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LOT 3422
Fine Grouping of American World War II Airborne Unit Patches and Badges - NSN. Grouping includes two unit insignia patches (featuring a vulture and a parachute over the word “ATTACK”) and one banner patch for the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
unit patch (bloodied, plunging dagger backed by a parachute) for the 542nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, unit patch (boar’s head and fleurs-de-lis over “ASPERA JUVANT” (Difficult Delight), paint on leather) for the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment, unit patch (a running donkey pulling two gliders behind it) for the 436th Troop Carrier Group, two unit patches (a black cat descending under silk while brandishing a scimitar, embroidered on gray triangular felt) for the 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and single patches for Glider forces, Parachute Infantry, and a scarce Pathfinder patch. Except as noted, all are cloth construction with embroidered decoration.
CONDITION: Fine overall, with mild handling marks.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3423
Five World War II American Aviation Unit Patches - NSN. 1) Patch for the 2nd Pursuit/2nd Fighter Squadron, bullion embroidery on tan cloth with board internal construction and snaps on the back, featuring a beagle in top hat and tails holding a small naked woman in a Champaign glass while stabbing a bloodied swastika with a cane, with text “2ND” and “AMERICAN/BEAGLE/SQUADRON”. An attached note attributes the patch as Italian construction. 2) Patch for the 479th Anti-Submarine Group, embroidered on blue felt, featuring a blindfolded bat wearing a radio/sonar operator’s headset. An attached note attributes the patch as English made. 3) Patch for the 40th Fighter Squadron, embroidered on white, felt, depicting a devil about to throw a lightning bolt like a javelin. 4) Patch for the 549th Night Fighter Squadron, paint on brown leather, depicting a bat with a Browning machine gun in each foot and lightning shooting from it’s eyes. 5) Patch for the 653rd Bomb Squadron, embroidered on green felt, depicting a mosquito with a telescope kneeling on a raincloud.
CONDITION: Fine, with light wear overall, and minor moth damage on #1, #3 and #5.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,500
LOT 3424
Grouping of Artifacts for the OSS and The Chinese Commandos - NSN. Included with the grouping is a small OSS-themed pin or fob and a set of patches for the Chinese 19th Commando. The product of a plan established in January of 1945, the Chinese Commando formations were intended to be elite parachute-capable units consisting of Chinese troopers supported and trained by American OSS officers and men. Twenty were planned, but due to supply and logistics issues
only seven completed training and saw action before war’s end. Both patches feature American and Nationalist Chinese stars over an open canopy, with Chinese text around the shroud lines. One is white cloth with red and blue printing, marked with Chinese text and the number “19” on the
back, the other is blue cloth with red, blue and silver bullion wire embroidery, and a separate rocker bearing “CHINESE 19 COMMANDO” text, with no markings on the back. Also included is a miniature reproduction of the separation record of a Captain Harry Solbig, an American paratrooper and OSS man whose record notes service in China and as a small arms instructor.
CONDITION: Very good overall, with some broken shroud lines on the embroidered patch and mild wear overall.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
240 Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000