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LOT 351
Historic Grouping of World War II American China-Burma-India Theater Patches, Including
a Scarce 1st Air Commando Rocker Patch - All patches in the group use heavy bullion wire
embroidery over a felt, cloth or velvet backing, with one Army Air Force “winged star” patch, two 10th
Air Force patches (one in silver wire with blue accents, the other in gold with a gold wreath border, a
1st Air Commando rocker patch (marked “1ST AIR COMMANDOS(sic)”), a Nationalist patch (American
style red/white/blue shield with embroidered 12-pointed Nationalist star on the blue field), and two
China-Burma-India patches (one with three snaps on the back). The 10th Air Force operated out of
India and Burma, and was responsible for the initial establishment of the “Hump” air link into China.
The 1st Air Commando (aka Project 9, 5318th Provisional Group (Air) and 1st Air Commando Group)
was established to provide the air element to transport and support British General Orde Wingate’s
“Chindit” Long Range Patrol Groups, in the process establishing a number of firsts in combat aviation,
including the first combat usage of helicopters for transport and casualty evacuation purposes.
CONDITION: Fair or better overall.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 349
Historic Grouping
of Chinese/Taiwan
Military Artifacts,
Chiefly Related
to the World
War II Chinese
Commandos -
Grouping includes a
gold bullion Chinese
jump wing, two
Chinese Commando
shoulder patches
(silver bullion
open canopies
over red thread
“large flying bird/
flying crane” text),
two CBI patches
(one embroidered cloth, one painted white leather), a “CHINESE 16 COMMANDO” rocker patch embroidered on roughly
cut black cloth, “parachute” patch on a separate piece of similar cloth, three “arrow through sun” enamel lapel pins, and a
“cherry blossom over V” patch in the style attributed to the Nationalist 203rd Division of the Youth Army. 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. The 203rd was reportedly
established by the Nationalists in the late days of World War II, with some sources attributing their training to the OSS; the
most prominent record of the unit is during the Second Taiwan Straight Crisis, having suffered heavy casualties as part of the
initial defense of the Kinmen Islands in the face of heavy Communist Chinese shelling and a following artillery blockade.
CONDITION: Fine overall, with minor wear and staining overall. The lapel pins show some small absent enamel flakes, and
the leather CBI patch has some fading ink.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 352
Historic Grouping of World
War II American Eastern
Front/China-Burma India
Artifacts - Group includes a
round embroidered felt patch
for the 8th Air force, a pair of
major/lieutenant commander
lapel insignia (gold embroidery
on square brown leather
backing), Eastern Command
patch (embroidered felt, with
a white star on a red star, wings to either side, and “EASTERN COMMAND/RUSSIA” surrounding at top
and bottom), a patch for the 89th Fighter Squadron (fully embroidered, featuring a skull shooting
lighting from its eyes, flames and clouds behind, on a spade-shaped background), and a Navy Group
China/SACO laminated ID marked and fingerprinted for a Herbert W. Beck. A component of the
80th Fighter Group, aka the Burma Banshees, the 89th Squadron was assembled in New Jersey and
deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, operating P-40 Warhawks, P-38 Lightnings, and P-47
Thunderbolts from bases in India and Burma in support of the Allied “Hump” air supply corridor,
engaging Japanese fighters and bombers, attacking Japanese logistics, and providing air support
to Chinese and American forces. The Sino-American Cooperative Organization was a joint project of
the U.S. Navy and the Nationalist Chinese, acting as an intelligence gathering/sharing organization
and training center; available records do put a Herbert W. Beck as a lieutenant with the organization,
though his exact role is unknown. The Eastern Command patch is chiefly associated with American
pilots who worked to ferry Lend-Lease aircraft from the United States to the Soviet Union.
CONDITION: Fine overall, with some creasing of the rank insignia, minimal staining on the 89th
Squadron patch, and minor handling marks overall.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 350
Historic Grouping of World War II Military Artifacts,
Chiefly China-Burma-India Related, Including a Jingpaw
Rangers Patch - Grouping includes a machine-stitched
patch for the Jingpaw Rangers, a China-Burma-India Theater
patch with embroidered silver wire stars and three snaps
on the back, single shoulder strap for a German Wehrmacht
artillery feldwebel (staff sergeant, gray cloth with silver
ribbon trim and one metal pip), two pieces of Japanese
occupation Burmese currency (rupee and half rupee bills),
and a rayon printed “blood chit” bearing the American flag
and a message of friendship towards the reader (and hostility
towards the Japanese) in 17 languages, including English,
French, Burmese, Thai, and others. With the exception of the
Wehrmacht shoulder strap, all
items in the grouping would
be appropriate bring-back
items for an American soldier or
sailor posted to the CBI Theater,
though no documentation
about the original owner/
owners is provided.
CONDITION: Fair overall. The one
rupee bill shows tape-repaired
tearing, the blood chit shows
some fraying on the edges and
ink staining/transference, and
the cloth items are very good.
Provenance: The Putnam
Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500