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Help Identifying Badges, Patches, Medals, Pins,etc

Discussion in 'Medals, Insignia, Badges & Recalls' started by dga99, May 9, 2012.

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  1. dga99

    dga99 Member

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    I am trying to create a shadow box display of all of my father's medals, patches, badges, lapel pins, hat pin,etc that he may have worn. He was a PFC, Rifleman 745, with the 441st Bomb Squad of the 320th Bomb Group and served in Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was in the Army, AC arm, AUS component. What do these initials mean? I always thought that he was in the regular Army. Is "AC" mean Air Corps? What would a Rifleman do in a bomb squadron?
    Can anyone identify any of the patches, medals, badges, lapel pins, hat pin from the attached photo? My father is on the right side. The photo is not very clear and I can't identify any of them. Also his photo from basic training.
    Thanks,
    Darryl Andrews
     

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    dga99, May 9, 2012
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  2. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Biak, May 9, 2012
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  3. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    The pins on his overseas cap and jacket lapels are distinctive unit insignia, which back then were usually worn to signify regiment-sized units, unless the man belonged to a smaller unit that did not have a regiment-sized parent unit.

    A "group" in the WWII era United States Army Air Corps/Force (it changed names) was a regiment sized unit. During the war, the "Air Force" was part of the Army.

    Here is the DUI for the 320th Bombardment Group.

    [​IMG]

    It's general outline matches the general outline of the DUI that your father is wearing.

    As far as him being a rifleman, he could have been part of the airfield security, which was part of the group's service squadron. Just a guess, though.
     

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    Slipdigit, May 9, 2012
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  4. dga99

    dga99 Member

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    My father is LESLIE M. ANDREWS from Livingston Parish, LA and enlisted at New Orleans. I don't know where he did his basic training. The man on the left is a friend of my father whose name is unknown. I don't know if my father has the same patch on his right shoulder since it cannot be seen in the photo. What does "General Headquarters Reserve, NOS WWII" mean?
     
    dga99, May 9, 2012
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  5. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    The "NOS" is for the seller id of "new-old-stock", nothing military. I'll edit that :) I think the reserve is referring to those assigned to HQ as replacement or reinforcements troops held in check.
    Good luck.

    edit: I found a little better explanation of the GHQR patch;
    "The General Headquarters Reserve patch was worn by units who were not part of divisional organizations."

    That would coincide with the picture being taken just after basic. Maybe? :confused:
     
    Biak, May 9, 2012
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  6. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Where did you get the info about General Reserve Headquarters? Where was the picture made and when? In the US, during or after the war?
    The reason I ask is if the GRH info was on his separation papers, it could mean that it was the unit he was attached to when he got out and not the unit he fought with.


    AUS = "Army of the United States." That means he was a draftee and not Regular Army or National Guard.
     
    Slipdigit, May 9, 2012
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  7. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Can you post his DD 214 if you have it? That would give us something better to look at to figure out what is missing. Of course clearer pictures would help too, but we will have to work with what you give us.

    How did you determine him to be a rifleman? All recruits receive basic rifle marksmanship in basic training. That could possibly be one of those four bars hanging under his qualification badge.
     
    A-58, May 9, 2012
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  8. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    It looks as though he was a Private, First Class (PFC) from the single rocker on his left arm. His weapons qualifications pin seems to indicate that he was an Expert on several weapons. The pin deems to have an Oak Leaf cluster around it. Clearer pictures and a copy of his DD-214 would help/
    [​IMG]
     
    LRusso216, May 9, 2012
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  9. RD3

    RD3 Member

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    The photos are reversed: left is right, right is left. Strange that your father wears his Expert badges on the right side.
     
    RD3, May 10, 2012
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  10. RD3

    RD3 Member

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  11. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    You might be right. Only a clearer picture would answer which.
     
    LRusso216, May 10, 2012
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  12. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    You are correct. I usually look for that and don't know why I didn't this time.
     
    Slipdigit, May 10, 2012
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  13. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Yeah I missed it too. Good catch history detective!
     
    A-58, May 10, 2012
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  14. RD3

    RD3 Member

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    General Headquarters Reserve means that units were still in training or not yet assignated to a division. A typical example can be seen in the series 'Band of Brothers' where 'Easy company' wears the patch when they are training in Camp Tacoa.
     
    RD3, May 11, 2012
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  15. dga99

    dga99 Member

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    The picture probably was taken shortly after basic training but I don't know where. I also believe the badge to be a expert qualifications badge with four bars for different weapons. What type of design would the two circle lapel pins have had on them? I'm sure one would have been "US" but would the other be something different? During his service would he have worn the 441st Bomb Squad or 320th Bomb Group patch on his shoulder? I'm having trouble finding a place to purchase these patches or pins? Any suggestions?
    In particular, I'm still confused about what activities and actions he would have performed as a "Rifleman" in a bomb squadron. I'm slowly figuring out a few more details.
    I'm having trouble attaching the separation and discharge documents to this reply. Maybe because they are too large. I'll try another way.
    Thanks to all who have replied.
    Darryl Andrews
     
    dga99, May 11, 2012
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  16. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    You can go online and check with U.S. Cavalry - Proudly Serving Military and Law Enforcement Professionals or my favorite, Military and Law Enforcement Gear, bdu's, police,uniforms,swat,insignia,knives,rucksacks,gore-tex,flashlights,nomex,camping supplies,survival supplies @ Ranger Joes for any and all uniform brass and assorted paraphernalia. They are sort of like army surplus stores online. Be careful with your credit card or you will end up with a lot of neat stuff that you really don't need, just like when going into a brick and mortar surplus store.

    One of the two discs on the lapel that you mention denotes the wearers branch of assignment and the other is a "US". Not sure what that "Rifleman 745" means, but possibly it could mean his classification in basic training. Everyone is a basic rifleman until they go to their primary MOS (military occupation specialty) training.

    As far as I know, there were no riflemen assigned to bomber squadrons. Airfield security would have been the responsibility of the MPs unless the airfield was in a forward area, then available infantry units would have provided security for the outer perimeters, and the MPs would have been responsible for the interior. Until you find a way to post his DD214 we can only offer educated guesses to you.
     
    A-58, May 11, 2012
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  17. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    There are many places on the web where you can purchase patches, chevrons and such (post#2 link is one & google military badges & insignia) but I'd hold off until you're sure. I do believe the qualification badge in the picture is Army due to the "notch" seen on top of the badge where the tip of the propeller would be on the AAF badge. I checked the 348th Fighter Group files I have and at the end of the War literally hundreds of personnel were routed through the Group for deployment back to the States, so the reference to the 441st/320th may be, as mentioned above, an assignment just on paper for the transfer home.
    Keep putting as much as you can up here and I'm confident we'll figure this out.
     
    Biak, May 11, 2012
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  18. dga99

    dga99 Member

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    It says that the files are too large to upload. If you can email me at the below address then I can send them for you to look at.
    Thanks

    dga99@hotmail.com
     
    dga99, May 11, 2012
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  19. dga99

    dga99 Member

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    Use can view and download my father's discharge and separation papers at the following URL from Walgreens photos. Please send me any comments or feedback.
    Thanks,
    Darryl

    Walgreens Photo Center | Share:Registration

    http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=17903644006/a=1357539006_1357539006/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walgreens/
     
    dga99, May 11, 2012
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  20. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Darryl, now that you have them uploaded to a website you should be able to right click on the picture, left click to " copy image location ", then click the upload icon above the quick reply box - third from the left, and paste in the " from url ". I'll go find my walgreens account and take a look at the pictures.
     
    Biak, May 11, 2012
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