Air Wings & Groups, Task Forces, and Fleets

U. S. Navy CVG-1, Japan made, Air Group One Insignia, USS Midway (CVA-41) circa 1954 - 1955 while cruising the Straits of Taiwan(Formosa), UnUsed.......(sold)

Squadron Insignia depicted:

VF-101 (Grim Reapers)

VF-12 (Flying Ubangis)

VF-174 (Razors)

VA-15 (Valions)

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Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1)

"PRIMUS ET PRINCIPES"

made in the PI, UnUsed......(sold)

Rare Air Tactical Group

VA(AW)-35 VAN Team 49 Cruise

( VAN = Heavier than Air, Night Attack )

ATG-2 (Air Tactical Group Two), Japan Made Insignia, USS Hancock's 1957 Hawaiian Cruise, removed from jacket, Orange panel has dark stain, otherwise in Good Condition, Used......inquire

( see VA(AW)-35 patch Group from their 1958 Cruise on the Lexington )

Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2)

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AIR WING TWO, made in Japan

"POUR LALIBERTENOUS COMBATTONS"

Large Japan made patch, UnUsed......inquire

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Made in Japan

see the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) section for other patches from this Veteran's Grouping, circa 1969-1971

RFU, puckered, has been washed, Used.......inquire

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Carrier Air Wing Two Beach Detachment

"NOS AD HOC COACTI"

CVW-2 Beach DET, made in the PI, Unused.....inquire

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Older and Present Designs

pre-2000 design, probably made in the 1990s, UnUsed......inquire

post-1999 design, UnUsed......inquire

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CVW-2 WEST PAC "1968", modern patch

I would estimate this patch was made in the 1980s into the 1990s, maybe a ReUnion patch(?), UnUsed......inquire

Carrier Air Group-3, Korean War Era (circa 1953)

Extra-Large CVG-3, made in Japan

Embroidered on black felt, tiny pin-hole below "AIR" where it was held by a thumb-tack, UnUsed......(sold)

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Japan made "Brown Hand" CVW-3

CVW-3 "CARRIER AIR WING 3", Japan made, Vietnam Era.....(sold)

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CVW-3 "CARRIER AIR WING". Japan made, Vietnam War Era, Used.......inquire

Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5)

Japan made

RFU, Used......inquire

UnUsed.....inquire

Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6)

UnUsed......inquire

Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7)

Blue twill base material, UnUsed.....inquire

center-bottom, UnUsed.....inquire

UnUsed.....inquire

Carrier Air Group-8 (CVG-8)

Carrier Air Wing-8 (CVW-8)

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CVG-8

click on picture for details

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CVW-8

RFU, Used...inquire

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Large made in Japan patch

Japan made, UnUsed......inquire

Carrier Air Wing-Nine (CVW-9)

made in Japan, UnUsed......inquire

Carrier Air Group Ten (CVG-10)

older patch, tiny pin hole above the "A" in AIR, residue on back, Unused.......inquire

( a Name Tag came with this patch, the buyer may have the Pilot's name and rank, just ask )

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Carrier Air Wing 10 (CVW-10), made by ACE of Tokyo, Japan

scrapbook residue on back, UnUsed.....inquire

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partial History

CVG-10

CVG-10 Established May 1, 1950; Redesignated CVW-10 December 20, 1963; Disestablished November 20, 1969

Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11)

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CARRIER AIR WING-11, made in Japan

Japan made patch, UnUsed.....inquire

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1973, 1974, and 1975 Cruise Patches

CVW-11 Cruise in 1973-74 onboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), Japan made, UnUsed..........inquire

CVW-11 "WESTPAC 75" cruise on the Kitty Hawk, PI made, UnUsed...............inquire

CARRIER AIR WING FIFTEEN (CVW-15)

Commander Attack Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (COMATKCARAIRWING-15)

"VIS UNITA FORTIOR"

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CARRIER AIR WING-15, Japan made

Large CVW-15 patch, UnUsed......inquire

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Large made in Japan Insignia

Large, made in Japan, Unused......inquire

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Large COMATKCAR AIRWING-15, Japan made, been in 2 scrapbooks, UnUsed.........inquire

CARRIER AIR WING SEVENTEEN (CVW-17), made in Japan

larger Japan made patch, UnUsed.....inquire

Carrier Air Group-19 (CVG-19)

Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19)

CVG-19's patch was worn in the movie "The Bridges of Toko-ri", circa 1954

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CVG-19, Korean War era, RFU Flight jacket, minor discoloration from wear, Used.....(sold)

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CVW-19 made in Japan

large Japan made patch, UnUsed......inquire

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Both made in Japan

Helmet Comb has different colors (maybe other Squadrons are in the Wing?), UnUsed......inquire

This comb is similar in color to the old Korean War era patch shown above, UnUsed......inquire

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Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) "INDIAN COUNTRY 1972"

Insignia for the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) deployment to Vietnam June 5, 1972 - March 30, 1973

Map of North Vietnam shows 2 x Red Stars, possibly for bombing Haiphong and Hanoi

UnUsed.....inquire

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partial History

CVW-19 deployment on USS Oriskany (CVA 34) June 5, 1972 - March 30, 1973

VF-191 F-8J

VF-194 F-8J

VA-153 A-7A

VA-155 A-7B

VA-215 A-7B

VFP-63 Det 4 RF-8G

VAQ-130 Det 3 EKA-3B

VAW-111 Det 6 E-1B

HC-1 Det 5 SH-3G

Carrier Air Wing Twenty-One 21 (CVW-21)

modern, UnUsed......inquire

CVLG-58 (later CVLG-1)

Veteran or Collector's data on back "CAG 58" and "46-49"

The Navy site indicates this design was approved for VT-58 on July 1, 1946 (I have doubts on this ID?)

CVLG-58 served aboard the USS Saipan (CVL-58) with 2 squadrons:

VF-58 (later VF-1L) flying Grumann Hellcats and Bearcats

VT-58 (later VA-1L) flying Grumann Avengers

This could be one of the first Combo/Gaggle patches(??)

Embroidered on felt with fine-mesh backing, UnUsed......inquire

( also listed on VA and VF pages )

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partial History

CVLG-58 Established March 15, 1946; Redesignated CVLG-1 November 14, 1946; Disestablished 20 Nov 1948

Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group-52

Established June 1 1960 - Disestablished December 15 1969

CVSG-52, pre-1970, large, UnUsed......(sold)

( Squadron insignia on patch is probably: VS-28 Gamblers and HS-11 Dragons )

CVSG-52 sailed on the: Wasp, Lake Champlain, & Intrepid

Commander Light Attack Wing, Pacific

UnUsed......inquire

Task Forces

Joint Task Force Seven (JTF-7)

JTF-7 made-up of: Army, Navy, Air Force, & Atomic Energy Commission units

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Ronson style lighter by Penquin of Japan

Atomic Bomb Tests Cigarette Lighter made by Penquin of Japan, placenames on lighter: Eniwetok Atoll, Bogallua, West-Spit, Libiron, Igurin, Engebi, Rujiyoru, Piai, and Japtan, Used.......(sold)

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Zippo style lighter by Penquin of Japan

Atomic Bomb Tests Cigarette Lighter made by Penquin of Japan, place names engraved on lighter: Eniwetok Atoll, Bogallua, West-Spit, Libiron, Igurin, Engebi, Rujiyoru, Piai, and Japtan, Used.....inquire

bottom line reads: "NO. 19531 JAPAN"

Combined Task Force-43, Operation Deep Freeze

TF-43 was started circa 1955-56

TF-43, UnUsed.......inquire

( also on USCG page, OP DF section )

Carrier Task Force 60

CTF-60, UnUsed.....inquire

CTF-77 70

Carrier Group Five

Carrier Strike Force

Battle Force

U.S. Seventh Fleet 7th Fleet

UnUsed......(sold)

Large Task Force 77-95 Backpatch

Patch RFU of Admiral Earl W. White

Japan made, TF 77-95 was formed in 1950-51 to Pickup downed pilots in Wonsan Harbor, USS Boxer (CV-21) was the TF Flagship. Rescue ships were destroyers: USS Carpenter (DDK-825), USS Radford (DDE-446), & USS O'Bannon (DDE-450) with the Tender USS Ajax (AR-6) supporting, Used....inquire

( I have a vintage typed-note stating the above which goes to the buyer )

Task Force 77, CVA-63, 1966-67 WESTPAC Cruise

Carrier Air Wing 11 Gaggle patch, Large Japan made Back Patch

CAW-11 WESTPAC Cruise 1966-67 on the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) depicting all of it's Squadrons: VF-213, VA-85, VA-112, VAW-11, HC-1, VAH-4, VA-144, RVAH-13(?), VF-114.

Areas Visited: Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Tonkin Gulf, and San Diego, UnUsed.........(sold)

Task Groups

Task Group Alfa

Established in the mid-1950s to Track and Pursue Soviet submarines in the Atlantic

RFU, Used......inquire

Task Group Bravo

Anti-submarine Warfare Group in the Western Atlantic

UnUsed......inquire

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partial History

Established October 15, 1957; was still active circa 1961

Fleets

7th Fleet

United States Seventh Fleet "READY POWER FOR PEACE", Japan made, UnUsed......inquire

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United States Seventh Fleet "VIETNAM", circa 1967 - 1968

Era and ID printed on reverse

7th Fleet, UnUsed....(sold)

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3506BM - RVN Era Navy Commander’s Bring-Backs

3506BM-D. 7th Fleet Sake CUP (marked Fukagawa), UnUsed...inquire

3506BM-E. 7th Fleet Sake CUP (marked Fukagawa), UnUsed...inquire

3506BM-F. 7th Fleet Sake CUP (marked Fukagawa), UnUsed...inquire

3506BM-G. 7th Fleet Brass PAPER WEIGHT, (3" disc, it is heavy – needs the fingerprints polished from the bottom) red box has storage damage, New-in-the-Box, UnUsed

White flecks on 3506BM-L and M are lint

3506BM-L. RVN Era Dark Blue ISSUE Wool Crew-Neck SWEATER, size Medium (40-42), dated 1962 (QM(CTM)10875-T-62), worn and washed/dry-cleaned(?), Used.....inquire

3506BM-M. early-RVN Era ISSUE Dark Blue Wool Crew-Neck SWEATER, size Medium (40 - 42), dated 1967 (DSA100-67-C-2089), (maybe never worn), Used.....inquire

3506BM-L (1962) 3506BM-M (1967)

3506BM-P. 7th Fleet ZIPPO Combination Folding Pen Knife and Fingernail File, with a 3-Star Flag, UnUsed.....inquire

3506BM-Q. ZIPPO Folding Pen Knife and Fingernail File combo, Presentation piece from JAMES WEBB (Secretary of the U.S. Navy), New-with-Storage Marks(NWSM), UnUsed......inquire

3506BM-R. “United States Seventh Fleet” “READY POWER FOR PEACE” ZIPPO Combination Folding Pen Knife and Fingernail File, UnUsed....inquire

Divisions, Flotillas,

Groups, & Squadrons

Commander Carrier Divisions Four & Six

COM. CAR. DIV. 4, blue patch, looks older, UnUsed........inquire

COMCARDIV-4, yellow patch, UnUsed........inquire

Division-4, black/yellow patch, scrapbook residue on back, UnUsed........inquire

Division-6, scrapbook residue on back, UnUsed........inquire

Submarine Group Five

"DETECT ATTACK DESTROY"

Patches came together - anyone know the meaning and use of the "CH23" patch?

SUB Group-5, UnUsed.......(sold)

"CH 23 26 FVS BAD GUYS GROUP", pebble backing cloth (probably from the 1970s), RFU, Used.......(sold)

Destroyer Flotilla 5, circa pre-1973

"NUNC PARAMUS"

smaller DESFLOT-5, USA made, Unused.......inquire

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partial History for Navy terms and organization

The term FLOTILLA was probably replaced by the word "GROUP" circa June 1973(?).

The modern Chain of Command for related terms are: Group>Squadron>division.

Pacific Fleets are Odd Numbered:

3rd = West Coast - Hawaii (Training Fleet)

When ships deploy from the West Coast and cross a line in the Pacific they "chop" change Operational Command to:

7th = Western Pacific

5th = Persian Gulf

Atlantic Fleets are Even Numbered:

2nd = East Coast (Training Fleet)

4th = Carribean, Central & South America (just stood up early 2008)

6th = Western Atlantic and MED

Commander Carrier Division Seven

Large 7" patch made in Japan, COMCARDIV-7. UnUsed.......inquire

COMCARDIV-7, made in Japan

UnUsed.......(sold)

Destroyer Squadron-9

"En Garde"

DESRON-9, made in Japan, 5", Unused.....inquire

( formerly UI#172 )

Destroyer Squadron-11

DESRON-11, Japan made, UnUsed........inquire

Submarine Squadron-Fourteen, Nuclear Submarine patch

Lighter and Patch found together

Stationed at Holy Loch, Scotland, Squadron Established in July 1958, UnUsed......inquire

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SUBRON-14 Penquin Cigarette Lighter

scanner at 300dpi

1 15/16" tall "High Qualtiy LIGHTER" NO. 19531, made in Japan, lid is tight=not much usage, Used.....(sold)

Destroyer Squadron 23 (DESRON-23)

"Little Beaver Squadron"

6" (vertical), Japan made, UnUsed...........inquire

Destroyer Squadron 26 (DESRON-26)

"PAR EXCELLENCE"

UnUsed......inquire

Mine Division 45, Naval Mine Warfare

The only info I can find is it operated, circa 1955 to 1958, out of Charleston, South Carolina

Mine Operations sayings I found on the web:

"Haze Gray and Underway"

"The Wooden Ships with Iron Men"

"Where the Fleet goes, We've Been"

"My Wake is your Track"

MinDiv-45 patch made in Japan with label on back(on right side-hard to see=faded), minor yellowish stain near border around 0930, UnUsed.......inquire

Destroyer Squadron-17

Destroyer Division-252

DESRON-17, Japan made, UnUsed..........inquire

DESDIV-252, Japan made, UnUsed.........(sold)

Other Units/Commands

Surface Action Group, CHARLIE and DELTA

( this may not be the best title for the section but the accounts on the Internet are highly convoluted )

The "Battle of the Persian Gulf" patch is from Operation Praying Mantis, it is an Uncommon find.

Ships are named to include the Irani vessels.....I know of 3 different patches that commemorates this battle, this is the 2nd one I have owned

Operation Praying Mantis was an attack on April 18, 1988, by U.S. naval forces within Iranian territorial waters in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf during the Iran Iraq war and the subsequent damage to an American warship. On 14 April, the guided missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine while deployed in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will; the mission in 1987-88 in which U.S. warships escorted reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers to protect them from Iranian attacks.

The explosion opened a 25-foot hole in the Roberts's hull and nearly sank it. The crew saved their ship with no loss of life, and Roberts was towed to Dubai on 16 April. After the mining, U.S. Navy divers recovered other mines in the area. When the serial numbers were found to match those of mines seized along with the Iran Ajr the previous September, U.S. military officials planned a retaliatory operation against Iranian targets in the Persian Gulf.

The attack by the U.S. helped pressure Iran to agree to a ceasefire with Iraq later that summer, ending the eight-year conflict between the Persian Gulf neighbors.

Many units participated, some are the: Strauss, Simpson, Bagley, VA-95, not sure of the carrier but the USS Enterprise was mentioned on the web(?).

( Any Veteran of the action that feels his unit was left-out....write a short history of the Complete Action and I will put it in this section. )

"BATTLE OF PERSIAN GULF - LARGEST US NAVAL BATTLE SINCE WWII", PI made, UnUsed.......inquire

United States Navy Military Sealift Command

UnUsed......inquire

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Military Sealift Command, Atlantic

United States Navy Supplies/etc. via surface shipping, UnUsed......inquire

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partial History

The Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) was Established July 9, 1949 to maintain the Department of Defense's ocean transport needs

MSTS was ReDesignated Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 1970

CINCPACFLT TGU

apparently stationed at SASEBO, Japan

"TGU" expands to Technical Guidance Unit. From the emblem on the patches I would guess unit was composed of: Submarine, Surface, and Aviation personnel.

Additional sources state "RMR" means Ride Mother Ride.

I found these Japan made patches together - I don't remember the other 2-3 patches that came from the same Veteran.