triangular A.A.F. Specialists sleeve insignia

[flightmac]

Has anyone ever seen a jacket (A-2 or ?) or a photo of one with any of the Army Air Force Technician sleeve patches? For example, an airborne Radio Operator with the Communications Specialist patch sewn or painted on his flight jacket sleeve. See http://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/other/airforce3.html Thanks.

 

[unclegrumpy]

I have seen these specialty patches on several A-2's over the years. However, they have always been painted on, and never on the sleeve. I have seen several painted on the chest under name tags...one I specifically remember had a oversized one under an Italian made leather gunners wing name tag combo. I have also seen one on the back of a highly painted war art jacket. It was rather small, and painted within a group of other insignia representing the previous owners service history.

 

[shedonwanna]

Here is one currently on eBay with an incised leather specialist patch. Someone here may tell us if the jacket is authentic. It has had some removed patches but that is common. I have vintage friends who added patches to their jackets several years after the war. Like to hear comments about the jacket from other members - patches do look authentic from the photos.

item #: 180421156519

http://cgi.ebay.com/USAAF-IDd-A-2-F...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a01f05ea7

 

[unclegrumpy]

I think the Squadron patch looks good.

As I said, in my previous post, I have never seen one of the speciality patches worn on the sleeve, but I have seen them on jackets before, and I guess this could be the first.

That said, I seriously doubt this jacket is as the guy took it off his back in 1945 when he got home. Maybe this is actually another jacket he picked up after the war, and then added his patches to, one may never know.

This jacket might be right or not, it is too hard for me to really tell. It does look like a jacket that has had some post war additions and modifications done to it. I guess the big question is if you think it was done by the vet and when.

Good luck!