"Which Came First" ?????

[SIGGY]

Seeking help for a fellow "emblem" buff, needing info as to which emblems the 90th Fighter Squadron of the 80th Fighter Group cam first , the "Bear" or the "Bunny" ????? If you know please post the answer here , much thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stearmen]

You probably already know this, but, it appears the bear was the official patch, very late in the war, and Sluggo The Rabbit was an earlier unapproved patch. Sluggo was on quite a few planes, P-38 and P-47s and on jackets. So, if you are doing an early deployment CBI, Sluggo is your rabbit!

 

[SIGGY]

Stearman, do you have photos of the aircraft and jackets with the Rabbit, and do any of them have original dates proving he was first , I ask as a friend who's doing research on the two needs proof of when it was in use , thanks !!!!!!

 

[Stearmen]

I may be throwing a monkey wrench into your project. The photos are of Maxwell Glenn, who was with the 90th. As you can see, he had the rabbit on his jacket and plane. However, this is a early P-47C or even a B, so it would most likely be state side. There are a few models of a P-38 with that emblem on it, but I can find no actual photos of any real P-38. I am wondering if it was his personal patch and maybe a couple of other pilots copied it? I don't know. It obviously was first, but never official!

 

[SIGGY]

No , it was a "real" patch , but like you say "Unofficial" , many of them were and used anyway , thanks for the cool photos and no you haven't monkey wrenched my project research , much thanks !!!!!!!

 

[SIGGY]

Rabbit was first !!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally found out which was which , the Rabbit was first in use", the Bear "officially approved" 1945, but see the image for "Proof" of "Rabbit" being first ,check the "date" on the menu .......