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Colonel's shoulder patch

Discussion in 'Medals, Insignia, Badges & Recalls' started by scoop650, Apr 15, 2014.

  1. scoop650

    scoop650 New Member

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    Hello All -

    In a Hemingway novel, Across the River and into the Trees, the protagonist wears a colonel's shoulder patch on his left shoulder, a silver eagle with outstretched wings. Later in the novel, he is described as wearing such a patch on each shoulder.

    Are these eagle patches worn on one or both shoulder, or are there certain rules? Any information would be much appreciated.

    thank you,

    Mark
     
    scoop650, Apr 15, 2014
    #1
  2. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    One on each shoulder, with the feet of the eagle lateral to the wearer's centerline, on the shoulder at the junction of the sleeve and shoulder.
     
    Slipdigit, Apr 15, 2014
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  3. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

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    Buten42, Apr 15, 2014
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  4. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Could anybody enlighten me on why the bars...the leaves and the birds? Where did this come from? Australia uses the British system...thats where we got ours...
     
    CAC, Apr 15, 2014
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  5. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Wiki or Google can explain it better and probably faster than I can. Olive branches, shield & scroll and such.

    On another side note;

    The Silver braid (Air Force) on the visor is known as "Farts & Darts". I'll leave you to your own interpretation for that :)
     
    Biak, Apr 15, 2014
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  6. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I've never learned the method of denoting officer ranks in the British Army. It involves the use of crowns and stripes, right? The rank structure in the RAF baffles me even more so.
     
    Slipdigit, Apr 15, 2014
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  7. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    LRusso216, Apr 15, 2014
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  8. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Its pretty simple really...chevrons and a crown patch for NCOs
    Officers have pips and crowns.
    2LT - 1 pip
    LT - 2 pips
    Capt - 3 Pips
    Maj - crown
    LtCol - 1 crown 1 pip
    Col - 1 crown 2 pips
    Brig - 1 crown 3 pips
    General - Crossed swords...and pips and crown (depending on level).
     
    CAC, Apr 15, 2014
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  9. formerjughead

    formerjughead The Cooler King

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    Hemmingway was big on symbolism, don't hink too much on it as a uniform item; instead, think about how that was used to develope the charecter of the colonel in the book.
     
    formerjughead, Apr 16, 2014
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