Lot 3284

Three World War Two U.S. Pacific Bombardment Squadron Patches

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Three World War Two U.S. Pacific Bombardment Squadron Patches

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,500

Starting Bid: $1,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Three World War II U.S. Pacific Theater Bombardment Squadron Patches All three patches are circular, embroidered felt construction. 1) 435th Bombardment Squadron patch, 5" diameter, featuring a kangaroo with a telescope up to its eye and a bomb held by its tail. Originally formed in 1942 as the 40th Reconnaissance Squadron, the Squadron was established in Australia to make up for a recon unit that had to be rotated back to the States after Pearl Harbor, and almost immediately was tasked to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur and President Manuel Quezon from the Philippines; having escaped Corregidor via PT boat, MacArthur's party arrived at Del Monte Field in Mindau, where an initial attempt at air evacuation had failed due to extreme wear on the available planes that could make the flight from Australia. In the second attempt, 40th Recon pilots operating newly delivered Navy B-17s (initially denied to the Army due to inter-branch friction) successfully reached Del Monte and brought MacArthur, his family, and several VIPs back to Australia. Afterwards, they would participate in the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Invasion of Papua New Guinea. The squadron would later serve as a training unit, be deactivated briefly, and then reactivated as a B-29 Superfortress squadron shortly before V-J Day. 2) 501st Bombardment Squadron patch, 4 3/4" diameter, featuring a black panther with a skeletal face in front of a crescent moon. Originally organized for deployment to Europe, the 501st was sent to Port Moresby, New Guinea, in 1943 instead, operating B-25 Mitchell bombers in both conventional bombing missions and direct strafing runs with bombers modified to carry more fixed machine guns, as well as performing sea interdiction, infantry support and resupply duties. Moving forward with the U.S. "island hopping" strategy, the 501st earned Distinguished Unit Citations for action and Rabaul and Saigon, and ended the war with attacks on ships in the Sea of Japan and runs on Kyushu Island. 3) 65th Bombardment Squadron patch, 4 1/2" diameter, featuring a moose head with a bull's-eye between the antlers and bombs striking the bull's-eye. Formed prior to American entry into World War II, the 65th spent the days after Pearl Harbor on anti-submarine patrol in the Atlantic before moving to Australia. The squadron would participate in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, support ground action on Luzon in the Philippines, and make strikes on the Home Islands and the Inland Sea. One of the 65th Squadron's B-17 crews would receive two Medals of Honor (and Distinguished Service Crosses for the rest of the crew) for successfully shooting their way out of a fight with approximately 20 enemy fighters on their way back from a photo reconnaissance mission Papua New Guinea in 1943, making them one of the most decorated aircrews in the history of American military aviation.

Manufacturer: None

Model: None

Class: Other

  • Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection
  • Condition: Very fine overall, with minimal wear.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000