Looking for a Patch/ WW2 USN VPB-105

[Cyril]

I posted an AN-J3a jacket that a pilot who served in VPB-105 flying from Dunkewell/UK wore in 1944/1945. The units insignia was the one below (policeman).
I could not find any pictures of this being a patch on a jacket (neither painted on a plane...). You can find several pictures of pilots with patched jackets being in VPB-103 based in Dunkeswell at the same time. They had a nice Bugs Bunny one...
Does anyone knows something about the policeman-patch or has a photo of it?

 

[JonnyCrow]

Original RKO studios patch

eBay

 

[JonnyCrow]

eBay

 

[JonnyCrow]

Also back stamped Max Berman, looks a nice patch to me, seen a few max Berman canvas patches

 

[JonnyCrow]

WWII USAAF BUGS BUNNY WITH BOMB 324 BOMB SQDN 991 BG 8 TH AAF PATCH | eBay

WWII USAAF BUGS BUNNY WITH BOMB 324 BOMB SQDN 991 BG 8 TH AAF PATCH | Collectibles, Militaria, WW II (1939-45) | eBay!

www.ebay.ie

 

[Cyril]

nice! there must have been a lot different bunnies around at the time The "policeman" though is the one i can't find anything on...

 

[JonnyCrow]

nice! there must have been a lot different bunnies around at the time The "policeman" though is the one i can't find anything on...

That keystone cop I have never seen haha meanwhile here's a good original photo

 

[Cyril]

who is that?

 

[JonnyCrow]

No idea haha looks like Paul Newman a little

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

The Policeman patch is the early design for US Navy

 

[Cyril]

Interesting, thanks. Does that mean you really had different squadrons using the same insignia? Have you ever seen it on a jacket?

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

That keystone cop I have never seen haha meanwhile here's a good original photo View attachment 88429

Patch on left in image is the AAF 367th Bombardment Squadron, patch on right 332nd Bombardment Squadron, the guy got around ......

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

Interesting, thanks. Does that mean you really had different squadrons using the same insignia? Have you ever seen it on a jacket?

Yes, the Navy during WW2 and latter had a bad habit of using many of the same images for the units when they changed "designations/missions" it makes for a very hard time in tracing thier operations and lineages ....... so far I haven't seen it on a jacket , usually the older ones like this one were only on the aircraft noses etc , but that's not to say it wasn't ever made into/worn as a patch ....

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

Look into the Coronado aircraft I think they flew them

 

[Patrolman]

I posted an AN-J3a jacket that a pilot who served in VPB-105 flying from Dunkewell/UK wore in 1944/1945. The units insignia was the one below (policeman).
I could not find any pictures of this being a patch on a jacket (neither painted on a plane...). You can find several pictures of pilots with patched jackets being in VPB-103 based in Dunkeswell at the same time. They had a nice Bugs Bunny one...
Does anyone knows something about the policeman-patch or has a photo of it?
View attachment 88403View attachment 88405View attachment 88399

Cyril, I've also been looking for years for that VP-31 (which was redesignated VP-105 midwar & stationed in England), then again as VPB-105 until the end of the war. My Dad served with '31 from 1939 when he enlisted , but did not follow the squadron to England. He was a Chief Aviation Metalsmith, working on PBYs & Corsairs, and told me at some point early-midwar the maintenance and repair crews were separated from their Squadrons and assigned where they were needed. He ended up at Naval Air Station Barbers Point. He also told me the VP-31 patch had "a cop" on it, so I know this is the one. The attached page from Dave's Warbirds on the history of 31 also contains a detailed description of the patch, as well as this really clear photo which I found on a USN site.

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

Hello Cyril , I can make you a leather patch of the "COP" version of the unit , if you want please contact me, I assume you're in the US ?????

I can put a round background on it, or just a shape around the cop itself ........ let me know ....
Johnny
[email protected]

 

[EMBLEMHUNTER]

Hello Cyril , I can make you a leather patch of the "COP" version of the unit , if you want please contact me, I assume you're in the US ?????

I can put a round background on it, or just a shape around the cop itself ........ let me know ....image here is on the nose of a PBY , it doesn't show all of the aircraft but is a PBY
Johnny
[email protected]

 

[Cyril]

Cyril, I've also been looking for years for that VP-31 (which was redesignated VP-105 midwar & stationed in England), then again as VPB-105 until the end of the war. My Dad served with '31 from 1939 when he enlisted , but did not follow the squadron to England. He was a Chief Aviation Metalsmith, working on PBYs & Corsairs, and told me at some point early-midwar the maintenance and repair crews were separated from their Squadrons and assigned where they were needed. He ended up at Naval Air Station Barbers Point. He also told me the VP-31 patch had "a cop" on it, so I know this is the one. The attached page from Dave's Warbirds on the history of 31 also contains a detailed description of the patch, as well as this really clear photo which I found on a USN site.

Patrolman, thank you very much for sharing your fathers story! And thank you for the note on the squadrons insignia. I had found this too, but unfortunaltely no proof anywhere it ever made it to be sewn on a jacket...

 

[Cyril]

Hi Emblemhunter, thanks for your offer. I don't think i will need a replique of the patch. I got this AN-J3a that belonged to a pilot flying with VPB-105, it has only a nametag. Just been curious to see proof of it being worn on a jacket during WW2.

 

[Cyril]

Cyril, I've also been looking for years for that VP-31 (which was redesignated VP-105 midwar & stationed in England), then again as VPB-105 until the end of the war. My Dad served with '31 from 1939 when he enlisted , but did not follow the squadron to England. He was a Chief Aviation Metalsmith, working on PBYs & Corsairs, and told me at some point early-midwar the maintenance and repair crews were separated from their Squadrons and assigned where they were needed. He ended up at Naval Air Station Barbers Point. He also told me the VP-31 patch had "a cop" on it, so I know this is the one. The attached page from Dave's Warbirds on the history of 31 also contains a detailed description of the patch, as well as this really clear photo which I found on a USN site.

Hi Patrolman,
if you are interested....You can find some information on Airfiekd Dunkeswell (UK), the only airbase used by the US Navy during WW2 (including VPB-105): https://www.southwestairfields.co.uk/page16.html
There is also a photo collection showing everyday life on Airfield Dunkeswell: https://www.southwestairfields.co.uk/page39.html