Squadron Patches on A-2s

[Mojave Jack]

My buddy is going to paint a squadron patch for me, and I want to make sure it's the right size. I've seen squadron patches ranging anywhere from 5 inches up to around 7 inches. For those of you with original A-2s, what seems to be the most common size or what seems to be the best size proportional to the jacket? I'm planning on having him do a patch from the 34th Attack Squadron, circa 1935.

 

[Mike K.]

Jack, I would go no bigger than the pocket which is usually about 6" wide.
Therefore, I'd say about a 5 inch patch diameter.

 

[Windsock]

5 inches.

More curious however- from your avatars you two appear to be having a chat in the same jungle club

 

[Mr. 'H']

I know you have a specific enquiry about sizes, but this more general thread may help alot:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=19754&highlight=squadron+patches

 

[Mojave Jack]

5 inches.

More curious however- from your avatars you two appear to be having a chat in the same jungle club

lol Great minds think alike! Mike, I may have to change my avatar to a sepia tone!

I had pretty much decided that 5" was about right, based on most examples I've seen. I've never actually measured them, though, so it was pretty much an educated guess. I don't collect, so I don't have any that I can measure, either.

I know you have a specific enquiry about sizes, but this more general thread may help alot:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showt...uadron+patches

Point taken. For the record, I am putting this on my A-2 for a very specific reason. I am developing a tour of the March Field Historic District for my unit as an official function, and in conjunction with the March Field Air Museum. I will be wearing a period uniform for the tours (circa 1935), but will be wearing my actual rank (MSgt). The 34th Attack Squadron was one of the units at March during the period in question, so to keep the uniform as authentic as possible, I chose to put that on my jacket, as well as a GHQ AF patch on the shirt, and a 1st Wing DI on my hat. Of course I ran the whole project, uniform and all, past my wing commander, and got enthusiastic support. My vice commander has requested to be on the inaugural tour, and I am hoping that either he or the wing commander will make a brief welcome statement when it kicks off.

As a side note, I was escorting General Lorenz, the current AETC Commander, around the base last week. Gen Lorenz was the last commander to live in Quarters 176 at March (then AFB), now known as the Arnold House after its most famous resident. General Lorenz is also a huge supporter of the history program, which is why General Melin, my commander, asked me to serve as his escort. General Lorenz was telling me about a time he was sitting in front of the fireplace in the Arnold House, reading a Hap Arnold biography. He happened to be reading a section that told of a conversation between Tooey Spaatz and Hap Arnold, in which they were discussing the relative merits of .50 vs .30 caliber armament on airplanes. General Lorenz suddenly realized that Spaatz and Arnold were having that discussion in front of the very fireplace in front of which he sat reading! You can bet that I will be telling that story on the tour!

Later, General Lorenz bought a round at Sally's Alley, shortly after we located his set of wings in the Daedalian Room at the Hap Arnold Club, but that's another story...!

 

[Mr. 'H']

Point taken.

:eusa_doh:

Oh no - no point was being made. I realize completely that your question is much more specific. Just wanted to give you some background info from an earlier discussion, s'all!

Best of luck with this valiant endevour.

 

[Mike K.]

More curious however- from your avatars you two appear to be having a chat in the same jungle club

Ha!! lol The avatars are pretty similar huh? Bwana Jack said it...great minds think alike!

 

[Mojave Jack]

:eusa_doh:

Oh no - no point was being made. I realize completely that your question is much more specific. Just wanted to give you some background info from an earlier discussion, s'all!

Best of luck with this valiant endevour.

Mr. 'H', my apologies! Reading my post, that does sound like a rebuke, and I honestly didn't intend that either! The question of wearing rank, awards, and unit insignia can be a touchy issue, so I wanted to clarify a bit, but I didn't mean to so sound holier-than-thou!

Actually, I'm not against most anyone wearing historical stuff, so long as it's done in a respectful manner, and done properly. That goes for me, too, which is why I want this to be as accurate as possible.

Mike, is it telling that you're holding a rifle, and I'm holding a martini?!

One of the reasons I chose the 34th over some of the other units was also their later participation in the Doolittle Raid. The patch will give me a way of talking about the units that were there in '35, then carrying that on to talk about the 34th's part in the raid in '42, following their conversion to bombers. I like to add those sorts of stories to my presentations, since that really helps people identify with the topic when they see how it connects to other well-known events.

Mike, is it telling that you're holding a rifle, and I'm holding a martini?!

 

[SIGGY]

Jacket patch size

Hello, I am an artist of leather unit jacket patches,I have been to a couple of military aviation museums and I have seen other authentic patches over the years and I have noted that almost all with a few exceptions have been in the 5-6 inch range. The WW2 USN was one to go with the larger 6 + sizes,but the USAAF generally stayed 5-6, most of the patches I've made were 5-6 even with an outer border.
Johnny Signor
WeBeEmblems@aol.com

 

[Imahomer]

I've been thinking about doing the same thing and was wondering if you were going to be posting some shots after the work is done.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Absolutely! My buddy has painted it up, but says he had some trouble with the pen he used to ink the outline bleeding through the paint. I haven't talked to him in about a week, but he was going to put on a couple more coats and see if that works. If not, another chunk of leather and we'll try again!

Thanks for the feedback, Siggy. I went with the 5" diameter for the main part, with the tail and wingtips going out just past 5". Once this patch is on, I have to make it up to Chino for some pics in the jacket in front of their P-26.

 

[SIGGY]

Hey Mojave jack Hope to see the photos w/P-26 here

I hope you get to get there and looking forward to the photos of oyu with the P-26 peashooter that is a classic bird!! the photo you posted with the 34th emblem on the card are these available in a collector set? or is it something you made up?
happy skies!
Johnny "Siggy" Signor
WeBeEmblems@aol.com

 

[Mojave Jack]

Thanks again, Siggy! Those cards I found at this site:

http://www.skytamer.com/3.1.A.R17-2.htm

I've seen some of the cards pop up on e-Bay and at shows from time to time, but I've never tried to collect the set. Since I started really looking for them, of course, it is never one of the units I'd really be interested in picking up. I'd like to pick up those units that were at March so that I can use them in our display case, and that sort of thing.

 

[Ken"Hollywood"]

Hey all, I am getting an A-2 WWII Government Issue A-2 Jacket military grade horsehide. I provided a pic of the one I purchased. I am a artist some what always have been, so I decided to make my own squadron patch, and do the nose art on the back. The patch is made out of leather painted with acrylic and is 5" diameter. The unit that I chose is the 8th Army Air Force, 1st Air Division, 1st Combat Bombardment Wing, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 401 Bombardment Squad. "The Ragged Irregulars". The plane they Flew was the B-17 "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" Enjoy!

The first patch is the Original

 

[Ken"Hollywood"]

well, I finally finished the 91st Bombardment group patch. enjoy! Also some Bullion captain shoulder patches. what your opinions? It costs $700 to $1000 to have a jacket done im doing mine my self.

Good or /Fail, opinions welcome?

Original patch, is shown first

 

[St.Ignatz]

Nice job on the patches. One of the great thing about reproducing them is that they were hand drawn so you have the "responsibility" of a little variation. Got to love that Peashooter.

 

[dostacos]

Absolutely! My buddy has painted it up, but says he had some trouble with the pen he used to ink the outline bleeding through the paint. I haven't talked to him in about a week, but he was going to put on a couple more coats and see if that works. If not, another chunk of leather and we'll try again!

Thanks for the feedback, Siggy. I went with the 5" diameter for the main part, with the tail and wingtips going out just past 5". Once this patch is on, I have to make it up to Chino for some pics in the jacket in front of their P-26.

give us some notice before you go and we can meet up. I can take your picture in front of da plane, da plane and everything. I bet we could interest others to make a day of it too....

 

[Ken"Hollywood"]

The first is the original patch 323 bombardment sq. My jacket sould be in any day now and ill get started putting it all together! :eusa_clap

 

[Micawber]

well, I finally finished the 91st Bombardment group patch. enjoy! Also some Bullion captain shoulder patches. what your opinions? It costs $700 to $1000 to have a jacket done im doing mine my self.

Good or /Fail, opinions welcome?

Original patch, is shown first

Looks good. As an aside I have one particular friend who was a ball turret gunner in the 91st who interestingly always added a little 'V' to represent the windshield on the B-17 on the patches he painted back then and occasionally does now. I'll see if I dig out a pic of his A-2 which was private purchase after his original went missing from his locker.

Yet another aside is that I lived near Bassingbourn for some years and have many good friends who served with the 91st. I'm also life member of the 91st BGMA and was curator of the Tower Museum (inc the 91st museum) at Bassingbourn for several years.

 

[p51]

well, I finally finished the 91st Bombardment group patch. enjoy! Also some Bullion captain shoulder patches. what your opinions? It costs $700 to $1000 to have a jacket done im doing mine my self.

Good or /Fail, opinions welcome?

Original patch, is shown first

Great work!

also life member of the 91st BGMA and was curator of the Tower Museum (inc the 91st museum) at Bassingbourn for several years.

Me too! :eusa_clap I even went to the Tacoma reunion in 2002.
I have the personal affects of a great guy, now passed on, who was with the 91st early in 44: