Subdued patches on your B-3

[paulgt3]

I was thinking of putting my old AirForce patches on my New
Eastman B-3. If you look at the jackets they have the WWII type
patches and they are the bright colors. Mine are the newer (late 70's)
subdued or camo'ed patches. Should I try to find the Full color patches
for my jacket (my air group and squadron) Or put on my Subdued patches?
Or not do them at all. I feel like that was my airgroup (35th Tactical Air Wing) and
my squadron (561st Tactical Fighter Sq) so its not like I am just putting on
old patches like the Flying Tigers. I dont have the full Color patches and would have
to search. AND is do you need to take your jacket to a specialist seamstress or can any
sewing shop do it? I DO NOT want to mess this up, so I am open to your
suggestions.

 

[Jeff M]

I have several beautifully done reproduction WW2 patches in leather....inscribed, simply painted or layered, that I've purchased over the years.
At first I planned to put some on some of my Good Wear reproduction A2's. When it came time to do it....I just couldn't.
The jackets cost a bundle...are, if not the best, at least amont the best reproduction A2 jackets around.
That, and seeing what sewing a patch on a leather jacket does to the re-sale value....just couldn't do it.

The best piece of advice I've received re; putting patches on a leather jacket came from somebody who has been collecting leather jackets for a looong time, and has gone down the route of patching/painting jackets.
He told me to not paint/patch a jacket unless I was certain I would never want to sell it.

Most folks, when the first get a quality leather jacket, think it's the best thing ever and can't conceive of there coming a day when they may want to sell it.
If you really think you want to patch it...I'd hold off for a year or so. See how much you really wear the jacket...if it is a true "keeper". If it is, you still want to do it, and you have proved to yourself that you will not end up trying to sell it at some point...go for it.

 

[majormajor]

I was thinking of putting my old AirForce patches on my New
Eastman B-3. If you look at the jackets they have the WWII type
patches and they are the bright colors. Mine are the newer (late 70's)
subdued or camo'ed patches. Should I try to find the Full color patches
for my jacket (my air group and squadron) Or put on my Subdued patches?
Or not do them at all. I feel like that was my airgroup (35th Tactical Air Wing) and
my squadron (561st Tactical Fighter Sq) so its not like I am just putting on
old patches like the Flying Tigers. I dont have the full Color patches and would have
to search. AND is do you need to take your jacket to a specialist seamstress or can any
sewing shop do it? I DO NOT want to mess this up, so I am open to your
suggestions.

When I got my first A2, back in the early 80's, I thought the best thing possible was to patch it and paint it. I saw it as an "homage" to the USAAF guys who flew out of England in WW2.

After a couple of years of odd looks from folks down the pub ( I am in England), I decided that the jacket was a just a little bright.

So, the jacket then, in about 2 weeks, aged about 50 years, and the colours on the artwork became, shall we say, very muted.

You are coming from a different place. You have real service patches. If you like them, wear them with pride:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[paulgt3]

Thanks Jeff, Great advice. But I am 53, and both my sons (22 and 18)
have claimed my new jacket already. I REALLY enjoyed my AirForce Career
and worked with some very relavant aircraft. I just now gave my cloth field jacket
to my 18 year old and he thought it was the greatest gift ever. I was floored.
But anyway I have treasured my patches for 35 years. I just retired from 30 years
in military engineering. I have always wanted this jacket and now I have the one
I have wanted since watching 12 Oclock high before I ever went in to this military
career. But still GREAT advice. But Remember these are MY patches, the same ones
I wore 35 years ago.
Now what about the Full color vs. Subdued?

 

[paulgt3]

Thanks Major, I think you just answered my question. Subdued would be a not so flashy way to do what I want
without being a light bulb.

 

[Flash]

Paul, I think there is nothing flashy to put the patches on the jacket. Especialy if the patches are from unit you have served in. From your posts I mean you are realy enthused by your jacket and you do not plan to sell it in the future. So if you will feel better with patches on, put them there. If you like more coloured patches, try to find them or find anybody who can make them. Generally do everything to enjoy your jacket best.

 

[rocketeer]

I have several beautifully done reproduction WW2 patches in leather....inscribed, simply painted or layered, that I've purchased over the years.
At first I planned to put some on some of my Good Wear reproduction A2's. When it came time to do it....I just couldn't.
The jackets cost a bundle...are, if not the best, at least amont the best reproduction A2 jackets around.
That, and seeing what sewing a patch on a leather jacket does to the re-sale value....just couldn't do it.

The best piece of advice I've received re; putting patches on a leather jacket came from somebody who has been collecting leather jackets for a looong time, and has gone down the route of patching/painting jackets.
He told me to not paint/patch a jacket unless I was certain I would never want to sell it.

Most folks, when the first get a quality leather jacket, think it's the best thing ever and can't conceive of there coming a day when they may want to sell it.
If you really think you want to patch it...I'd hold off for a year or so. See how much you really wear the jacket...if it is a true "keeper". If it is, you still want to do it, and you have proved to yourself that you will not end up trying to sell it at some point...go for it.

I put a pin badge on my old Aero A2 from 1982, two holes that will always be there unless patched over. I lived with that jacket for 30 years till it got just a little tight so took it back to Ken complete with the badge.
As said, If you are going to keep it then enjoy it patch it up.
Just in case anyone reading this is thinking of name tagging there jackets, your own name is ok as these could be removed and replaced with the new owners name. Just be aware of the looks you may get though if you badge or tag it as 'V Hilts' or '? Rickson'

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I'm trying to visualize. Yes, they would look very good on your jacket if you wanted to go the full color route.

Sounds like you worked on F-105Gs so a Thud patch would look good too.

An enlarged version of this one would look really good on the back

 

[paulgt3]

VC LOVE those pics. The top two are correct. When I got to George, the 105s were there but I was not a Weasel
I was a F4 Puke. Then our squadrons, the 561,562, and 563 all sent their planes to McDonell Douglas as F4Es (I missed
those birds they never broke or crashed) and they came back as F4G Wild Weasels.
I have the the top two patches and my Tactical Fighter Wing patch too.
The service turned a kid into a man, a kid from Texas went to California. Then I never went back. I stayed out
here went to college and worked at the Naval Air Warfare Center.
I will post the pics later and see what you guys think vs full color. I am leaning toward subdued at the moment.
thanks for all the responses. It is hard to type with this jacket on however.

 

[Foster]

You might have to upload them to some photo server like photobucket or flickr, and then post the website link to the images on the host site. That being said, I am new on here too and I could be wrong!

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

You might look into having a jacket painted with your colored patches. The paint would look more WW2 and the reproduction of your squadron patches would look realistic and represent a group you were actually IN.

Just my $0.02

 

[Sloan1874]

apparently I dont have privileges to upload pics

You need to post a few more replies and comments before that kicks in.

 

[Jeff M]

You need to post a few more replies and comments before that kicks in.

I beieve 15 is the magic number. It may be in the forum FAQ.

 

[Sloan1874]

Does seem a rather arbitrary number, doesn't it?

 

[paulgt3]

Still Looking for the "manage attachments" like my other forums

 

[paulgt3]

I still cant find the attach my pics perhaps I could email them to one of you and have you post them.
I really like the subdued

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

VC LOVE those pics. The top two are correct. When I got to George, the 105s were there but I was not a Weasel
I was a F4 Puke. Then our squadrons, the 561,562, and 563 all sent their planes to McDonell Douglas as F4Es (I missed
those birds they never broke or crashed) and they came back as F4G Wild Weasels.

I must say that the F-4 Phantom II is one of my all-time favorite aircraft, particularly the long-nose variants (RF-4C, F-4E and G). Here's some F-4G Wild Weasel patches:

 

[paulgt3]

VC Where did you get all those patches? I am dying to post mine. I can remember sitting on the wing like it was yesterday.
And cold desert nites in the rear cockpit with the canopy closed testing all the INS and Radar systems trying to stay warm.
I worked the midnite shift

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I just did a google search for them on the web. If you don't have them you could easily find them on eBay. I do collect Air Force patches. This one's from my collection. It has a rather sad history in that it belonged to an F-111D pilot who was killed in a crash in 1977

 

[paulgt3]

Lets see if this works I wasnt going to put on my maintenance patch