Goodwill find - old Army uniform.

Started by Майор Хаткевич, October 14, 2013, 01:46:27 AM

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Майор Хаткевич



I know some of my cadets collect these/reenact, so I picked up this coat in GREAT shape for $14.99. Came with a flight cap too! It is  35R, so quite small, but based on the Tech 5, pre-1948, correct?

Edit: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Armored_Division_(United_States)

Based in the units deactivation, looks like this was a wartime item.
I have a serial and innitials in the jacket.

What unit had "DR" on their patch?

MSG Mac

Actually the grade is Technician 3. (Corporal). Prior to the introduction of the super grades, the pay structure was inverted to what we have now, so a slick sleeve Private was an E-7 and a Master Sergeant was an E-1.
Michael P. McEleney
Lt Col CAP
MSG USA (Retired)
50 Year Member

Майор Хаткевич

Everywhere I look it says tech5 for this insignia.

TarRiverRat

I just checked several sites as well and found this to be a Tech 5th grade during WWII as well.
Tar River Composite Squadron "River Rats" NC-057

Luis R. Ramos

#4
Actually not.

See the pay rate according to the US Army The Institute of Heraldry.

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/UniformedServices/Insignia_Rank/enlisted_history.aspx

Corporal was Grade 5 at this time, so the two chevrons and T was a Grade 5 as well.

According to this info, E-7 was instituted after 1948 when the pay grades were inverted, and E-4 was dropped at that time.

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Майор Хаткевич

1942. The grades of Technician in the third, fourth and fifth grades were added by War Department Circular No. 5, dated 8 January 1942. Change 1 to AR 600-35, dated 4 September 1942, added a letter "T" to the formerly prescribed chevrons for grades three, four and five.

MSG Mac

Quote from: usafaux2004 on October 14, 2013, 02:21:20 AM
Everywhere I look it says tech5 for this insignia.
Quote from: usafaux2004 on October 14, 2013, 02:21:20 AM
Everywhere I look it says tech5 for this insignia.

My mistake, after explaining the reversal of pay grade numbers I didn't, apply it my self
Michael P. McEleney
Lt Col CAP
MSG USA (Retired)
50 Year Member

Майор Хаткевич

No problem. I posted and started research. Fascinating as this coat was in the Halloween section at a goodwill by great lakes. Always lots of navy uniforms and bdus around this time of year, but this is the first old uniform I've found.

Майор Хаткевич

#8
Just noticed....patch has DR instead of a division number...any ideas?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW-2-Armored-Demonstration-Unit-/151140949222

Demonstration Unit? Huh?

Luis R. Ramos

#9
During the Second World War the Army used what was called commands. The commands were a headquarters unit that equipped the units of that type that went to the field. I have a book at home that shows all patches of that era. A patch without a number was most always a command patch.

Cannot be tank destroyers as tank destroyers were a wildcat crunching on tracks. It is related to an armored command as it has the elements that armored divisions had. The colors, in triangle format, is used on all armor units. Red or scarlet stands for artillery, yellow or gold for cavalry, and blue for infantry. 

I am trying to find that patch in the US Militaria Forum, if you do not know about that web site it is a great resource if you want to know about US Army insignia,and other topics.

www.usmilitariaforum.com

If I find it before someone else, I will respond.

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Luis R. Ramos

#10
Ok, found it in Angelfire.

DR on Armor insignia=Armored Force Demonstration Regiment, circa 1942.

See http://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/schools.html

Also found this in a collection of orders related to the US Armor School.

QuoteTypewritten Orders (flimsy copy); General Orders #5, HQ The Armored
Force School, SUBJ: Demonstration Regiment, Armored Force School (Provisional) Organized , 12 January 1942

It appears to be an index to the history of the Armored Force School. See http://www.generalpatton.org/education/collections/Armored_Force_School_History.pdf

Edited-copied the wrong URL for Angelfire!

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Luis R. Ramos

By the way, the US Militaria Forum warns about there being an extraordinary number of "made for collector" armor patches. Maybe that DR eBay patch is one, as it is in an excellent condition...

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