Hello Mark,
First off, its not that I somehow resent the blue patch or even disagree with your point--clearly they were worn--that isn't in doubt. However, lets be fair. LOTS of guys in the US Army were facing death and destruction and were not given the same latitude to alter their uniform (and it was both officers and enlisted men). Why not a blue patch behind the CIB or jump wings for example? There WERE uniform regulations for the jump wing ovals, if I am not mistaken.
Also, A-2 and the wearing of squadron patches was pretty much universal in all the Air Forces. Its not that only the 8th had patches and nose art. You see A2s from EVERYWHERE. In regards to the patch, the 9th and 15th guys overlapped with the 8th, so why didn't they wear the blue patch? Not only that, even the A2 has some sort of regulations--Squadron patches on the left, group patches (if worn) on the right. Name tag above the squadron patch. Same for CBI as ETO.
Also, if it was a "local" order or decree, then at what level, who made that call, and where was it written down? Clearly not everyone in a squadron, group or wing wore these things. It also seems to be that it was mostly worn by guys in B-24s or B-17s, as opposed to figher or troop carrier groups (maybe I am wrong on that?). However, if you were going to alter your uniform in such a radical way, then go off to London for some fun, I expect that you would want to be able to explain to what ever MP or General or whoever called you out about being in a non-regulation uniform JUST what exactly made you think that it was OK to do so. We know that it was a big concern that guys were wearing stuff they weren't authorized to wear and the MPs were good at finding that type of stuff. Being out of uniform was a big deal, no matter how ****-hot you thought you were for flying a B17 to Berlin.
Next, let me ask, was the blue patch to "give a little recognition to the guys who knew that tomorrow may be their last day on earth" or keep the other 30 guys who weren't authorized to wear wings from doing so? And again, why was this only for a small group of guys? As a collector, I want to know that because it makes a difference (judging if the patch is an addon for example, or a legit period piece).
Clearly, no doubt about it, some guys in the 8th AAF wore these blue patches. I have a vintage photo of a B17 gunner with a patch behind his wings. We have seen the uniforms and talked to the vets. They were worn, and I am not at all disagreeing with that fact. I am a fool about many things, but I think this is pretty clear.
However, as collectors we can research just about everything else associated with the squadrons, units, missing aircraft reports, development of insignia, uniform regulations, etc and et al. We know how the medals were worn, the order of the ribbons, the placement of the patchs, chevrons, the color of the twill, the size of the wings. My point is, that other than this darn blue patch every thing else worn by an officer or enlisted man in the US Army has some sort of official regulation or paperwork (maybe not for the A2).
Finally, if there is no general regulation or order stating when or why a blue patch could be worn, and some of the wings came with blue backgrounds (compared to non-blue backed wings) then maybe SOME guys in the 8th AAF could wear the wings this way for what ever unofficial reason they felt like (they liked it, it kept the other non-flight guys away from their girls, it was a badge of honor for being on a combat crew). This is my theory. As all theories, it needs to be tested for truth and accuracy. I could be wrong and would not resent in the slightest that happening.
Sorry for the diarrhea of the keyboard
Patrick
First off, its not that I somehow resent the blue patch or even disagree with your point--clearly they were worn--that isn't in doubt. However, lets be fair. LOTS of guys in the US Army were facing death and destruction and were not given the same latitude to alter their uniform (and it was both officers and enlisted men). Why not a blue patch behind the CIB or jump wings for example? There WERE uniform regulations for the jump wing ovals, if I am not mistaken.
Also, A-2 and the wearing of squadron patches was pretty much universal in all the Air Forces. Its not that only the 8th had patches and nose art. You see A2s from EVERYWHERE. In regards to the patch, the 9th and 15th guys overlapped with the 8th, so why didn't they wear the blue patch? Not only that, even the A2 has some sort of regulations--Squadron patches on the left, group patches (if worn) on the right. Name tag above the squadron patch. Same for CBI as ETO.
Also, if it was a "local" order or decree, then at what level, who made that call, and where was it written down? Clearly not everyone in a squadron, group or wing wore these things. It also seems to be that it was mostly worn by guys in B-24s or B-17s, as opposed to figher or troop carrier groups (maybe I am wrong on that?). However, if you were going to alter your uniform in such a radical way, then go off to London for some fun, I expect that you would want to be able to explain to what ever MP or General or whoever called you out about being in a non-regulation uniform JUST what exactly made you think that it was OK to do so. We know that it was a big concern that guys were wearing stuff they weren't authorized to wear and the MPs were good at finding that type of stuff. Being out of uniform was a big deal, no matter how ****-hot you thought you were for flying a B17 to Berlin.
Next, let me ask, was the blue patch to "give a little recognition to the guys who knew that tomorrow may be their last day on earth" or keep the other 30 guys who weren't authorized to wear wings from doing so? And again, why was this only for a small group of guys? As a collector, I want to know that because it makes a difference (judging if the patch is an addon for example, or a legit period piece).
Clearly, no doubt about it, some guys in the 8th AAF wore these blue patches. I have a vintage photo of a B17 gunner with a patch behind his wings. We have seen the uniforms and talked to the vets. They were worn, and I am not at all disagreeing with that fact. I am a fool about many things, but I think this is pretty clear.
However, as collectors we can research just about everything else associated with the squadrons, units, missing aircraft reports, development of insignia, uniform regulations, etc and et al. We know how the medals were worn, the order of the ribbons, the placement of the patchs, chevrons, the color of the twill, the size of the wings. My point is, that other than this darn blue patch every thing else worn by an officer or enlisted man in the US Army has some sort of official regulation or paperwork (maybe not for the A2).
Finally, if there is no general regulation or order stating when or why a blue patch could be worn, and some of the wings came with blue backgrounds (compared to non-blue backed wings) then maybe SOME guys in the 8th AAF could wear the wings this way for what ever unofficial reason they felt like (they liked it, it kept the other non-flight guys away from their girls, it was a badge of honor for being on a combat crew). This is my theory. As all theories, it needs to be tested for truth and accuracy. I could be wrong and would not resent in the slightest that happening.
Sorry for the diarrhea of the keyboard
Patrick
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