Patches on your A-2

Imahomer · Dec 2, 2008

Surely someone here has had a military patch put on their A-2. I'm wondering if anyone who did this had any problems. Is there a trick to it? I would guess you most probably go to a cobbler, but that's just a guess.

ANY information, suggestions, or ideas would be appreciated.

DBLIII · Dec 2, 2008

As you said "ANY," I'll comment, but not regarding A-2s specifically, since I'm waiting on an A-2 just now - I have had an incredible amount of patches sewn on motorcycle heavy cowhide leather jackets and vests. I'd ask a biker as the people I've run into who sew patches on biker leathers have the heavy sewing machines to do it, and they also know how to hold a jacket while the machine is running so that it all comes out aligned correctly.
I have asked several cobblers over the years for this work but found none who would do it. I'm Missouri, South Dakota and Pennsylvania. Your results may vary with cobblers. But, the motorcycle crowd has this stuff done all the time. They'll know.

Imahomer · Dec 2, 2008

Boy does that make sense!

AARP · Dec 2, 2008

Although my patches were bouillon, I just had my tailor do it and it turned out nice.

Imahomer · Dec 2, 2008

But, it shouldn't be a problem with a regular cloth patch. Correct?

Rick · Feb 4, 2009

Where to place an AAF star and wing patch though?

I put this elsewhere, but I don't really know what I'm doing yet.
I've been trying to find info on where to place an AAF star and wings patch.

Also trying to decide what type to go with; decal, felt patch, or leather.

I don't want to place my A-2 to any time or theatre during WWII.

Just want to add a little bit to the jacket without making it particularly distinguishable.

I've seen leather on the right arms of Burma India jackets

I've seen decals on the left arms of many

Haven't seen any cloth ones yet though.

Seems like the Air Force one belonged to typically is on the left arm

But then the Burma India coats are the only ones I've seen with it on the right.

I know there seems to be no REAL right answer, but what do you know?

Thanks

Peacoat · Feb 4, 2009

Imahomer said:
Surely someone here has had a military patch put on their A-2. I'm wondering if anyone who did this had any problems. Is there a trick to it? I would guess you most probably go to a cobbler, but that's just a guess.

ANY information, suggestions, or ideas would be appreciated.

I take my motorcycle patches to my seamstress. They go on the vest. I have never put one on a jacket, which may be a little thicker or more difficult to get to if it is a shoulder patch. Take it to a seamstress or a tailor and see what they say. If not, then a cobbler would certainly have the heavy duty machine.

Nighthawk · Feb 4, 2009

Rick said:
I put this elsewhere, but I don't really know what I'm doing yet.
I've been trying to find info on where to place an AAF star and wings patch.

http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/a2paq.shtml#TOC-13

The full Acme Depot website has lots of great info.

NH

Rick · Feb 4, 2009

Nighthawk said:
http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/a2paq.shtml#TOC-13

The full Acme Depot website has lots of great info.

NH

Agreed but Acme Depot seems to be getting dated for current info not that what I'm asking is current.

His info on patches really didn't address this one. All I've been able to find is Decal put on any jacket that issued or re-issued after '43.

Aero has made my jacket already and tell me they can't put a decal on it because of how they do it. I'm to scared to do it myself with an iron!

So if I put a leather patch on the arm, which arm should I put it on ya think?
I've mostly seen the airforce (8th, 10th, etc.) on the left.

Probably searching for an answer that doesn't really exist.
Anyone have pictures of an AAF leather patch on the Left arm or right arm?

newsboy · Feb 5, 2009

Rick-

As far as I know
The generic Army Air Force patch goes on the left shoulder.
The right shoulder, if adorned, would carry either a theatre patch or specific AF patch. (such as 5th, 8th etc.)

Rick · Feb 6, 2009

leather or fabric then

I swore I've seen air force patches ie; 8th air force... on the left.
but okay then. Anyone see fabric AAF Wing and STar patches on a jacket or only leather? And if leather, only in the pacific or europe?
Too much to know.

Harp · Feb 6, 2009

Imahomer said:
Surely someone here has had a military patch put on their A-2. I'm wondering if anyone who did this had any problems. Is there a trick to it? I would guess you most probably go to a cobbler, but that's just a guess.

ANY information, suggestions, or ideas would be appreciated.

I served in the 101st Airborne and wear the division Screaming Eagle
and 502nd Infantry Regiment insignia with a cobra patch and leather name tag strip
sewn by a post tailor at Ft Campbell, Kentucky.
...only problem was wearing it on post.

lol

HoosierDaddy · Feb 6, 2009

Rick said:
Agreed but Acme Depot seems to be getting dated for current info not that what I'm asking is current.

His info on patches really didn't address this one. All I've been able to find is Decal put on any jacket that issued or re-issued after '43.

Aero has made my jacket already and tell me they can't put a decal on it because of how they do it. I'm to scared to do it myself with an iron!

So if I put a leather patch on the arm, which arm should I put it on ya think?
I've mostly seen the airforce (8th, 10th, etc.) on the left.

Probably searching for an answer that doesn't really exist.
Anyone have pictures of an AAF leather patch on the Left arm or right arm?

In the European theater the AAF Headquarters sleeve roundel(winged star) was most often worn on the left sleeve. Usually an applied decal...painted.. Bullion..and least often a cloth/wool patch...or in the Mediterranean theater could be of tooled leather. It was not uncommon for an 8th AAF sleeve roundel to be present on the left sleeve..if no winged patch. If winged patch was present..8th,etc could be seen on the right sleeve...but not so common. Usually it was either the winged star..or 8th on left sleeve. In the Pacific Theater it was common that the CBI shield was placed on the left sleeve with winged star on the right....often of leather layered design. In other Pacific circumstances...the 7th...5th...13thAAF,etc were placed on the left shoulder.
I have seen the CBI shield on right shoulder and wing star on left worn in the Pacific...but it's a rarity.
A good book to see photos is "American Flight Jackets,Airmen & Aircraft.
HD

Rick · Feb 6, 2009

HoosierDaddy said:
In the European theater the AAF Headquarters sleeve roundel(winged star) was most often worn on the left sleeve. Usually an applied decal...painted.. Bullion..and least often a cloth/wool patch...or in the Mediterranean theater could be of tooled leather. It was not uncommon for an 8th AAF sleeve roundel to be present on the left sleeve..if no winged patch. If winged patch was present..8th,etc could be seen on the right sleeve...but not so common. Usually it was either the winged star..or 8th on left sleeve. In the Pacific Theater it was common that the CBI shield was placed on the left sleeve with winged star on the right....often of leather layered design. In other Pacific circumstances...the 7th...5th...13thAAF,etc were placed on the left shoulder.
I have seen the CBI shield on right shoulder and wing star on left worn in the Pacific...but it's a rarity.
A good book to see photos is "American Flight Jackets,Airmen & Aircraft.
HD

That was the best info I've found yet. That also seems to sum up the idea that there is no right answer. Seems like you could pretty much put anything on these jackets and find one somewhere that did it that way... maybe not many, but one somewhere.
That tells me that a leather patch would put it in the pacific, or Mediterranean then. Before the decal, what did they use? or did they?
I think maybe I'll just have a 48 star flag painted up instead. That would be easy.

jack miranda · Feb 6, 2009

I posted to another thread about this topic here at FL.

I'll quote it here.

jack miranda said:
Here are the patches I chose for my GW A-2 and why I put them on where I did. The patches in these pics belonged to my Dad. The top one is easily recognizable as the CBI theatre patch. Dad served in the 'forgotten war' in Burma. He strung power lines along the Burma Road as it was being built, bypassing the long segment held by the Japanese. Once the Road was done, soldiers who had worked on it were given the 'privilige' of driving an Army 6X all 1,110 miles from Lido, India to Kunming, China. Two weeks with eight fifty-five gallon drums of plane fuel in the back, driving sunup to sundown. At the end, in Kunming, GI's were on their own to get back to India. Dad hitched a ride with an AAF transport flying over the 'hump'. He was issued no parachute.

The lower patch was given only to soldiers who had driven the Road. It's a good bet this is a patch no pilot ever wore. I put them both there, inside my A-2, next to my heart. When I wore the jacket out to see Dad for the first time, and pulled it open to show him what had become of the patches on his moth-chewed service blouse, I knew I'd done well. He beamed.

I'm not a big fan of patches on jackets, unless I earned them personally. I've made an exception with these two.

SIGGY · Feb 19, 2009

star and wing patch

this is probably a repetative answer but here goes, as to the winged star ,i have seen approx 90% of leather jackets in real wartime photos either had the decal or nothing , the cloth or bullion types i have usually seen only on the Ike type and dress wool clothing, yes there were leather ones on A-2's but as mentioned usually on the right sleeve,and about this i usually have noticed that there already was a winged star on left so it only left the "right side open for a specific "numbered" AAF,if you want a non specific area I would just go with getting the decal put on your A-2 or have someone paint it directly on that knows how to properly do that.
just my two cents worth.

Rick · Feb 19, 2009

Water Decal anyone?

SIGGY said:
if you want a non specific area I would just go with getting the decal put on your A-2 or have someone paint it directly on that knows how to properly do that.
just my two cents worth.

I think you're right and that's what I decided on. Bet you could find anything done at least once, but I want to be generic.
Found a water decal that goes on with some leather glue that looks original.
Saw someone selling New Old Stock water decals claimed from WWII so maybe that's how the did them. Anyone know.

Have my Seal Real Deal Aero and should have decal soon.
Anxious and worried a bit to try.
Anyone use one like this before?

Thanks

aswatland · Feb 19, 2009

I bought a NOS water USAAF decal for an A2 two years ago on ebay. When I soaked it in water as per the instructions it fragmented! So my advice is to only buy a new repro decal.

Rick · Feb 19, 2009

Ouch! Saw them trying to sell for $60 too!
Anyone with success?

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