Let's see some theatre made patches

[B. N. Singer]

December 19

Thank you Sirs (‘101combatvet’ & ‘tredhed2’), you are too kind.

Now for a couple that might not be as ‘inspiring’ (but some of my favorites nonetheless), 1st & 2nd style Alaskan Defense Command (ADC).

B. N. Singer

[tredhed2]

After looking at so many works of art, here is one of the ugliest German made patches you will ever see (those are flames below the cap):

[tredhed2]

And, to see that the Japanese could at least equal, if not beat the Germans, here is my Rorschach test patch - that is supposed to be an M-26 tank carrier with an M-4 Sherman on it, but you'll see what you want to see......

[B. N. Singer]

Bryan - worth the wait ...

Another one for you in mind Sir!

Although Very Little bullion, it makes my 'top list'!

Bryon

[Bob Carter]

[tredhed2]

Another one for you in mind Sir!

Although Very Little bullion, it makes my 'top list'!

Bryon

"Very little bullion?" But the patch is reversed!

[B. N. Singer]

December 21

To the best of my knowledge, this unit was fairly 'short lived'.

The 'London Base Command'.

B. N. Singer

[B. N. Singer]

December 22

‘Fifinella ‘coming in for her landing; these gals were Great!!
The Women Airforce Service Pilots — WASP.

http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773...inal-fly-girls

http://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org...tion/p214coll2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifinella

B. N. Singer

[tredhed2]

‘Fifinella ‘coming in for her landing; these gals were Great!!
The Women Airforce Service Pilots — WASP.

http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773...inal-fly-girls

http://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org...tion/p214coll2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifinella

B. N. Singer

Although this is a nice bullion variation, this was not a WASP patch. The design was made for collectors by PK and/or HG, among others.

[B. N. Singer]

Although this is a nice bullion variation, this was not a WASP patch. The design was made for collectors by PK and/or HG, among others.

Thank you Sir; yes, I did know that it was Not an 'official military approved' insignia,

http://wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/fifi.htm

http://wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/WOW3/index3.html

B. N. Singer

[tredhed2]

What I'm saying is that the round blue patches, like yours, were not worn by WASPs. Their numbers were too few, so to accommodate the WW II collector market, they were made for collectors. All the other Fifinella designs, as illustrated on the various websites, were worn by WASPs.

[B. N. Singer]

December 23

Had not seen this one prior to my acquisition of the group; I like it though.

B. N. Singer

[tredhed2]

Had not seen this one prior to my acquisition of the group; I like it though.

B. N. Singer

THAT is the best APU patch I have ever seen. I have this one for honorable mention, but it's pretty bland in comparison:

[B. N. Singer]

December 24

THAT is the best APU patch I have ever seen. I have this one for honorable mention, but it's pretty bland in comparison:

Thank you Sir! As always, laudatory words from those so 'in the know' are especially meaningful.

For today, a little known and perhaps, some might say, ‘unglamorous group’ the proficiency badges of the WW2 US Army Divers were always some of my best liked

1st Class Diver & Master Diver.

The Association’s web site,

http://www.usarmydeepseadivers.com/history.html

And about one of these ‘fascinating’ vets.

http://community.cdiver.net/profiles...-army-deep-sea

B. N. Singer

[B. N. Singer]

December 25

Merry Christmas to Everyone!!


Of all the WW2 US shoulder sleeve insignia designs, the 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade has always been one of my top favorites.

Perhaps difficult to see in my picture, the ‘insignia craftsman’ used 7 different types of bullion in his production of this example!


Some information about this unit taken from the memorial site of the unit’s commander, General Edward Wrenne Timberlake.

https://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/5856/

“By 1 December 1942 the 49th AAA Brigade was activated at Fort Davis, North Carolina, This was to be the crack unit Edward Timberlake would lead into combat after he assumed command of the 49ers in June 1943 and pinned on his brigadier general’s stars.

He led his brigade to England in November 1943, and took over control of the Bland-ford AAA Training Camp where his artillerymen trained both American and British troops for the forthcoming invasion of Europe. The 11th British AAA Brigade worked with the 49th Brigade to provide this training.

As part of the First Army’s antiaircraft cover, the 49th Brigade stormed ashore on 6 June 1944 on Omaha Beach, and played an aggressive anti-tank, counter battery, antibunker as well as air defense role in First Army’s march to Paris.

Edward Timberlake established his brigade headquarters at the Cite Univcrsitaire in Paris on 29 August 1944, and the brigade assumed control of the air defenses of Paris and the Seine River crossings.

The more than fifty 99mm and 40mm automatic weapons battalions stubbornly held the line during the Ardennes Campaign and Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. In addition to defending against the new German ME 202 jet fighter, the 49ers shot down numerous V-l buzz bombs headed for England. The deadly 90mm guns of the brigade blunted the armored thrusts of the German Sixth Panzer Army during the Bulge.

Later in the spring of 1945, the brigade established an intensive field of fire in protecting the captured Ludendorf Bridge at Remagen for First Army’s crossing of the Rhine in early March 1945.

By the end of hostilities in Europe in May 1945, the 49th was credited with downing 1271 enemy aircraft in the five major campaigns it waged in the theater. Edward Timberlake shifted his brigade to Camp Mahogony near Kassell, Germany, to begin the operations of the Ministerial Collecting Center with the assistance of British, French and Russian general officers.”


B. N. Singer