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WTB Unit patched and unit crests for the National Guard, 42nd Rainbow Div and 242 Signal Battalion which is in Long Island NY.

Hi,

I am looking for early 1950’s unit patches subdued or dress ( in color) for the National Guard, 42nd Rainbow Div and 242 Signal Battalion which is in Long Island NY.

Also looking for the 42nd Rainbow Div unit crest (marked THE BASE OF THE RAINBOW ) and the unit crest for the 242 Signal Battalion ( marked COMMUNICATORS )

I want to display the patches and unit crests with my 1952 M37 from this unit.

Thanks,

Paddy

You won't find any subdued patches from the '50s. They didn't become the "in" thing for the armed fores until the late '70s or early '80s. The Air Force and Navy held out even longer than that. We were still wearing "bright" stripes and command/unit patches as late as 1985, and were not authorized camo uniforms until 1989, just before I retired.

Lifer,

I have learned something new today on patches.

When I was in Berlin Germany, 1976 to 1980 all the units in Europe had subdued patches on the cotton fatigues (permanent press fatigues came out in 1978) and a full color patch on the dress greens.

Thanks,

Paddy

I remember when the permanent press fatigues came out, too. That's when we "zoomies" adopted the Army fatigues and those baggy sage-green cotton fatigues were finally phased out for good. God, were they ugly! We were still wearing the plain OD permanent press fatigues when I retired on 1 Oct 89.

Lifer,

What units did you spend your time in?

Paddy

Mostly AFCC with a year in USAFE, a couple of years in SAC, and one in TAC. My first active duty assignment was a USAFE communications unit that was merged with another and placed under the newly formed Air Force Communications Service (AFCS). That first overseas gig was really "interesting" from a historic point of view. I was actually assigned to 3 different units because of unit realignments/mergers and never changed barracks rooms, duty stations, or workcenter supervisors.

Lifer,

Three changes of units and still the same area. That is wild!

In Berlin I moved from a Co F 40 th Armor to the 3/6 Inf but is was all in Berlin Brigade.

Lived in the same apartment only my work area and PO Box changes.

Paddy

My first permanent party station was Ramstein AB, Germany, where I was initially assigned to the 604th Communications Squadron (Mobile). About a year and a half after I got there, this outfit was merged with the 2060th Radio Relay Squadron (right across the street from us) and the combined outfit was redesignated the 2061st Communications Squadron. At this time USAFE ceded it to the Air Force Communications Service (AFCS). I kept the same room in the same barracks and continued working in the 17th AF Combat Operations Center in Kindsbach, which was about 10 "clicks" north of the base.

There was another communications squadron on base, the 2135th, which operated the Base Communications Center and the Base Switchboard. About a month before I left Germany, the "powers that be" decided there was no need for two separate communications units, so the 2061CS was merged with the 2135CS, retaining the 2135CS identity and I was thus "transferred" again, keeping the same room in the same barracks and working in the same place.

In the Army I was given three ( 3 ) working days to do my transfer from one unit to another unit with in Berlin Brigade. Time to set up new mail box, get company level paperwork taken care of, and new base passes.

Did you get anytime off for your moves?

Paddy

Surely you jest!

It sounds like the saying " you got a smile and a kind word" and a new unit crest.

Paddy

Ebay shows quite an assorment of patches, ect.

Thank you for the idea.

I forget about ebay a lot of the time.

Paddy