American
Chest Insignia, 22nd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 22nd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated in February 1940, it became one of the three fighter squadrons of the 36th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts (fuselage code 3T ). After several months of intensive training in Florida, the squadron reached England in April 1944, where it was assigned to the 9th Air Force. Following ground-attack missions over France, the squadron took part in supporting Allied troops on June 6, 1944, and carried out numerous sorties throughout the Normandy campaign. This large insignia (13 cm in diameter) was worn by P-47 pilots on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 31st Fighter Squadron, 37th Fighter Group, 15th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 31st Fighter Squadron, 37th Fighter Group, 15th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated on January 1941, it became one of the three fighter squadrons of the 37th Fighter Group, equipped with P-38 Lightnings. After several months of intensive training in Washington state, the squadron reached Italy in November 1943, where it was assigned to the 15th Air Force. This large insignia (13 cm in diameter) was worn by P-38 pilots on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated in January 1943, it became one of the three fighter squadrons of the 357th Fighter Group, equipped with P-51 Mustangs (fuselage code B6 and red painted rudder). After several months of intensive training in California, the squadron arrived in England in November 1943, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force. Its primary missions were to provide escort for the B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers, while also carrying out ground attacks. It was the first squadron in the 8th Air Force to fly on P-51 Mustangs. On June 6, 1944, its mission was to to support the invasion from the air and attack strategic German installations. This large insignia (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by P-51 pilots on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 384th Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 384th Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated on June 1, 1943, it became one of the three fighter squadrons of the 364th Fighter Group, equipped with P-38 Lightnings (fuselage code 5Y). After several months of intensive training in Arizona, the squadron arrived in England in February 1944, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force. Its primary missions were to provide escort for the B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers, while also carrying out ground attacks. On June 6, 1944, its mission was to support the invasion from the air and attack strategic German installations. Starting in July 1944, the squadron will exchange its P-38 Lightnings for P-51 Mustangs. This large insignia (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by P-38 and P-51 pilots on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 422nd Night Fighter Squadron, 9th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 422nd Night Fighter Squadron, 9th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated on August 1, 1943, it became the night fighter squadron of the 71st Fighter Wing, equipped with P-61 Black Widows. After several months of intensive training in Florida, the squadron reached England in March 1944, where it was assigned to the 9th Air Force. After D-Day it was assigned to the Maupertu Airfield next to Cherbourg (Normandy). This large insignia (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by P-61 pilots on their A-2 jackets. The purpose of the night fighters is to counter the Luftwaffe's night offensives over Allied-held territory.
Chest Insignia, 430th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 430th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated on August 1, 1943, it became one of the three fighter squadrons of the 474th Fighter Group, equipped with P-38 Lightnings (fuselage code K6 in a circle). After several months of intensive training in the Mojave desert, the squadron reached England in February-March 1944, where it was assigned to the 9th Air Force. This large insignia (13 cm in diameter) was worn by P-38 pilots on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 509th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 509th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated in the fall of 1942, it became one of the four bomber squadrons of the 351st Bombardment Group (Heavy), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses (fuselage code: RQ ). After several months of intensive training in Texas, the squadron reached England in May 1943, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force. After several months of bombing German factories, the squadron bombed Normandy coast on D-Day and would take part to in many other missions during the Battle of Normandy. This large patch (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by B-17 crews on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 533rd Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 533rd Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated on November 3, 1942, it became one of the four bomber squadrons of the 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses (fuselage code VP ). After several months of intensive training, the squadron reached England in May-June 1943, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force. This large patch (14.5 cm in diameter) was worn by B-17 crews on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 53rd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 53rd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated on January 1, 1941, it became in 1943 one of the three fighter squadrons of the 36th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts (fuselage code 6V). After several months of intensive training in Puerto Rico and service in the Caribbean , the squadron arrived in England in April 1944, where it was assigned to the 9th Air Force. Its primary missions were to provide escort for the B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers, while also carrying out ground attacks. On June 6, 1944, its mission was to to support the invasion from the air and attack strategic German installations. This large insignia (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by P-47 pilots on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 547th Bombardment Squadron, 384th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 547th Bombardment Squadron, 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated in December 1942, it became one of the four bomber squadrons of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses (fuselage code: SO ). After several months of intensive training in Utah, the squadron reached England in May 1943, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force. After several months of bombing German factories, the squadron bombed Normandy coast on D-Day and would take part to in many other missions during the Battle of Normandy. This large patch (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by B-17 crews on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 553rd Bombardment Squadron, 386th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 553rd Bombardment Squadron, 386th Bombardment Group (Medium), 9th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated in December 1942, it became one of the four bomber squadrons of the 386th Bombardment Group (Medium), equipped with B-26 Marauders (fuselage code AN , yellow horizontal stripe on the rudder). After several months of intensive training in Louisiana, the squadron reached England in May 1943, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force until October, when it was transferred to the 9th Air Force. After several months of bombing German V1 and V2 rocket sites, the squadron bombed Utah Beach shore defences on D-Day and would take part in many other missions during the Battle of Normandy (Caen, Saint-Lô, Operation Cobra…). This large patch (12.5 cm in diameter) was worn by B-26 crews on their A-2 jackets.
Chest Insignia, 570th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, Leather
Superb reproduction of the chest badge of 570th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force, hand-painted on a piece of leather. Activated in January 1943, it became one of the four bomber squadrons of the 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses (fuselage code: DI ). After several months of intensive training in Montana, the squadron reached England in July 1943, where it was assigned to the 8th Air Force. After several months of bombing German factories, the squadron bombed Normandy coast on D-Day and would take part to in many other missions during the Battle of Normandy. This large patch (13 cm in diameter) was worn by B-17 crews on their A-2 jackets.
