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US Military/Army Patch Identification?

Discussion in 'Questions and Answers' started by Galant, Sep 25, 2019.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Was wondering if anyone in here might be able to help identify a patch from an old photo of a soldier. He might be a family member of my in-laws. They're trying to gather what information they can.

    upload_2019-9-25_9-53-5.png

    Looks like some sort of aviation patch but I can't make out the text.

    His cap and lapels also show these:

    upload_2019-9-25_9-54-27.png

    upload_2019-9-25_9-54-42.png


    Thanks!
     
  2. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    I'll take a stab ...

    Probably WW2... The 60s/70s is pretty much when military around the world moved to a black or copper colored sewn on patches so as not to have bright shiny targets for snipers.

    Any input on era and nationality to help age and place him? Can we get an original pic to work with? PM me if preferable.

    Probably neither German nor Russian based on insignia... Dunno know much about the Swedes or Canadians, but British RAF wings usually curved to a point down and were straight across the bottom. Also, the Brits liked to label everything. If he was a "Commando" or "Paratrooper", etc. he'd likely have a nice red embroidered shoulder patch clearly saying so, and likely a parachute emblem somewhere on his uniform.

    The silver oak leaf means he was a Lt Colonel. Wings mean some form of Aviation Squadron. Gold oak leaves usually mean a Major and would be a darker shade of gray in the pic I think. The opposite side collar patch looks like crossed cannons, which usually means some form of Army artillery. The cap itself looks Army as well. The star over the wings on the cap means he was a senior pilot.

    The patch, or badge, being on the right side is not that common. Typically on the left breast pocket, "over heart", to indicate love/loyalty.

    The hand-drawn, cartoon type patch usually, but not always, means American... looks sort've like a something moving right to left with another leaping wolf or cat mascot going left to right over it.

    It ALMOST looks like a dark tiger facing right to left beneath a wolf/dog/hound with wings over the darker tiger going left to right.

    Hard make out much detail from the poor quality of the pic. If it were a bomber squadron, they usually had a bomb displayed. This could be a observation, interceptor, or fighter patch. There are literally thousands of the patches and the pic shows some faint lines that aren't clear indicating a lot of detail missing.

    His blouse has epaulets and squared, slanted pockets. All that matters in determining time frame and designation.

    The US Army Artillery learned quite a bit from the Wehrmacht, including the importance of using observation "Spotter" planes. The Army had Piper make them versions of the Piper Cub light aircraft they labelled "L-4 Grasshoppers" and had Artillery pilots man them.

    Back in WW2 they were still figuring out that they needed special operations units and combined operations specialists... USAF for instance, evolved from the Army Air Corp, and was originally set up inside the Army in 1907, but finally separated into it's own branch forty years later in 1947.

    I'd think that everything from the pic provided would mean prior to 1947, if he's an American Serviceman. Again, need more info...
     
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  3. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    He's definitely American.

    'ARMY' on his uniform.

    I've been trying to pin down the image on that patch, looks like some kind of aircraft/attack plane.
    Text on the patch seems to read 'Aviation 13* ********'
    Underneath maybe 'AFB *****'

    Someone else thought Vietnam era.
     
  4. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    I was thinking pre-vietnam... but I went back and started looking at Vietnam era Army Aviation Company's. It's not a "13", it's a "73".

    I think this is your logo... the 73rd Aviation Company patch

    [​IMG]

    You'll find info on what type of missions these guys did here:

    http://www.73rdaviationcompany.org

    https://army.togetherweserved.com/a...bApp?cmd=PublicUnitProfile&type=Unit&ID=56459

    http://203rdhawkeyes.net/history

    Interesting to me that they trained at Ft Rucker, AL, and still have reunions in Dothan, AL. A few hours from me.



    Larger image:
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2019
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  5. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Brilliant!

    Thank you!

    I'll let you know what we find.
     
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  6. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    You're welcome. Happy to help.

    Military history has always fascinated me. Do let me know what you discover about him.
     
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