any idea what this patch is?

RobW · 16 January 2008, 02:44 AM

I recognize the First Army patch... but not sure what this is sewn into it.

The owner is claiming one thing, but I'd like to hear what you folks have to say.

Jim · 16 January 2008, 07:13 AM

The large A is for First Army as you mention. The red blue and white roundel is for its aviation section. The three legs on the roundel I don't know but my guess is they given that it is three legs my theory is that it could be for the enlisted men who were messengers/dispatch carriers rather than anything flight related.

Without seeing the patch up close it is hard to say whether this is an original period patch or something newer. There are a great many fakes of WW I patches on the market and aviation ones are the most reproduced of them all. From what I can see in the photo my suspicion is that it is a reproduction. My reasoning is that the aviation roundel is a bit large and covers the crossbar in the A. The First Army originals with supplemental section markings I have seen before have their supplemental markings a bit smaller and located in the open area under the crossbar and between the lower arms of the A. Also, the condition of this one appears in the photo to be suspiciously too good to be true. A real WW I patch will be 90 years old and you normally don't see them in such "as nice and bright and crisp and clean as if it were made recently" condition.

What does the seller say the patch is?

RobW · 16 January 2008, 01:24 PM

Here is what the auction says... I knew the 20th aero part was bogus... but I figured I'd see what other folks had to say...

THIS IS A MINT PATCH FOR THE 20TH AERO SQUADRON OF THE FIRST ARMY. THE 20TH WAS A BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON WITH THE FIRST ARMY. THIS PATCH IS OF THE PERIOD. IT WAS FOUND IN THE EFFECTS OF A WWI HOSPITAL NURSE SO WAS PROBABLY MADE FOR USE AS PHYSICAL THERAPY TO MAKE A SEW-ON PATCH BLANKET. OVERSIZE AT 5.5 BY 3.75 INCHES. ALL WOOL-ON-WOOL CONSTRUCTION. DEFINITELY FROM THE 1919-1920 ERA AND NOT A LATER REMAKE. I HAVE SEVERAL PATCHES FROM THE SAME NURSE'S ESTATE. A BEAUTIFUL PATCH.

Item number: 280192156245

ONEALM · 16 January 2008, 01:41 PM

RobW -
The 20th Aero did adopt the "three-legged" squadron insignia, but it was unofficialand I have never seen it used on anything related to the 20th. It's clearly ID'd in the late Duncan Campbell's book Aviation Badges and Insignia of the US Army 1914-1946.

As far as I have ever seen, the only insignia in use in any "official" 20th Aero capacity was the circular "Mad Bomber" insignia.

I have to agree with Jim though - looks awfully clean to be produced in 1919-1920. I've seen some remarkable well preserved pieces that I know are original - still with the families - but this one is scary clean.

FWIW, French Escadrille MF 2 used a very similar unit insignia.

Mike