Identify Mystery Patches/Items

Items that are Unidentified - any help would be greatly appreciated!

2. VF-5 "FIGHTING HELL CATS", used during WWII when they were flying the F6F "Hellcat" Fighters.

V-5A was redesignated VF-51 and was dis-established in 1990s.

Questions: -Does anyone have an Original Cloth WWII era VF-5 patch that could be compared to the construction of the patch shown below?

-Are the 2 x smaller VF-5A "Fighting Five Able" patches for re-unions (pre-WWII insignia design)?

4. "RED NOSE TIGERS", Japan made, Korean War Era(?), USAF Air Cargo Delivery?

8. Black Dress Uniform Jacket with U. S. Army Buttons, 8" tall Bullion Corporal Stripes,

"WPL 444" (I don't have a WPL issue list so I can't determine the date), any ideas?

(additional input: "possible Dress Uniform for the Unknown Soldier's Honor Guard...for Special Occasions"?)

9. WWII Army style Khaki Shirt (PX Purchase), tailored shirt with crotch-strap & sweat-guards in the armpits.

Maybe for an Honor Guard, movie item, or etc., Any Ideas?

10. 5" FE Thunderbird patch came with a 456th FIS patch?

(I have seen a similar Red & White patch - owner had no idea what Unit had used it - probably 1950s era)

14. SOLD "Teeny Weeny Airlines" patch from Vietnam Era (Southeast Asian made) ("TEEHY" should read Teeny), Unit?

(ID'd: Command Airplane Company flying U-21's based at Long Thanh North AAF;

about 15 airplanes that carried: beer, cokes, pigs, and folks.)

"Bombardment" patch from WWII Era, Unit?

Eagle with Bomb patch, WWII to Korean War era, possible unit number is "6", "33", or etc., Unit?

15. Voice of America, Poro Point, Philippines, anyone know History on this VOA patch (PI made)?

17. Possibly an Aviation Patch, Asian made, circa late-1960 to 1970s, ever see one?

(ID'd as a Philippine Air Force Squadron that flew F-8 Crusaders out of BASA AFB)

18. Possbily the VP-26 Tridents? 1960s era made in Japan, ever see one?

(shown on the Navy Patch Page "Other SQDNs")

19. 6th Marine CU PS District HQ Atlanta GA. older (1950s(?)) USMC patch, Recruiting, Novelty, or ?

(also shown on Marine "Divisional" Patch Page)

25. Trans Choge Airlines for an enlisted Crewmember, embroidered on an old GI Wool Blanket:

"CHOGE" = "Cut a Choge"(Japanese for "leave in a hurry") ?

(also on the 1-43rd Flying Squadrons page)

"Kunsan (VERY) LTD" = I assume it means" Kunsan Very Limited"(?)

( see this page for the picture of a period C-47 that did the puddle-jumper run to Kunsan:

http://kalaniosullivan dot com/KunsanAB/OtherUnits/Howitwasb.html )

28. "Silencium Vel Letum"(Silence or Death), in his eye socket is a "III"; found with some SOS patches, Asian made,

a Gunship squadron? (could the "III" mean an AC-119(Shadow or Stinger) as they were the 3rd Gunship version?)

29. "F I Gung-Ho", I have a seen a larger version of the patch. Listed in the Trading Post Oct-Dec 1991 issue, page 50?

(also shown on the: SOS/ACS and 1st - 43rd Flying Squadron pages)

30. "Raider Flight", probably made in Korea in the 1960-70s, maybe 2nd Infantry Division Aviation?

(ID'd as the 2nd Infantry Division, Division Artillery Aviation section, Camp Stanley, Oui Jon Bu, Korea 1975-77)

31. "Dragons(?) Region 5", "1175 7" written on the back, could be 1960s, civilian or ?

35. Crown Ranch, cheesecloth backing, any idea?

36. HUEY Starlifters, cheesecloth backing, got an Air Force look but?

37. Para SCUBA looking, Japan 1960s(?), ?

38. "B" Shift, "A B C", "We Carry the Load", coarse gauze backing-high quality patch, Okinawa, Japan, or Korea?

39. "SKYBORN" gauze backing, cut-edge Hornet patch, ?

40. Seagull with Bomb....ID'd as the 371st BS(M), 307th BW(M) circa 1952 - 1965.

This patch looks like a 1970s manufacture(?) with the white Polyester Twill backing material?

41. "Black Magic", Pellon backing, a note came with the patch: "660th Special Operations Group C-130 Light Ship

Callsign: "Black Magic", sounds good to me....any ideas?

42. RANGER C 9 "M", came from an old-time Military Family, possible Japan made in the early 1950s(?).

Looks like an Ice Axe hanging on the left ski and a coiled rope on the right ski(?). Any thoughts?

Anyone know of a mountain used for training in the Far East that started with the letter "M"?

( Also on Army 1950 - early Vietnam page )

48. Looks USAF MEDIVAC, Kangaroo with baby in pouch, older high-quality workmanship,

cream/tan color canvas base cloth could almost pass for Japanese materials, any ID thoughts?

(Possible Joint evac exercise with the RAAF and USAF?)

49. 1st Aeromedical Evacuation Group, circa 1951-75

(ID'd in Jerome Polder's Supplement #1, page 1 (red cover); moved to Group/Wing page)

52. 2" older Wing and Wheel, ID'd as Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Transportation Technician for 1950s

(Needs to be rotated 90 degrees to the right)

53. 3" insignia from Fort Crook (now Offutt Air Force Base(?)), "OAS" "Civilian Instructor", pre-1948?

56. WWII Italian made for a B-25 Unit, this may have been ID'd in the Trading Post, per a few collectors????

63. Large WWII Era German one-sided Flag/Banner/etc., found with several NAZI items. Ever see one?

65. 4 5/8" older merrowed edge with cheesecloth backing, removed from clothing, any ideas?

68. written on the back is: "Flying Fish" and "1961", possbily a VAH A-3 unit??

(could be from a VAH outfit flying the A3...guy looking backward hanging from the lower fin is the way the3rd Crewman in the A3 faced)

71. A similar patch was shown on the back of a Marine Flight Jacket in a Japanese Magazine/Book dated late-1980s or early-1990s.

Does the Patch depict Cam Ranh Bay (CRB)?

The motto is ID'd in the ASMICmotto book as the Army's 45th Aviation Battalion( which was renumber 145th AVN BN in 1963? )?

Patch was ID'd in the ASMIC Trading Post, April-June 2008 Issue, pages 39-40 as the "45th AVN BDE"?

72. Large "STAR COM FAC CONT", Japan made, probably late-1950s or into the 1960s, a Signal Corps Novelty Patch as the D.ck even has Orange parts.

The writing may mean: Star Communications Facility Control??? Came with a Signal Corps Bowling patch.

79. "85th Pacification Wing" "Moc Hoa Airforce", Moc Hoa is in the Kien Tuong Province of IV Corps, RVN.

Special Forces Camp A-414 was in the area along with several other American Activities, any ideas?

Maybe one of the Bird Dog Aircraft units that were armed with Rockets and/or Machine Guns?

22nd TASS Detachment at Moc Hoa with MACV TEAM 85

also on the USAF 22nd TASS & Army Aviation 199th RAC Patch Pages

81. "4th BUT FIRST", motto of the 4th FW but the color of the Bavarian State Flag??

"LeKG 44" patch probably belonged to the German Ground Attack Squadron based at Leipheim flying FIAT G. 91s.

Possible connection with an older LeKG 44 squadron or something in the Province or a U. S. 4th FW deployment to the Leipheim area in the 1950s(?)

83. made in Trier, Germany by Lonquich, depicts a U. S. Army 3-star General, well made, any ideas?

also on WWI to WWII U. S. Army patch page

( possible Territory of Hawaii insignia? )

89. "Strike Recoil Strike", European made small DI, motto is listed in Mr. Polder's Book as the 77th Bombardment Group but I can find no other records?

90. These guys must have had the worst luck? Japan made, probably late-1950s to 1960s?

( also listed on: USAF, USN, & USMC patch pages )

92. "Select Lead Crew", older cheese cloth backing, aircraft look like: C-130, C-141, & C-5(?); Tac Airlift patch ?

ID'd as the Insignia for Lead Aircraft Crewman on Combat Air Drops - see on C-130 page

93. "Run for your LIfe", thick patch (1960 - 1970s (?)), was on a Blue Jacket/shirt, SAC ?

( Vance AFB, 71st FTW circa 1979; morale patch from CO to individuals who ran a certain mileage in physical fitness program )

94. "66B" "Testi ad Murem", I assume it is a Training Class patch from 1966 ?

ID'd as a Class patch at Vance AFB - moved to USAF Training/Class page

95. "LFG", Redwing Canada Goose, older cheese cloth backing, a Glider/Soaring club or etc. ?

99. "SEMPER PRIAPUS NON REMORSUS" (could mean "Alway Erect, No Remorse"), Could be for a "Horny" Airman in Thailand ?

symbol = vasectomy, "Semper Priapus Non Remorsus" = always hard, no regret

I would guess this was not a patch a "Straight-arrow" would wear.

100. "401 CleanLivers", Thai made, I assume it means "Straight Arrow"(?) ?

101. "SPOOKS INC.", Thai made, Looks to be an Army Security Agency or Air Force Security Service Airborne Radio Direction Finding(ARDF) unit ?

(Notice the Spook has earphones on the two "O"s)

(probably a USAFSS unit as it was made in Thailand(?))

( also on the ASA and Air Force SS pages )

102. "B-4-251" "SNAP '69", apparently it is from 1969?

103. Red Devil, Civilian, Military, or ?

104. "FLY UNITED", a novelty patch or for some unit, cheesecloth backing ?

One ID is: 23rd Artillery Group from RVN Era ( NOT corroborated )

110. UI, probably Army, patch, any ideas on unit?

Possible 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron novelty patch = combining the old and new insignia?

113. 3509BM, 14th USAAF Officer's bringback from China, "from the People of Wuhan", see this link for details, any ideas?

( also on: Souvenir, htm, USAAF patch page, & Army WWI - WWII patches )

114. USAF Pilot's Grouping from his K-2B, Thai/Lao associated but may also have VNAF connections(?)

( also on pages: AF #1 Squadrons, Vietnamese, & AF Advisors )

117. Marine Corps or Army? Large Patch Construction/size & "4.0" point to the Marines but "The Ground Pounders" may be Army?

118. USAF HOBOS patch, cheesecloth backing material, is this the GBU-9 Weapon system?

121. "Commandos" Arc/Tab, came out of Vietnam, usage unknow.

Attributed to the 19th SOS by a unit Veteran - moved to the 19th SOS section

126. Raptor-Hawk on felt, older patch, possibily NAVAL Aviation, WWII to 1953 era?

127. 9822nd SCU "Robinson Ponies", possibly an Army "sports" team patch, German made in the 1950s?

Stationed at Robinson Kaserne (Barracks), Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, West Germany

Possibly a Medical Unit/Hospital due to the Maroon color?

130. "small nails"....made on Okinawa or in Japan? Any ideas why this was made or who used it?

A note from a Viewer: "It looks to me like a beret flash attachment for the Fifth Special Forces Group.

I understand that when the Special Forces Provisional Units went to Vietnam they added the 1st Special Forces insignia to their flash.

This change is shown in U.S. Special Forces Shoulder and Pocket Insignia by Harry Pough, Elite insignia guide 3."

anyone have further thoughts on this premise?

132. Larger, Air Force Reserve insignia.....what era and why is it on a gray twill material?

( The only uniform I know of is the Sage Green Fatigues used in the early 1950s )

Did the AF ever use a Gray Uniform for the Reserves in the late-1940s or 1950s?

140. found with the Japan made USS ABNAKI (ATF-96) patch, "aircrew 4" or ????

147. "1954" brass medal, similar to an ARVN Jump Status insignia, has been repainted in Vietnam, had a screwback-stud on the the back, had a hole for a "chain" in the top but was "plugged"?

148. "US Pacific Command" homemade Pocket Hanger, what Unit wore this badge?

Answer--Worn by all service members assigned to this command, regardless of SERVICE affilation

149. Thai made, pre-1975 insignia for the "MGMT ENGR TEAM" (Management Engineering Team), must have been a rough-Team with the axe?

Many Branches of the Air Force had these Teams, any idea which Branch this one worked for?

( also on USAF 1 - 43rd SQ patches page, at bottom )

150. USAF DET 360, Keflavik, Iceland...ID'd as a Det of the 1035th USAF Field Activities Group )sampled Air for Radioactivity

( also on USAF 1 - 43rd SQ patches page, at bottom )

151. "EXITALIS" "D", came with a bunch of 1959 - 1969 Training Class patches?

( also on USAF 1 - 43rd SQ patches page, at bottom )

153. Possibly it is an Arrowhead and Boomerang on the shield ?

one feedback...may be associated with the CORDS Program

another thought...Army Riverine unit working with the Brown Water Navy

154. motto probably means "Weak in Mind, Strong in Body", language unknown ?

the motto is associated with the USAF Academy

"The Blue Zoo" is usually associated with a salt-water zoo

155. bronze metal flags, has a "Meyer" style trademark on reverse?

156. WWII USAAF Target Tow Squadron, see a choice of Units on the USAAF page, click on Picture for details

161. Circa WWI with "J" post closure, imprinted "Sterling", a Signal insignia or a sweetheart pin, 1" x 1 1/16"?

165. "B" Flight, looks Japan made, maybe 1950s, small cap or neckbib type patch, know the Squadron?

( maybe a "Beeliner" patch from the 21st TCS ? )

167. "404 SQDN.", "get teady", only squadron I can find is the RCAF 404 Squadron but I cannot find any patch pics for them?

There is a Cobra on his shirt....could this be a Thai Unit?

168. Nicaragaun Guardia Nacional Device worn by USMC personnel assigned to the Guardia, circa 1927.

Anyone have a detailed picture of this device being worn by USMC personnel?

click on picture for other details, if available

170. an Air Force load crew patch, made in Japan, anyone know the Unit?

7848AF. Air Defense Command OG cotton shirt with a probable 9th AAA BN pocket patch (circa 1950 - 1958)?

174. "COMMANDOS", 2" with gauze back, I would guess at least 40 years old(?), any ID ideas?

176. may read: "CCH"?, any ideas on the Medical facility/unit....Catholic Charities Hospital or ?

178. has the older plastic backing (the USAF started using this backing around 1965), any ideas on ID?

(this patch is in the Trading Post April-June 2007, page 53, with UI number "II-07-32")

ID'd as a reproduction patch of the old Order of the Arrow (OA) Section five, Boy Scouts of America. The original patch has a cut edge. Region five covered Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

For a very short time it included a portion of Louisiana as well. The (orignial) patch is from the early 1950's and was authorized for wear on the pocket by all OA members.

The red/white/blue is from the eagle scout medal, the left-to-right Arrow is the symbol of the order of the arrow. There was no brown border on the original.

These reproduction sets have been made for the past 20 years for people to put a set of all the old US Sections together.

The sections have been redesignated / re-mapped several times since this patch was worn.

180. "WATCHDOG F-26 COURAGE AND ACTION", made in Vietnam, Marine colors but the motto is used by the 26th FA??

ID'd to Battery F, 26th Artillery, served under the 108th ARTY GP up North(Dong Ha/etc.), unit was a "Target Acquisition Battery", I think they used ground RADAR to track/plot enemy incoming rounds?

Moved to "RVN to 1975" page, Artillery section

181. Cambodian, bottom line may read "Republic of Cambodia", made in Thailand, 46th SF Company associated?

ID'd as the "Khmer Air Force Headquarters(command), Republic of Khmer"

182. "VIET NAM LAOS-BURMA", made on Okinawa, found with UI#181, souvenir patch?

( also on: htm, SF, and Vietnam-Cambodian pages )

183. "Cambodian Gunrunners" made on Okinawa, possible IDs: 16th SOS, 772nd TCS/TAS, a TAC FTR SQ, or ?,

( also on: bottom of htm, 16th SOS, 772nd TCS/TAS, main USAF pages )

184. "Gun-Fighter Flight 841", any ideas on the ID?

ID'd as Gun PLT, B CO, 2nds AVN BN, 2nd ID, circa 1980

( also on: bottom of htm, USAF 1-43, and Army 1-99 )

186. Mitchell pattern M65 Field Jacket, I have seen one other jacket made similar to this one....both looked factory made.

Has the zipper behind the collar but no drop-in Hood, zipper is a #5 with the slide marked "U.S.A.", no other markings on the jacket.

Sage Green(AG-474?) Quarpel liner was fairly common in the late-1960s on issue M65OG FJs.

If anyone knows any Unit(s) that wore this style of M-1965(MOD) Field jacket please email Jack@LJMilitaria.com

If you have a Vintage picture of someone wearing this Jacket please send a JPEG picfile.

( also on clothin and RVN to 1975 pages )

187. KAMO type Camouflage Flyer's/Tanker's/etc. Suit, Conmar Zipper on with "relief" pull on the bottom, U. S. made small snaps, Very High Quality workmanship, no markings on cloth.

Has a collector's tag that read: "Cuban Bay of Pigs Issue", the only picfile I have seen of BOP prisoners-they were wearing Spot Camo from the KAMO Company.

A similar heavywieght camo was used in Vietnam, notice the wide epaulets.

( also on: clothing, Flight Gear, 1950 - early RVN, and RVN to 1975 pages )

188. UnCommon ARVN Ranger Camouflage set, similar pattern items have Saigon labels in them.

Any ideas when and which unit(s) might have worn them...or was this just a personal set bought downtown?

( also on: htm wanted section, RVN 1975, Vietnam, clothing pages )

189. Made in Okinawa/Japan, "PAPA TANGO" flags, possibly a re-union patch(?)....I think all PT Boats were struck from the rolls at the end of WWII?

( aslo on: htm and Navy Surface Unit pages )

190. Anyone know which Unit wore this Oval? Maybe an MP Unit?

192. Vietnam made Beercan DI, listed in Cecil Smythe's Vietnam Insignia Book as number "59". Any ideas on the ID?

( Verbage and picture of Bat Beercan DI "59" are from Cecil Smythe's Vietnam Insignia Book )

after minor research....I don't think this is from the French era:

---this style of Metal DI was not popluar during the French era

---more likely a: PRU, LLDB, or Trinh Sat unit related

( also on: htm, PRU section, RVN-1975, Vietnamese pages )

194. "CTO", small 2" patch, maybe a cuff or upper arm trade/rate? Came with older Military patches.

197. 2-layer wool "R" patch, 4.5" disc, found with a collection of WWII USAAF patches, any ideas on this one?

198. "Old Gold Flight FIGMO Next Week We've Got to Get Organized", Japan made, late-1950s to 1960s(?), large like a Naval patch, but ?

199. "Couch Patrol" 100 hours Standy, made in Thailand or PI?, looks like a Fighter Pilot with the Oxygen Mask, any idea on Service or Units?

200. "STANBOARD CREW #1", Japan made, could this be a 360th TEWS/6994th SS Novelty patch from their EC-47 RVN era?

Does "STANBOARD" expand to "standards board " ?

also on New Arrivals and 360th TEWS pages

202. Similar construction to U.S. Aircrewman badges made in the PI, circa 1960s - 1970s?

203. WWII era Armor Plate Vest, made of HBT material.....plates removed...this style of Vest has been seen but to my knowledge no one has put an ID on it, can you?

(came with a War Aid Shirt and HBT Trousers)

( also on Equipment and New Arrivals pages )

204. Korean made in the late-1960s, "Tolberts Terrors C", could be "C" Flight or ?

( also on New Arrivals page - stored in gray cabinet )

206. Tiger's Head patches were in a Grouping of USAF patches(unit unknown as the other patches had been sold), Probably a generic F-5 aircraft patch, 4" across?

( also on New Arrivals page - stored in gray cabinet )

207. Chain-stitched Eagle, possibly German?

( also on: New Arrivals, German & USAF main patch pages )

208. Thai Armed Forces HBT Leaf Pattern shirt from the late-1960s into the 1970s, anyone know what the scroll reads or can surmise the patch that might have been on the right SSI?

209. "Trumans Troopers Regaldis Shaftus ERC", made in Vietnam, sounds Army with the word "TROOPERS"??

210. U-2 patch made in Thailand, anyone know what the "AH RS AF CS" or the symbol trailing the plane means?

( also on aircraft and 349th SRS pages )

211. B-52 patch made in Thailand, depicting "18" in Roman Numerals "XVIII", probably from U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand?

215. Eagle with a Mushroom Cloud on his chest, well constructed insignia?

216. "HUSTLERS" "SQUADRON III", is it a B-58 AF patch or a Starwars civilian patch or etc.?

Came with a USAF Pilot's old style Black Leather Name Tags and a 18th MAS patch.

( also on Main USAF and B-58 patch pages )

217. Patch looks Thai, has been seen before but to my knowledge no firm ID has been established, any ideas?

218. 4 7/8" "Counter Guerrilla" arc made in Asia (probably Northern Asia), RFU, any ideas who wore it?

219. "VIETNAM" arc is crudely made, possibly made in Vietnam, Chute is well made, both have the European style loops on the reverse.

No markings on either device, any ideas?

( also on: British, SF, & RVN - 1975 pages )

221. Marine Helicopter CH-46 novelty patch "Routine Extract, My Ass!", was this for one Squadron or is it generic to the Heavy Rotary Squadrons?

222. "Bullet RECON" Tab, larger 3 7/8" arc, this tab has been seen before but to my knowledge it remains unidentified?

( Found in a collection with a 11th LIB Jungle Warriors" tab )

( also on: RVN-75, SF, and ABN patch pages )

223. Phoenix Bird, probably English made, found with a WWII era "Parks" lighter? ( ID'd as the 23rd ARMOURED BRIGADE which was raised in Liverpool on November 1, 1940; later redesignated 23rd Army Tank Brigade )

224. from the SEA era, thin clear plastic backing, is it Thai, Lao, or Khmer and what Unit?

225. BUSHMASTER Tab, this is a know arc but the ID and exact age are not know, circa late-1940s into the 1950s?

226. Anyone know where/who made these, probably taken from the double tab in the 1950s?, made in U.S. circa 1950s - 1960s?

( also on RVN - 1975, SF, and Airborne pages )

228. "TOTE" on shield, old pin back Eagle with a "J" post closure, any ideas?

229. Brass local made "44" found with items from a 33rd FA Officer, Germany 1945 - ?, did the Constabulary wear devices similar to this?

2 x threaded posts with brass nuts, crude but very-sturdy.

------------------------------------------------------------- No UI Number assigned -------------------------------------------------------------

ever see a label with a U. S. "CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA" over-stamp?

45th TFS - anyone know the era this patch was used?

Green Tabs = I don't know what Units wore these Arcs

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If you have information on a Mystery Item please e-mail Jack@LJMilitaria.com