Where to start learning ? Research an air unit you find meaningful to YOU.

These reproduction patches of the 8th Air Force and the 381st Bombardment Group (below) will soon be for sale. They are smaller than the original patches worn on their jackets around the base yet something as simple as a COLORFUL UNIT PATCH can serve as the beginning to learning so much more...

2nd Lt. John J. Anderson, 381st Bomb Group, 533rd Sqaudron pilot wearing his squadron's patch.

BACKGROUND and NOTES

Developing a comprehensive and authoritative history of US Air Force patches is challenging.  The World War II era patches often represent a confusing array of designs and implementations which were produced both professionally and privately.  The 1st Lt. T.P. Sherwood Archives Research Center is constantly updating the archives with new, well sourced information. Archival information is presented as responsibly as possible.  Every effort is made to determine a valid provenance, and document the sources, for the information we share.  Primary source information is our goal yet bearing in mind even individual, primary, sourced material may occasionally differ from some officially published sources. We welcome valid corrections, comments and updated information to add to our archival comments and notes.

It is interesting to note that some units and squadrons did not have an insignia at the beginning of their operations.  There is a good example of this evolution to an adopted insignia in 1st Lt. Sherwood’s archival material (below). 
  It is helpful to see the patches as a grouping from Air Force number (8th, 9th, 12th, ...) , to Unit, or in this case Bombardment Group, and then individual squadron patches. 

Interestingly, in our archival material there is an original patch of the 305th Bomb Group’s 422nd Bomb Squadron; Sherwood’s first assigned unit.  On the back 1st Lt. Sherwood has hand written to his wife Agnes…

“This is our squadron insignia, Dear, can’t wear it in combat. Let’s put it in our scrap book!  Major McGeehee says this insignia represents “a drunken wolf laying down on the job”. Well, Honey, will not comment, I guess, but keep it as a souvenir, huh? I love you, Agnes Your Pax”

Source: 1st Lt TP Sherwood Archives, Item: 400_069. Original 305th BG, 422 Bomb Squadron patch.

Note that 1st LT. T.Paxton Sherwood wrote, "can't wear it in combat". American intelligence did not want to give the Germans extra information about the airmen should they be shotdown and become a prisoners of war .
However, interestingly, in Richard Toliver's book, about Hans-Joachim Scharff's book The Interregator, he writes that airmen brought their own photo, in their escape kit., If they connected with the French resistance, the photo could then be used to forge fake passport papers for evading capture. Toliver goes on, "Every air station in England had its own photographer. These photographs! Each airman must pose in civilian clothing and, quite naturally, none had mufti with them in England, so the photographer at each base thoughtfully collected one civilian suit, one shirt, one necktie. He dressed each airman in these same clothes and the photo was placed in the escape kit. Likewise, the photographer always used the same background in the pictures. Also, each photographer had his own particular way of cutting and trimming the final prints. That makes it possible for a German ack-ack sergeant to say, without fail the moment he looks at the confiscated escape kit picture, to which military unit the subject in the photograph belongs." He (Scharff) loved to work out his scheme systematically and soon he knew all the suits, shirts, ties, striped or checkered, in Wattisham and Debden, Mount Farm, and Biggin Hill. He was able to classify by memory each bomber and fighter unit within the United Kingdom after a quick glance at the picture. At least not wearing unit patches in combat made the Germans work to get the information they had on our airmen!

Source: Toliver, Raymond F., The Interrogator: The Story of Hanns Scharff Luftwaffe's Master Interrogator, Aero Publishers, 1978, USA. p. 56.

305th Bpombardment Group
422nd SQUADRON

FRONT of PATCH

Item: 400_069. Original 305th BG, 422 Bomb Squadron patch

305th Bpombardment Group
422nd SQUADRON

BACK of PATCH

Item: 400_069. Original 305th BG, 422 Bomb Squadron patch

As you will find learning about units there will be varying information on the design. Sometimes there are logical reasons and then other times the difference is not well documented. This design was noted by a primary source - 1st Lt. T.P. Sherwood's actual original unit patch with an explanation in his handwriting on the back of the patch. Mauer Mauer's design is different in the Government book.
We are researching the issue and will update the related dates and design notes as soon as we have completed the research. The emblem on the let is accurate.- JWS Steward & Archivist.
Source of 305th Bomb Group, 422nd Squadron drunken wolf unit patch: 1st Lt. T.P. Sherwood Archives Item 400_069.

Source of black & white image (above): Mauer, Mauer, Editor. Air Force Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II, Alfred Stimson Historical Research Center and Office of the Air Force Headquarters USAF, US Govt. Print Off., Washington D.C. 1982. p. 517.

AIR FORCE

8th

GROUP

381st Bombardment Group

Constituted as 381st Bobardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942. Activated on 3 Nov 1942. Used B-17's in preparing for duty overseas. Moved to England, May-Jun 1943, and assigned to Eighth AF. Served in combat from Jun 1943 to Apr 1945, operating chiefly against strategic objectives on the Continent. Specific targets included an assembly plant at Villacoublay, an aerodrome AtAmiens, locks at St. Nazaire, an aircraftengine factoryat LeMans, nitrate works in Norway, aircraftplants in Brussels, industrial areas of Munster, U-boat yards at Kiel, marshalling yards at Offenberg, aircraft factories at Kassel, aircraft assembly plants at Leipzig, oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen, and ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt. Received a DUC for performance 8 Oct 1943 when shipyards at Bremen were bombed accurately in spite of enemy fighter attacks and heavy flak. Received second DUC for similar action 11 Jan 1944 during a mission against aircraft factories in central Germany. Participated in intensive campaign of heavy bombers against enemy aircraft factories during Big Week 20-25 Feb 1944. Often supported ground troops and attacked targets of interdiction when not engaged in strategic bombardment. Supported the invasion of June 44 by bombing bridges and airfields near beachhead. Attacked enemy positions in advance of ground forces at St. Lo in July 44. Assisted the airborne assault on Holland in Sep. Struck airfields and communications near battlefield during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944 - Jan 1945. Supported the Allied crossing of the Rhine in Mar 1945 and then operated against communication and transport in the final push through Germany. Returned to the US, Jun - Jul 1945. Inactivated 28 Aug 1945.
Redesignated 381st Bomb Group (Very Heavy) alotted to the reserve. Activated on Jul 1947. Inactivated 27 June 1949.
Squadrons. 509th: 1948-1949. 510th: 1948-1949. 532nd: 1942-1945; 1947-1949. 533rd: 1942-1945. 534th: 1942-1945; 1947-1948. 535th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949.
Stations. Gowen Field Idaho, 3 Nov 1942; Ephrata, Wash, c. I Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex, c. 3 Jan 1943; Pueblo AAB, Colo, c, 5 Apr-c. 9 May 1943; Ridgewell, England, Jun 1943-Jun 1945; Sioux Fall AAFld SD Jul 28 Aug 1945. Offett, Neb, 24 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.
Commanders. Colonel Joseph J. Nazarro, Jan 1943; Col Harry P Leber Jr, c. 9 Jan 1944; Lt Conway S Hall, 6 Feb 1945- unkn.
Campaigns. Air Offensive Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Imit Citations: Germany, 8 Oct 1943; Germany, 11 Jan 1944.
Insigne. None.
This is incorrect in Mauer, Mauer's History of Units. We are researching the 535th emblem and will update the related dates and design notes as soon as we have completed the research. The emblem on the let is accurate.- JWS Steward & Archivist.
Source: Mauer, Mauer, Editor. Air Force Combat Units of WWII, Platinum Press. US Govt. Print Off., Washington D.C. 1961.

SQUADRONS

Lineage. Constituted 532d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 29 Oct 1942. Activated on 3 Nov 1942. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Activated in the reserve on 20 Dec 1946. Redesignated 532d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 27 Dec 1946. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 532d Strategic Missle Squadron, and activated on 29 Nov 1961. Organized on Mar 1 1962.
Assignments. 381st Bombardment Group, 3 Nov 1942-28 Aug 1945. Second Air Force, 20 Dec 1946; 381st Bombardment Group, 30 Sep 1947-27 Jun 1949. Strategic Air Command, 29 Nov 1961; 381st Strategic Missle Wing, 1 Mar 1962-.
Stations. Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Nov 1942; Ephrata, Wash, 1 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex 27 Dec 1942; PuebloAAB, Colo, 6 Apr-10 May 1943; Ridgewell, England, 2 Jun 1943-24 Jun 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 3 Jul-28 Aug 1945. Offutt Field, Neb, 20 Dec 1946-27 Jun 1949. MCConnell AFB, Kan, 1 Mar 1962-.
Aircraft and Missles. B-17, 1942-1945. Titan, 1963-.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 22 Jun 1943-25 Apr 1945.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Cobat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations; Germany, 8 Oct 1943; Germany 11 Jan 1944.
Emblem. On a scarlet disc, a white flying Trojan horse, outlined in black, winged with fortress wingsultramarine blue, edged white, having a golden lance spike on the knee of each foreleg, eyes red, and breathing jagged golden orange lightening flash from each nostril. (Approved 4 Oct 1943.)

532nd

533rd

Lineage. Constituted 533d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942. Activated on 3 Nov 1942. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Redesignated 533d Strategic Missle Squadron, and activated, on 26 Feb 1962. Organized on 1 Aug 1962.
Assignments. 381st Bombardment Group, 3 Nov 1942-28 Aug 1945. Strategic Air Command, 26 Feb 1962: 381st Strategic Missle Wing, 1 Aug 1962-.
Stations. Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Nov 1942; Ephrata, Wash, 1 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex 27 Dec 1942; PuebloAAB, Colo, 6 Apr-10 May 1943; Ridgewell, England, 2 Jun 1943-24 Jun 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 3 Jul-28 Aug 1945. McConnel AFB Kan, 1 Aug 1962-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1943.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 22 Jun 1943-25 Apr 1945.Trained for operations with Titan, 1 Aug 1962.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Cobat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations; Germany, 8 Oct 1943; Germany 11 Jan 1944.
Emblem. Over and through a black disc, wide border yellow, a death's head proper, wearing a light red helmet with visor up, plume white, all in front of a light blue aerial bomb placed diagonally across the disc. (Approved 4 Sep 1943.)

Lineage. Constituted 534th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942. Activated on 3 Nov 1942. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Redesignated 534th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 28 Jan 1947, Activated in the reserve on 27 Feb 1947. Inactivated 27 Jun 1949.
Assignments: 381st Bombardment Group, 3 Nov 1942-28 Aug 1945. Second Air Force, 27 Feb 1947; 381st Bombardment Group, 30 Sep 1947; 351st Bombardment Group, 3 May 1948-27 Jun 1949.
Stations. Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Nov 1942; Ephrata, Wash, 1 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex 27 Dec 1942; PuebloAAB, Colo, 6 Apr-10 May 1943; Ridgewell, England, 2 Jun 1943-24 Jun 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 3 Jul-28 Aug 1945.. Sioux City AAB, Iowa, 27 Feb 1947-27 Jun 1949.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1945.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 22 Jun 1943-25 Apr 1945.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Cobat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations; Germany, 8 Oct 1943; Germany 11 Jan 1944.
Emblem. Over and through a lemon yellow disc, border triparted red, white, and blue, a prehistoric bat, in flight, red and white, with wings black, trimmed yellow, snorting steam from the nostrils, and grasping a small black aerial bomb in each foot. (Approved 11 Sep 1944.)

534th

535th

Lineage. Constituted 534th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942. Activated on 3 Nov 1942. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Redesignated 534th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 25 August 1947. Activated in the reserve 15 Sep 1947, Inactivated 27 Jun 1945.
Assignments: 381st Bombardment Group, 3 Nov 1942-28 Aug 1945. 381st Bombardment Group, 15 Sep 1947-27 Jun 1949.
Stations. Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Nov 1942; Ephrata, Wash, 1 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex 27 Dec 1942; PuebloAAB, Colo, 6 Apr-10 May 1943; Ridgewell, England, 2 Jun 1943-24 Jun 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 3 Jul-28 Aug 1945.. Sioux City AAB, Iowa, 27 Feb 1947-27 Jun 1949.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1945.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 22 Jun 1943-25 Apr 1945.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Cobat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations; Germany, 8 Oct 1943; Germany 11 Jan 1944.
Emblem. None.
This is incorrect in Mauer, Mauer's History of Units. We are researching the 535th emblem and will update the related dates and design notes as soon as we have completed the research. The emblem on the left is accurate.- JWS Steward & Archivist.