Unit Patch Histories

Started by LeoBurke, September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM

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LeoBurke

My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke
Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


jeders

If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse

LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

These two patches are awarded to aircrews that have flown NEADS (North East Air Defense Sector) missions.  NEADS has since been consolidated into Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS).  CAP Aircrews routinely fly these missions, usually as targets for a variety of active duty, guard and reserve defense aircraft, including the USCG.

The original design originated in CAP's Northeast region, while Colonel Greenhut was commanding.  I suspect its his handiwork.  Members of Michigan Wing (Great Lakes Region) simply stole the design, removed the NER patch and changed the font. 

Two Michigan Wing aircrews were recently awarded the NorthCOM/1st AF Commander's Distinguished Homeland Security mission for their participation in a NEADS mission in 2006.  So it's a little tough to stop them from doing anything.

Criteria for award of the patch: Must be a member of a NEADS mission aircrew and pay your $6 for each patch. 

Authorization: uh, yeah.  Well these aren't official, so I'm sure they're not being worn on CAP flightsuits.

Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

From 1984-1986, the Michigan Wing Commander Colonel Ken reddington implemented a program to establish an 'expert level' ES Training cadre.  This group was called the "Air Land Emergency Response Team (ALERT)" 

Patches were awarded to qualified personnel.  At the time I was one of five or so cadets in this cadre.  To the best of my knowledge, this may be the only remaining patch from that time.  Still gets worn on the flight suit on occasion.

Criteria for award: Had to be an experienced, mission qualified CAP member who was active in developing and presenting training materials to others. 

Authorization: MI Wing CC Col Ken Reddington.
Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

IACE 60th Anniversary Patch.  This patch was given to all IACE exchange personnel from participating countries, in 2007, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the International Air Cadet Exchange. 

Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

I traveled to Belgium as an escort for the IACE program.  Being an adult an a SAR pilot had some advantages.....

The Belgians only SAR unit is the 40th Squadron, they fly Sea King Helos from a base near the North Sea.  After some very interesting conversations and exchanges of ideas, I was given a couple unit patches.

No way I'm trading for the 40th Squadron Patch. 




Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

Traded a Michigan State Police Aviation Section Patch (Got a couple working CD with the State Troopers a few years back) for this Federal Police DSU (Special Services Unit).  It was explained that these guys are a combination of FBI Hostage Team/SWAT Team for Belgium. 

One of their instructors practically knocked me down tearing his patch off to swap with the MSP Aviation patch.


Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

On IACE, we also visited a Belgian Air Force F-16 Squadron (the 350th).  They trace their heritage DIRECTLY from teh British 350th Squadron.  They had some interesting options for Squadron Patches.  Belgium will be trading in their F-16s for C-130s in about three years. 



Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


pixelwonk

This is a great thread sir.
Very nice :)


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

Then there are the Belgian Air Cadets.   One patch is their equivalent of the CAP Command patch.  The other is the patch worn by cadets who flew gliders at their airbase located at Berzell (EBZR). 

There are about 300 Belgian Air cadets (16+ years old) at any time.  They must pass a First Class Medical to be considered and stay for three years.  They also get to drink beer at night after the flying day has ended.

Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


jeders

Some very interesting things.
If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse

LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

Now the history on this last patch is a little murky..... 

When I was a cadet, a friend of mine was selected to the US Air Force Academy.  After graduating in the class on 1987, he began a spectacular career in Space Command.  During the formative parts of his career, I know he was working on spy sats and stuff.  At least as much as they let a junior officer touch....

He disappeared a couple years ago without explanation.  His wife sent me this last patch.  She had found it in his things.  "He'd want you to have it...." 

Hmmmm.....   ???




Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


LeoBurke

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

OOPS!!!!   Can't believe I missed this one. 

In April, 1980 a young man went to his first meeting of the Van Dyke Cadet Squadron in Michigan).  The squadron was in a 'growth phase'.   No officers, a couple senior NCOs.  Fresh turnover of the Senior staff.  It turned out to be one of those mystical alignments of the stars, the moon and members. 

The seniors turned out to be pretty good leaders and the cadets came together as a team along with them.  Van Dyke would go on to leave a legendary list of accomplishments:

   - The National Squadron of Distinction
   - Field multiple NCC Drill Teams, including the 1990 team which would go all the way to NCC at Maxwell,
   - Win the Michigan Wing Academic Bowl Competition a record FOURTEEN consecutive years.
   - Had four of its cadets selected to command six MI Wing Encampments within an six year window.
   - Produced Five MI Wing "Cadet of the Years"
   - Produced one National Cadet of the Year.
   - Produced NINE Spaatz cadets in eleven years.

This squadron produced an outstanding group of cadets and established a legacy of strong leadership within Michigan Wing.  Throughout the early 80's we struggled with the perfect squadron patch.  My favorite submission (my own work) was a green field with a sky blue swath across the top and hundreds of multi colored rectangles on the green, representing all the cars we parked at our fundraisers.  Although the submissions were anonymous, I ended up getting lectured.  How they knew it was me, I'll never know.

In late '85 I turned senior and took command of the Utica-Sterling Cadet Squadron.   Captain Jeff Clark took command of Van Dyke, Lt Col Monica Messer (now Burke) was the cadet commander.  They decided the really needed a squadron patch.  I believe the original motivation for the patch was a comment by the Wing CC that Van Dyke tended to leave a path in its wake. 

The use of the Tasmanian Devil was approved by Warner Brothers.  Van Dyke had a number of unofficial mottos though the 80s.  VD - Share it with a friend was the most common.  Apparently the MI Wing Commander asked for a different motto before he would approve the patch.  Ultimately, the megla-maniacs in Van Dyke settle on the motto you see. 

As an aside - The Selfridge Cadet Squadron [one of Van Dyke's arch rivals had the motto "The Best of the Best" on their patch.

The patch is still in use today.

Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


Slim

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:35:15 AM
Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 03:18:30 AM
My recent post of a NEADS (formerly USAF/1st Air Force North East Air Defense Sector) patch generated some emails.

Thought I would post some history that I do know on various patches.

More to follow.....

Willing to trade/sell some, not others.

Leo Burke

From 1984-1986, the Michigan Wing Commander Colonel Ken reddington implemented a program to establish an 'expert level' ES Training cadre.  This group was called the "Air Land Emergency Response Team (ALERT)" 

Patches were awarded to qualified personnel.  At the time I was one of five or so cadets in this cadre.  To the best of my knowledge, this may be the only remaining patch from that time.  Still gets worn on the flight suit on occasion.

Criteria for award: Had to be an experienced, mission qualified CAP member who was active in developing and presenting training materials to others. 

Authorization: MI Wing CC Col Ken Reddington.


Hate to burst your bubble, buddy...

I still have one copy of both versions.


Slim

LeoBurke


You do rock.  I had the other screen printed version somewhere, can't find it.

So if there are three in existence, they have be worth about $500 ea.  Right?

Leo
Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!


Slim

Quote from: LeoBurke on September 24, 2007, 02:48:16 PM

You do rock.  I had the other screen printed version somewhere, can't find it.

So if there are three in existence, they have be worth about $500 ea.  Right?

Leo

Sounds about right.....supply and demand  ;D

In fact, the two I have came off Col Reddington's uniforms when I went to him looking for replacements.


Slim

alamrcn

#16
Looks like I have some cutting and pasting to do! Leo, you don't mind if I record some of your words for prosparity on the CAP Patches website - do you?

Trading... can't think of what I might have that you would consider. I have the majority of my trade stuff listed at - http://www.incountry.us/cappatches/bx.html

I have been recording as many patch histories as I can, and can certainly post them here if you folks enojy them. Thanks, Leo, for all that you provided us here - it was good reading!

-Ace

I forgot to ask...
The first patch belonged to Northeast Region aircrews, while the modified second patch belonged to Michigan Wing aircrews? And neither patch has any type of wear authorization - just a morale booster - correct?




Ace Browning, Maj, CAP
History Hoarder
71st Wing, Minnesota

jimmydeanno

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this, but I'd like to put what I know of the history of this patch here:


The organizational emblem was drawn by hand by Pat Pratt, 1st Lt, CAP a former member of the Hawk Composite Squadron.  The date it was created is still unknown. 

The patch itself depicts a hawk and New Hampshire's "Lakes Region", more specifically, Moultonborough New Hampshire, the community which the squadron used to be based in - it is now in Laconia, NH.

The runway shown on the patch is the runway 02/20 at Moultonborough Airport, NH which is nestled in a small valley, along NH Route 25. 

The "brownish" colored hill is a representation of "Red Hill" which is slightly northwest of the airport.  The other mountains are representative of other mountains in the area in the "Ossipee Mountain Range."

The Pond that is shown is Berry Pond located within a short distance of the airport.

The aircraft is a Cessna 182, N9930E which was stationed at the unit.

There are some speculations as to why the name "Hawk" was selected.  One is that it was selected because another local unit was named "Falcon" and another is due to the large amount of hawks and other osprey that fly over the Moultonborough area during migration season. 

Unfortunately, since the squadron has moved, the design of the patch has no real attachment to the unit as they are not based out of that area anymore.  Perhaps it is time for it to be relegated to the historical archives.
If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law. - Winston Churchill

alamrcn

Quote from: jimmydeanno on September 25, 2007, 08:20:46 PM
Sorry if this is the wrong place for this, but I'd like to put what I know of the history of this patch here:

Perfect...
http://www.incountry.us/cappatches/NH/nh056.html
...and documented, thanks! Can I credit someone other than "jimmydeanno" for the info?

-Ace



Ace Browning, Maj, CAP
History Hoarder
71st Wing, Minnesota

LeoBurke

Quote from: alamrcn on September 25, 2007, 07:37:49 PM
Looks like I have some cutting and pasting to do! Leo, you don't mind if I record some of your words for prosparity on the CAP Patches website - do you?

Trading... can't think of what I might have that you would consider. I have the majority of my trade stuff listed at - http://www.incountry.us/cappatches/bx.html

I have been recording as many patch histories as I can, and can certainly post them here if you folks enojy them. Thanks, Leo, for all that you provided us here - it was good reading!

-Ace

I forgot to ask...
The first patch belonged to Northeast Region aircrews, while the modified second patch belonged to Michigan Wing aircrews? And neither patch has any type of wear authorization - just a morale booster - correct?



Ace -

The original was from NER.  MIWG Members did the other version, but it propogating through the Great Lakes Region.  (Whose patch you were involved in creating, BTW!)

Leo
Leo Burke, Michigan

/\/\/\   The Spaatz award is over-rated.  Get yours and prove it.  It's Half the
\/\/\/   Mitchell, Half the Earhart, write a paragraph and run around the block!