A Collection of pre- 1946 vintage U.S. Airborne Insignia.
The Screaming Eagle Shoulder Patch
The 101st Airborne's divisional 'Screaming Eagle' shoulder Sleeve
Insignia (SSI) is a tribute to 'Old Abe', the eagle mascot of the 8th
Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, which fought under General Sherman in
Georgia and later in Alabama, in the Civil War. The example at left is
U.S. made, and as far as I can determine, was the most widely issued,
and
therefore the most common variant of WW2. I call it the Type 1. It has
a well-balanced design, with a detailed eye and a seperate Airborne
tab. At least 18 different American companies made screaming eagle
patches for the U.S. government in WW2, each having it's own unique
design, with minor sub-variations.
At least 8 distinctly different British-made variants have been
identified. Who knows how many more exist? (See the Eagle Patch Corner
pages).
The
patch at right is the most common British-made variant, Type B-1, with
a wool base and design executed in cotton thread. The tab and shield
are also seperate. These materials were typical of British made
patches, but some were also done with metallic wire thread.
As
Tom Taylor (son of Maxwell D, and a paratroop officer of the 502 in
Vietnam) says, the eagle patch is a 'Talisman'. The symbol of the great
American eagle not only imparts great courage, pride and boldness to
the wearer, it has also come to strike fear into the hearts of the
enemies who meet it on the fields of battle. The eagle's head and neck
are visible from considerable distances, and this patch is a
significant part of the mystique of the 101st Airborne.
All organic units of the division wore this patch on the left shoulder
through training and combat. Attached units such as the 506th, 501st
and 463rd also wore it in combat, and as long as they were serving with
the division. More eagle patch variants are illustrated in the Eagle
Patch Corner pages.
The GHQ Reserve SSI
The
GHQ Reserve shoulder sleeve insignia was worn by members of small
units, which were not part of a division. As such, the 506th PIR wore
this patch, during their basic training at Camp Toccoa, GA. The 501st
PIR also wore this patch while at Toccoa and Ft. Benning, for jump
training. This patch was replaced by the Airborne Command SSI described
below, in early 1943.
As to the patch itself, it is fully
embroidered and can be found in various sizes. The two basic variations
are with and without an OD border. There is also a type having a green
thread finish on the reverse. These are known to collectors as
"green-back patches". Many collectors specialize in greenback patches,
because it seems they were only made during WW2. In eagle patches, I've
seen Type 1's, Type 6's and Type 7's with the green finish on the
reverse-possibly all made by the same patch manufacturer?
Before
troopers of the 506th and 501st ever wore the screaming eagle patch on
their left shoulder, they wore the Airborne Command patch. Whereas the
GHQ reserve patch was worn at Toccoa, for small units not yet assigned
to a division, the Airborne Command patch was created for small,
non-divisional Airborne units. As such, the 506th wore this patch for a
few months in early 1943, while stationed at Camp Mackall, N.C. This
was after they completed jump school, but before they joined the 101st
Airborne Division at Ft Bragg, N.C., becoming members by attachment. At
that time, the 506th began to wear the eagle patch.
The 501 PIR wore the Airborne Command patch for longer, beginning
in spring, 1943, and wearing it until early January, 1944, when they
sailed for the UK. The 501st was attached to the 101st ABD in England
and only then began to wear the screaming eagle insignia.
Airborne units stationed stateside, continued to wear this patch into
1945, including the 555PIB, the Parachute Training Regiments in GA and
AL, and the 541st and 542nd PIRs in N.C.
Several variants of the Airborne Command patch are illustrated above.
The most common type is fully embroidered, with attached tab. Some sub
variants of that exist, with longer or wider shields. There is another
fully-embroidered version with a seperate tab and shield. Those are
smaller in overall size and length. Pictured in the center is a
standard type, with blue piping (dyed suspension line) sewn around the
outer edge. This modification was worn by some members of the 541st PIR
at Mackall, and this specimen comes courtesy of Herman Moulliet, who
later joined 1st Bn 506th as a replacement. The example at right has an
attached red Airborne tab, and is just a manufacturer's variation. A
myth has circulated at collectors' shows, stating that this type was
unique to the 'Triple Nickel'(African-American 555 Bn), but this is
untrue. Although some 555 vets may have them in their effects, my
example came from Harry Antoon of the 2/501 LMG platoon.
Regimental and Battalion sub unit
insignia: The above illustration depicts a collection of insignia
painted on A-6 parachute drop container ends (plywood), which were
rendered by an artist of the 501 Parachute Maintenance Section named
Kunkel, in 1945.
Be
aware that the above group is incomplete,also that some units had two
variations of insignia in use, simultaneously. For example, the 501
Regiment came into existence in November 1942, after the 501st Para Bn
had been de activated. When Colonel Johnson requested his new design be
approved (Apache war chief holding lightning bolt below a chute
canopy), the Heraldry office denied his request. They could not
authorize more than one insignia for a unit with the same number and
purpose (501st Parachute Infantry). Another design had already been
approved for the 501 Battalion. However, despite this denial, Col.
Johnson's troops wore their Apache war chief insignia throughout WW2
and ignored the official Thunderbird design, which had been created by
LTC William Yarborough.
When the 501st was re activated in
1956, the new 101st division adopted the approved Thunderbird design,
which had no actual battle heritage, but was officially sanctioned. The
501st crest shown is Col. Johnson's preferred design and was made of
plastic by the Gemsco company because of the wartime metal
shortage-these were worn on lapels and caps by EMs, and on the
epaulettes by officers. Because Col. J used to Shout:"Who's the BEST?"
and the troops screamed "WE are!" in reply, these plastic pins became
known as "We are pins", within the 501.
Above,
a WW2 era plastic "WE Are" crest, on the Gemsco manufacturer's card.
Compliments of Pegg Mero Durnin, whose brother Joe was fatally wounded
at Veghel, Holland in late September of 1944.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING VERY
CAREFULLY-THIS QUESTION OF 501st INSIGNIA IS A COMPLICATED AND
FREQUENTLY MISUNDERSTOOD SUBJECT-HOWEVER IF YOU READ THE FOLLOWING
CAREFULLY YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY
This design depicting an Apache indian chief wearing a war bonnet and
clutching a lightning bolt in his fist was designed by Col. H.R.
Johnson and a team of artists in the newly-activated 501 PIR in late
1942, to replace the earlier 501st Parachute Inf design of a
Thunderbird, which had been used by the 501st Battalion (now defunct)
and which had been designed by Colonel Yarborough.
Johnson's
new version, with the design shown above, was worn as a pocket patch
nearly 6" in diameter, on the jacket, Field, M1941, and the M42 jump
jacket. These insignia were worn in the states at formations or when
walking out, but not overseas until after VE Day. This was the
exclusive insignia used by Johnson's outfit in WW2 and although not
approved, this is the 501st insignia with battle heritage. Johnson's
Geronimo insignia was designed by Sgts Richard Clarke, Lee Clayman and
Eugene Amburgey.
Johnson's 501 PIR was inactivated in July, 1945
and not reactivated until the 101st Airborne Division was brought back
into existence in 1956. After the 501 was re-activated in 1956, a much
smaller (in diameter) variation of Johnson's design was made, with the
word "APACHES" embroidered across the front of the patch. These are
strictly from the post war 1950's-60s Ft Campbell era and the WW2 501st
patches NEVER had the wording 'Apaches' on them!
HELL-O-O...ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?
I continually see the small 501st patches with the word 'Apaches' on
them being offered as WW2 vintage patches by dealers at militaria shows
and on the Internet.
It
is also worth mentioning that in recent years, some fairly decent
copies of Johnson's patch (no wording other than GERONIMO at the bottom
and correct diameter) have also been manufactured.
501st Wing Backgrounds (ovals)
WW2
paratroopers wore a cloth oval behind their parachutist qualification
wings. Each regiment within the WW2 Airborne was represented by a
different color combination. In the 501 PIR, it was a red oval with a
medium to light blue border. Eventually, many dozens of different unit
variations were manufactured, and the practice continues to this day.
Because of the proliferation of wing backgrounds, much concern has
arisen among collectors as to time period, authenticity, etc. Even
during WW2, a number of manufacturers' variations were produced for
ovals of the same unit, (more in some units than others), according to
demand.
The four background ovals depicted above, were all obtained directly from WW2 vets of the 501 PIR.
The
example at top left is the type that was Issued to the troops, and is a
thin, cotton-twill material, surrounded by a very narrow blue thread
border. These issued types fade drastically with machine washing and
take on a salmon pink appearance, with the border fading to a very pale
blue.
The example at lower left is the only one of it's type I've
seen. At first glance, it looks very much like the specimen at upper
right, but it is narrower and made of a textured twill center,
surrounded by a blue thread border. This example came from the effects
of William Hippler, an Item Co. 501 trooper.
The example at top
right seems to be the most numerous,
(commonly found), and it features a wool flannel red center with a blue
cotton thread border. These were privately purchased, as were the types
at lower right, having jump wings embroidered onto the face of the
oval. I have seen the last type sewn to a Class 'A' uniform, with metal
jump wings pinned-on over the embroidered ones. They also appear on M42
jackets and M41 field jackets, at the wearer's discretion
The
502 PIR utilized an unapproved bat wings and skull pocket patch
throughout WW2. This was designed by Major Hal McGowan in 1941, when
the 502 was still a battalion. The example illustrated is
fully-embroidered-the reverse bears a gauzelike cross hatching of white
threads.
In 1943, a more formal design depicting an eagle claw and
the word STRIKE was designed by Sgt Russell May-although not worn
during WW2, this design won approval from the Heraldry office and was
also adopted by the new division in 1956, over the WW2 design with
actual battle heritage. In 1945, a lapel crest was manufactured in
occupied Germany, depicting the Strike emblem, but was made in
miniscule numbers.
Above
is a well-worn example of the leather chest patch made for wear on the
A-2 flight jacket. I've also seen this worn on the M41 jump jacket.
This is actually a decal, applied to a piece of thin brown leather, the
circumference of which is greater than the design itself. I suspect
these were supposed to present the appearance of being 'painted-on',
and indeed they do look like paint after cracking and discoloring with
age and wear. This specimen comes from the late Bert Ellard of F/502.
Twill variant 502 PIR Patch
Update, April, 2007. I recently realized
I have been remiss in never posting the fact that the 502 PIR pocket
patch also existed in a twill variant.
Above
are two examples of the twill 502 pocket patch. When in as -issued, new
condition (left), the patch at first glance looks identical to the
fully-embrodered version. However, close scrutiny reveals that the
black background material is twill. Actually the entire bat wings,
skull and red, white and blue concentric outer rings, were embroidered
in cotton thread, onto a thin twill base.
After a number of washings, the black twill background fades rapidly and becomes a dull grey color as shown at right.
Looking
at the reverse of the mint and well-worn examples is interesting,
because the design appears almost as well executed on the reverse as on
the obverse. Also, the faded example actually now looks more
presentable on the reverse than on the front side, because the
background color is now darker on the reverse than on the obverse.
I should add the the overall thickness of the fully-embroidered version
is thicker than the twill version and the twill type obviously also
lacks the gauze layer across the reverse side.
By popular request from my friends at ASMIC, here are the 2 known
variants of the WW2 502 PIR wing background. You'll note the the light
and dark blue tones are reversed on the borders and centers from one
design to the other. I do not know the reason for this. The top type is
very thin twill, with a lighter blue cotton thread border. The lower
type has a wool center in light blue, with a darker blue cotton thread
border.
As
mentioned previously, a very small number of regimental lapel or
epaulette crests were made for the 502 during the 2d half of 1945.
Presumably, these were made in Austria or Germany. An example is
pictured above, and I have only seen TWO in 30 years of collecting.
I've never gotten one from a vet, nor seen one in the effects of a vet.
The 'Strike' design was officially adopted by the Heraldry
office, and in 1956, when the divison was re-activated, it became
universally worn by new members of the Deuce, in a more rectangular,
shield-shaped version. The original design dates to 1943, created by
M/Sgt Russell May of H&H S-2 and S-3, 502 PIR. The earliest I've
seen the design is hand-drawn on the cover of a pamphlet containing
information on the layout of regimental billets in England before
D-Day. This dates the pamphlet to late 1943 or early 1944. The design
saw NO wear during WW2, and very little in the immediate postwar
occupation period. The bat wings and skull 'Widowmaker' design had all
the WW2 heritage. As usual, the Heraldry office approved the design
with lesser actual combat-era heritage.
Earl Kelly of I Co. recently told me that he and his buddies wanted to
wear the widowmaker patch on their chests when jumping into Normandy.
The officers disallowed that-NOT for security reasons, but because of
the similarity of the design to what the German SS were wearing!
Officers' Insignia, Unit Numbered
Intended
for wear at both lapels of the green 4 pocket officer's blouse, or on
the left shirt collar, while wearing the Class 'A' uniform,
unit-numbered insignia were optional wear for officers while in the
U.S. The crossed muskets in the examples depicted above, represent the
Infantry, and there are two known types used by the 502 PIR. The top
specimen features block style numbers, of uniform thickness throughout.
The lower scroll type example, features numbers having a flourish, and
differing degress of thickness on the various sections of each number.
Both
of these styles have also been encountered in the effects of 501st
officers. I've only seen the scroll type design amongst WW2 506th
officers, but it is probable that they also used examples with the'506'
in block numbers.
All the WW2 era specimens of numbered crossed
muskets I've seen have had clutchback fasteners on the reverse.
Bear in mind that unit numbered insignia continued to be manufactured
for decades after WW2, and the postwar examples I've observed, have
been of the block number style.
I have a crossed cannons insignia with the number '907' mounted on it,
for officers of that Glider Artillery battalion, but that one was
privately modified, and the numbers were not affixed by the original
manufacturer.
The 502's S-2 Patch
Captain
Cecil L. Simmons designed this sleeve patch during his brief tenure as
company commander of Regimental HQ Company, 502PIR, in summer 1944. It
is believed that 30 or less were made by a British patch manufacturer,
based on a hand-drawn design, submitted by Captain Simmons. He
incorporated a sphinx (the symbol of military intelligence) with the
words 'Wisdom Power Silence'. The patch was intended for wear on the
lower left sleeve, above any hash marks or overseas bars, much as a
pathfinder wing is worn. Simmons offered these patches to his S-2
personnel, at a cost of .30 cents each. He tried in mid 1945, to get
the design approved for wear by S-2 personnel in all 4 infantry
regiments of the 101st Airborne, but the division was inactivated
before that was accomplished. Simmons' S-2 patch is now one of the
rarest of all 101st ABD related WW2 patches.
Insignia of the 506th PIR
The
506th PIR also had a conflict between two designs, an approved shield
depicting six parachutes descending in front of Mt Currahee, with the
slogan 'Currahee' below, and a circular pocket patch about 4.5" in
diameter depicting two dice reading '5' and '6', with a large black '0'
and a diving eagle under a parachute canopy in the center. This 'Para
Dice' patch was worn concurrently with the official crest, so in this
case both designs have WW2 battle heritage. When the 101st was
reactivated in 1956, the Currahee crest was resurrected, but not the
Para Dice insignia. The Para Dice design is attributed to Bill Donnan,
of Company 'B', who created it at Camp Toccoa, GA in the summer of 1942.
The U.S.made 506th pocket patch at upper
left was cotton embroidered on twill, made in 1942, and was one of the
few real US patches made with a merrowed edge during WW2. This specimen
belonged to Gerald Loraine, who received the Silver Star for his
actions at the D-Day Brecourt gun battery fight. The patch above right
is the British-made version, which I assumed was postwar for decades,
until I recently got one from Don Straith of Company 'A'.
506th Wing Background
Here
are two vintage 506th wing ovals, showing the obverse and reverse. The
controversy goes on as to which color was worn to the left. I have Lt
Al Hassenzahl's officer's shirt, with the oval period-sewn on; on that,
the colors appear red, white, and blue from left to right, as you view
the garment. For now, that's good enough evidence for me.
506th Distinctive Insignia
The crest shown at left is British made
of stainless steel. It does not tarnish and as originally made, has
thin black shroud lines under the canopy, which quickly wear-off. The
spring type pin goes under the hook-shaped catch, with nothing
complicated, such as rotating pin retainers. The example at right is
the German or Austrian-made 1945 type, with a silver frosting that
tends to flake-off the front surface. A different type of spring pin
attaches to a shaped-catch type arrangement on the reverse. If it is
true that the earliest type was made in the UK, then no DIs were worn
by the 506th during over a year of stateside training. Allowing for
time spent on the front lines between June 1944 and May 1945, this
leaves a relatively small time period during which these crests could
have been worn.
After
over 30 years of collecting 101st Airborne stuff, I had seen only 2
types of 506th DI in the hands of vets. In April of 2004, a new variant
came to my attention. The examples pictured above, obverse and reverse,
were in the effects of Donald Zahn, who served as a Pfc in H/506th from
Toccoa to Holland, and as a Lt. in C/506th, from Bastogne to Austria.
The pin catch at the bottom of the reverse is the same as on the known
Brit versions, but unlike those examples, it bears the words:
STERLING
SILVER
on the reverse. Also unlike the known Brit versions, these examples
have tarnished, suggesting that they are made of a distinctly different
type of metal than the stainless steel, non- tarnishing Brit types
previously known. Note also, the pin hinge at the top
reverse-distinctly different than the previously known Brit made types.
Is it possible that this Sterling type may be U.S. made, and that the
stainless Brit versions are copies of the earliest originals? Anyone
with knowledge or input about these, please post the info on the forum.
I've seen 20-30 of the stainless Brit variants, but these Sterling ones
must be rare, with this the only pair I've encountered in 35 years.
Photos
showing the 506th distinctives in wear before the end of WW2 are rare.
This London studio portrait is dated 19 April, 1944, and shows the
British made 506th DIs in wear before D-day. The soldier is Sgt Walter
Skeen a.k.a. 'Polecat Scragg'. A censor mutilated the eagle patch.
photo courtesy C.A. Mitchell.
Although designs are shown on Kunkel's chart for the 326th Engineers,
the 377th PFA Bn, and the 463rd PFA Bn, the following should be noted.
The 463rd is much better known for its unapproved Bugs Bunny pocket
patch. The 326th had no lapel crest nor pocket patch in WW2. The 377th
did have a silver on Red crest with the same design shown, but did not
have a pocket patch. LTC Benjamin Weisberg the 377th Bn commander was
designer of that unit's crest. The parachute riggers who devised the
reference photo deliberately ommitted all non jumping units of the
101st Division. The 907th and 321st Artillery Battalions each had lapel
crests but no pocket patches. The 327th GIR had an
'Honor & Country' lapel crest only. The 81st AAA/AT Bn had neither
a lapel crest nor pocket patch that I'm aware of.
Overseas Cap Insignia
Above
is a sampling of common WW2 Airborne cap patches. Top left to right,
light and dark blue variants of the early parachute infantry cap patch,
and an early parachute artillery patch. Below left to right, an early
glider artillery patch, a theatre-made officers' paraglide patch,
introduced in the 101st circa August 1944), and a US made paraglide EM
patch.The officer's version had to be worn on the right side of the
cap, to allow insignia of rank to be worn in the usual spot on the left
side. Thus, the glider flies in the opposite direction from that on the
enlisted version, as their patch was worn on the left side. In this
manner, the glider always appears to fly toward the front of the wearer.
Captain Cecil Simmons
H/502 wearing a suntan overseas cap in 1942. Note how his captain's
rank bars are worn pinned onto, and covering his blue and white
parachute infantry cap patch. Because of this, officers began wearing
the parachute and later para glide cap patches on the right side of the
cap. photo courtesy C.l. Simmons
Above: a vintage example of an officer's suntan overseas cap with 2d Lt
rank bar pinned onto the blue and white (early) Parachute Infantry cap
patch. Note the gold and black officer's piping. This cap belonged to
Lt Charles Matson, also of H/502.
Illustrated above, a few of the many variants of Parachute Infantry
overseas cap patches, worn 1941-44. So many companies made these for
the government that it is difficult to find any two exactly alike. The
two most common U.S. made types were: 1) cotton thread parachute,
embroidered on thin twill base. 2) Cotton parachute embroidered on blue
wool base. The patches shown above are of the somewhat less-common
variety. The two top patches belonged to Captain Bob Speer of 2/502.
Prior to the 502, Speer belonged to the 551st PIB. I suspect the patch
at top left dates to that period and was made in Panama in 1942. The
wool patch at top right was made in England in 1944. The
two lower patches belonged to Ray Blasingame of F/502. The one at
bottom left is a U.S. made, fully-embroidered cotton patch.
The one at lower right was made from metallic wire thread in London.
This
blue and white patch is inclusive for all Airborne Infantry toopers,
whether parachute or glider borne. It was introduced in mid-late 1944,
as a transition from the plain parachute on blue background, to a more
universal Airborne Infantry concept. This style didn't last long, as it
was supplanted by the even more universal type, with red added, to
include Airborne artillery personnel. Damian Lewis was seen wearing a
variant of the above in a late 1944 Paris scene in 'Band of Brothers,
although his example was even more obscure, with the glider flying in
the opposite direction, for wear on an officer's overseas cap.
The
few examples I've owned have been cotton thread design, embroidered on
a thin, dark blue twill background, like the example shown above. This
specimen comes from Sgt.Robert Kandt, who served in the 2d PTR
(Parachute Training Regiment), on the Alabama side of Ft. Benning
1944-46.
So these patches were around, although I've yet to see
one in the hands of a 501st or 502nd veteran. I have several 506th
overseas caps bearing these blue and white paraglide patches. This
doesn't verify that the 501 and 502 did not receive any through their
supply channels, but it might mean something. At least we know that the
506th DID have them.
Early Cap Patches for Gliderborne Troops
Before
the Paraglide patch, combining parachute and glider, was forced upon
everyone in August, 1944, Glider-Borne troops had their own distinctive
overseas cap insignia. As shown above, these depicted a glider in
flight, against different colored backgrounds. The Infantry type was
white on Blue, Artillerymen wore a red background, and the dull copper
brown background was for Airborne Medical personnel. The color of the
last type is about the same shade as dried blood when it is soaked into
fabric.
Here
is photographic evidence that these early glider cap patches were worn
on the right side of the cap by EMs, before the introduction of the
Paraglide patch. This caused the glider to appear to fly to the rear of
the wearer. The example above left, shows a Pfc of the 327th GIR,
wearing the blue Glider Infantry patch, flying backwards. The example
above right shows a 321st GFAB trooper wearing the red artillery
version in the same manner. Both photos were made in England, before
D-day. pics courtesy K.Barickman and G. Dettore collections.
This image was also made in England before D-day and shows a Glider
Officer of the 326th AEB wearing his cap patch, with the glider flying
to the rear. On an officer's cap, this was the only way to avoid
wearing the patch on the left side, with rank pinned onto the patch.
This patch also has a white glider on a red background, because the
Engineers wore the same colored cap patch as the artillerymen. This
officer is unidentified, but his suntan shirt bears a nice Type 8 eagle
patch. c/o J.Crilley
This
photo shows a grouping of Parachute Field Artillery officers' insignia,
from the effects of LTC Ben Weisberg, the original C.O. of the 377th
PFAB.
The
paraglide patches sewn to the 2 caps illustrated above, demonstrate how
creative sewing could really enhance the overall appearance of a
mundane overseas cap. The left example is blue piped, for Infantry c/o
Lou Truax (D/506th) and the orange piped example is for Signal troops.
The stitching style seems to be the same on both examples. The right
example was worn by Merlin Shennum of F/506th, after he transfered to
the 17th Airborne, for shipment to the Zone of Interior in 1945.
Many
eagle shoulder patches were applied with fancy stitching, usually done
in white thread. This Blue (for Infantry) 'X' border, on a Type 7, is
the prettiest version I've seen. It is applied to the shoulder of S/Sgt
Bill Meeker's B/327th GIR Class 'A' blouse. Having a buddy who had been
a tailor in civilian life, made this possible. Bill's cutdown M43 (see
Uniforms pages) has a Type 5 patch applied by the same guy, in the same
manner.
The 1st Allied Airborne Army
This
Army was a joint collection of British and American Airborne Divisions,
and was formed in the late summer of 1944. A shop in London immediately
began producing metallic wire versions, as shown above, but few were
produced. This is because a V bomb hit the tailor shop that was making
them, in the fall of 1944, while 101st troopers were in Holland.
Evidently only a few men managed to get one, before going to Holland.
As a result, I've seen only 2 of the Brit made metallic wire versions.
This one belonged to Lt. Charles Matson, of H/502. (The other was on
the jacket of a 2/502 man). Other versions exist,(see below). German
made versions in metallic wire also exist, and those are much more
common than the Brit made bullion example shown above.
This unit is sometimes referred to as the "First Triple A".
Above
are the 3 most commonly seen variants of the 1st AAA patch. At left,
the standard British made type, having the wording and design
embrodered in cotton thread on a blue felt or flannel wool shield. Next
is the most common US made type, fully-embroidered, and featuring a
medium blue shield. At right is another US made type, less frequently
seen, having a very pale blue-almost grey color to the shield. These
are also fully embroidered of cotton thread, in the standard, cut-edge
style.
Also, there is a BEVO weave version, made in Germany during the
occupation in 1945. Those usually have only the word 'Airborne' at the
top, instead of 'Allied Airborne'. In 1945, many 101st troopers affixed
one of these 1stAAA patches to the right shoulder of their Ike jacket,
so when it is encountered in wear on 101st uniforms, it is found at the
right shoulder of a blouse or Ike jacket.
Source: www.101airborneww2.com A great site for information on The Airborne Division