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63rd Fighter Squadron Insignia Question

Wed May 20, 2009 1:05 pm

Does anyone know when the 63rd FS (56th FG) insignia changed from the little guy with the machine gun standing on a flying piece of wood during WWII to the triangular shaped insignia with the black panther? And does anyone know where to find patches with the original design? I saw one on eBay a few years ago that was a replica, but haven't come across one since.

Thanks for any info!

Zack

Wed May 20, 2009 1:51 pm

Is this the one? Kinda Pricey!

http://www.pilotwear.com/store/p/20034- ... Group.html

Re: 63rd Fighter Squadron Insignia Question

Wed May 20, 2009 2:58 pm

Zachary wrote:Does anyone know when the 63rd FS (56th FG) insignia changed from the little guy with the machine gun standing on a flying piece of wood during WWII

A flying peice of wood? Or a riding a thunderbolt...
www.halesworthairfieldmuseum.org.uk/pho ... 63rdfs.php

Wed May 20, 2009 4:44 pm

Holedigger wrote:Is this the one? Kinda Pricey!

http://www.pilotwear.com/store/p/20034- ... Group.html


That's the design! Had not seen that particular patch before - thanks!!!

Zack

Re: 63rd Fighter Squadron Insignia Question

Wed May 20, 2009 4:46 pm

airnutz wrote:
Zachary wrote:Does anyone know when the 63rd FS (56th FG) insignia changed from the little guy with the machine gun standing on a flying piece of wood during WWII

A flying peice of wood? Or a riding a thunderbolt...
www.halesworthairfieldmuseum.org.uk/pho ... 63rdfs.php


My mistake, I was thinking of Wil Van Abel's nose art, which has the little fellow standing on a board, versus riding a thunderbolt - very nearly the same design though. Do you happen to know when the insignia changed over from that to the black panther?

Zack

Re: 63rd Fighter Squadron Insignia Question

Wed May 20, 2009 6:49 pm

Zachary wrote:
airnutz wrote:
Zachary wrote:Does anyone know when the 63rd FS (56th FG) insignia changed from the little guy with the machine gun standing on a flying piece of wood during WWII

A flying peice of wood? Or a riding a thunderbolt...
www.halesworthairfieldmuseum.org.uk/pho ... 63rdfs.php


My mistake, I was thinking of Wil Van Abel's nose art, which has the little fellow standing on a board, versus riding a thunderbolt - very nearly the same design though. Do you happen to know when the insignia changed over from that to the black panther?

Zack

Nope, but from my reading on the subject this afternoon I'd hazard a guess that the change came during one of their
reactivations post WW2. I couldn't find anything definitive on the web but I'm still looking.
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