great and informative thread!

Here's an interesting ARVN Ranger Beret I turned up a few months back. It's well worn and named to a US advisor. The maker label is printed directly on the lining.

[ETN]

Ok, let's try this again with photos this time

[ETN]

Inside

[hochiminhtrail]

Hi ETN

nice beret you have there, Jeff did paratroopers also wore the marroon beret or was it just for rangers??

Patrick werent you on the hunt for Ranger berets??

Alex

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Alex, rangers wore a maroon beret and the airborne wore a red one. Sometimes you can find these in orange as well! Here is a photo of a great 1st cav flag that is Vietnam made that I bought today at a local show. Thought you might enjoy it. It is double sided and very well made.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Here is another of my small beret groupings. It is from an advisor to a SVN Junk Force. Note the red backing on the junk force beret, it is taken from a captured VC flag that the crew cut circles out of and used for the badge backing. Also note that this beret has a enlisted junk force badge in silver, even though this man was an officer!

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

junk force patch

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

beret

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

ETN, you have a nice late war biet dong quan or ranger beret. This is a very late war type probably done in a offshoot shop of this maker. Many collectors do not like this ink stamped type of sweat shield and many reproductions can be found with this type of label. Interesting side note is that this maker is named after the tailors two sons, Phuoc and Hung! Jeff