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< The Real McCoy.
Handmade in the Philippines whilst the 503d was on Negros,
this patch is from Jim Mullaney's footlocker. I
found it there myself! Note that this version, the
earliest I've yet seen, says "Corregidor" and
pre-dates
"The Rock." Beautiful!
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With silken
stylized wings, this patch makes one of the most beautiful
of the series. The patch was probably made in
Japan. Note that the AIRBORNE shoulder tab is
incorporated as part of the entire design, rather than as
a shoulder tab connected to a patch.
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< Seen on a Berlin
1956-58 Tour of Duty paratroopers' leather jacket.
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> A Vietnam era patch -
unfortunately most of these 'in country' patches leave the impression that The
Rock was a large red bowling ball.
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< Embroidery could be
cheaply obtained almost anywhere in Vietnam, and
the number of versions of private purchase Rock Patches
multiplied accordingly. |
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> A Vietnam era patch ,
showing minor differences. The embroidery, on a backing of
blue denim-style cloth, gives a 3-D effect. The
black background of the AIRBORNE shoulder tab appears like
an afterthought imposed upon the original design.
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< A beautifully detailed patch,
submitted by Brock
Mullis. It's embroidered on to a blue cloth
backing, and is notable for using the black and yellow AIRBORNE flash,
and a beautifully embroidered Golden Eagle. It does miss the pollywog
shaped island entirely, and has only five risers, but has a beautiful symmetry
which gives an overall quality and high-desirability. |
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> This patch
is another Vietnam example, said to be from the collection of an
F-4U Corsair jet ace J. Gardiner Snow, and is a copy of the Mullis
example above. The Rock looks more like a boulder, or a party balloon, and
the Eagle appears more like a bird of Paradise. As every patch needs
to be judged on its own merits, unusual examples such as this one hold a greater degree of interest than the normal standardised
Taiwan specials that can normally be found at the local surplus store
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< A beautifully detailed fully
embroidered version. The Golden Eagle looks rather un-eagle
like. |
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> Embroidered on to a cloth
backing, this angular and
slab-sided design (above) completely misses the shape of the
Rock. The eagle feathers are individually profiled, which makes for a
nice touch. The patch was acquired at the 2000 Reunion, Fayetteville.
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< Chet Nycum
("G" Co.) recalls sending this patch home from Negros,
together with his ribbons. That would make it one of the
earliest machine embroidered versions. It's also unusual
as the wing-feathers are embroidered by outline rather
than by scalloped edges. |
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> After the
Japanese surrender was taken on Negros, there was time
for souvenirs and handicrafts. The patch was, after all,
a memorial of those friends and faces who had been lost
on Corregidor. George L. Taylor (462nd PFABn of
the 503d PRCT), painted this one for his leather jacket
whilst he awaited . (Photo courtesy Melinda Janzen)
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< A Taiwan
produced variation found in a local surplus store in Brisbane
Australia, this patch (above)
has noticeably fewer stiches per square inch, which gives it a cheap
and almost screen-printed feel to it. It is embroidered to a
cloth backing. |
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> This 'theater
made' bullion example was described as being designed by
Capt William Bossert, the "A" Co
Commander, but the credit for penning the original design must go to
Tom McNeill of "G" Company. The
reverse view shows the seamstress' art. Be aware that hand
sewn bullion versions manufactured in India are being marketed
on eBay as originals. |
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< This example of a
fully embroidered replica patch supplied by Don
Abbott is used extensively throughout the website.
Notable is the darker beak and the lack of scallops in the
canopy. |
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> Embroidered on to a
blue cloth denim style backing, this fine patch
shows good detail and embroidery. The waves at the base
of The Rock make it look too much like a whale. |
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< A cut edged full
embroidered patch of Korean War vintage.
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> A Joseph A Koran design
based upon the McNeill design April-May 1945. Provenance unknown.
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<
Early version on a Class A uniform
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> Example of a
patch made in Japan Christmas 1945. Provenance unknown.
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< I
prefer not to use the word 'replica' for every patch
is an original in itself, and each has its own presence.
But your eyes don't deceive you, this does indeed say
THE ROOK. As an 'error patch' it is a collectable
and
comes with the provenance of "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What
You Get). What were they thinking! Any larger, and it would have looked like a
bath mat. |
