Military Airborne Inf  Patches History 3

Information extracted from the book "US ARMY PATCHES"  by Barry Jason Stein

USED BY PERMISSION

The design is of a red devil with parachute.  In one hand he holds a grenade and in the other a tommy gun.

Campaigns:  World War II (Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe).

Decorations:  Distinguished Unit Citation (streamer embroidered Cotentin Peninsula); French Croix de Guerre with Palm (streamer embroidered Ste Mere Eglise, Cotentin); French Fourragere; cited in the Order of the Day Belgiam army for the Ardennes, Belgium, Germany, and St. Vith; Belgian Fouragere 1940; Netherlands Military Order of William (streamer embroidered Nijmegen 1944); and Netherlands Orange Lanyard.

The cloud, containing thirteen stars, is from the seal of the United States.  It is superimposed on the insignia of the Eighty-second Airborne Division, indicating its close affiliation with that unit.

The design is an embroidered replica of the distinctive insignia of the unit.  The two principle colors of the shield are those of the infantry..  The lion is the same as the French leopard used in the arms of Normandy, and commemorates the organization's landing and campaign in that province in World War II.  The silver bar, called a bend, is in honor of their crossing the Rhine River.  "Fury from the Sky," is the unit's motto.

The stylized yellow figure of a parachutist standing in the doorway of an air transport plane was the unit's regimental insignia during World War II.  The regiment was known by this insignia throughout the Mediterranean theater.  The design is affectionately known as the "Gingerbread Man."

Campaigns:  World War II (Algeria-French Morocco [with arrowhead], Tunisia [with arrowhead], Sicily, Naples-Foggia {with arrowhead], Rome-Arno, Anzio [with arrowhead], Southern France [with arrowhead], Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland).

Decorations:  Distinguished Unit Citation (streamer embroidered Liege; Belgium; Carano, Italy); French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (streamer embroidered Muy En Provence); cited in Order of the Day, Belgian army for the Ardennes; Company C entitled to Distinguished Unit Citation (streamer embroidered Corano, Italy); all personnel entitled to wear distinctive insignia of 3rd Regiment of Zouaves, French Army.

The design is that of the 509th's "Gingerbread Man" and a black pile simulating a parachute jump.

The design was worn by personnel in Germany and is an embroidered replica of the distinctive insignia of the unit.  The stylized yellow (gold) figure of a parachutist on a black background is adapted from the device worn by the regiment during World War II.  The red field alludes to the red berets worn by the British First Airborne Division and the close association between it and the 509th during World War II both in England and North Africa.  The nebuly (heraldic delineation for water) white and blue bars (the colors blue and white are used for infantry) refer to the record-breaking flight from England parachuting into North Africa on 8 November 1942.  The two segments of the wavy blue bar simulate the streamers of the Presidential Unit Citations (Army) awarded for the 509th's gallant actions at Carano, Italy and Liege, Belgium.  They also are the heraldic symbol for water and refer to the amphibious landing on the Anzio-Nettuno  beachhead 22 January 1944.  The black pile simulates a parachute jump and the two sides refer to the ground defense the organization participated in during the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge) campaigns.  The five arrowheads are for the five assault landings made by the regiment in World War II.  The unit's motto is "All the Way."

The design, depicting a skull and crossbones above a parachute insignia, is typical of modern recon outfits, especially those from the Vietnam era.

An element of the Eleventh Airborne Division.  The origin and significance of the design is unknown.  "Angles" is the nickname of the Eleventh Airborne Division.

Campaigns:  World War II (New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon).

Decorations:  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945); Distinguished Unit Citation (streamer embroidered Manila:  all companies first battalion-third battalion, headquarters, and headquarters company); Company B entitled to Distinguished Unit Citation (streamer embroidered Luzon).

An element of the Eleventh Airborne Division, the design incorporates the division's nickname "Angels."  The origin and significance of the design is unknown.

The unit was an element of the Eleventh Airborne Division.  This design, an unauthorized distinctive insignia, represents a parachute in the form of a white wedge being driven from sky to earth (blue and green).  The French motto "Vicueur [sic] de Dessus" translates as "strength from above."

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