Very Rare & Historically Significant WWII USAAF 322nd Fighter Group, 15th AF Tuskegee Airmen

ARTIFACT: Very rare and historically significant WWII United States Army Air Forces 322nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force jacket patch of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the US Armed Forces. They received their training at Moton Field and were educated at Tuskegee University in Alabama. The 322nd Fighter Group was the first black fighting group and prior to the Tuskegee Airmen, there had never been an African American pilot in the U.S. military. During WWII, both the American federal government and US Armed forces were racially segregated. The 322nd served overseas, stationed at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy. While flying the American P-51 Mustang aircrafts in 1944, the Tuskegee Airmen began painting the tails of their aircraft with red markings and this earned them the nickname "Red Tails". The 322nd and the 99th Pursuit Squadron were the only black air units that saw combat during WWII, the 99th earned three Distinguished Unit Citations and individual pilots of the 322nd earned 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses for flying escorts for heavy bombers, which earned them the nickname "Red-Tail Angels" and numerous missions in Sicily, Anzio, Normandy, the Rhineland, the Po Valley, and Rome-Arno. The center of the patch shows a fire breathing passant panther with blood red claws in between blue fess nebulas embroidered on yellow wool felt and shows their motto: "SPITFIRE" in orange and black embroidered detail.

VINTAGE: Circa WWII

SIZE: Approximately 4-1/2" x 5"

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Embroidered wool felt, cotton/polyester/silk thread, gauze backing

ATTACHMENT: N/A

MARKINGS: None.

ITEM NOTES: This is from a USAAF collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. VEJJX16 LABGEX3/16 SAAHJX4/16

CONDITION: 9- (Excellent+): The jacket patch shows minor wear, overall excellent condition.