Extremely Rare WWII CBI ATC 10th Air Force USAAF AIR JUNGLE RESCUE 1352nd Army Air Force Base Unit Burmese Made Leather Jacket Patch

ARTIFACT:

This is an Extremely Rare Burmese-made CBI, ATC, 10th Air Force, 1352nd Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Jungle Rescue, hand painted Leather Jacket Patch. The patch shows a five-pointed star bearing different symbols on each arm, with a pentagon at center with the Air Transport Command insignia (the "parent" organization of the unit) above a rocker at the bottom of the patch that reads in Latin: UT VIRI VIVANT (THAT MEN MAY LIVE).

Rick Breithaupt, noted WWII Aviation Collector and Historian writes about the unit:

The 1352d AAF Base Unit (Search & Rescue) was organized 1 Dec 44 at Tezgaon Airfield (Dacca, Bengal, India -- now Dakka, Bangladesh), under the India-China Division of Air Transport Command. Moved to Mohanbari Airfield (Guwhati, Assam, India) some time in 1945 and was discontinued on 22 Dec 45. A few months after its activation late in 1942, the India-China Division of the Air Transport Command was faced with the problem of rescuing pilots, crew members and passengers forced to parachute into the rugged mountain country its routes traverse.

Early in 1943, the first efforts to rescue parachuted airmen were made. Of necessity - owing to the scarcity of aircraft for search duties and the operational difficulties existing at that time-search missions followed no organized pattern and were chiefly impromptu jobs. When an airplane crashed, or became disabled in flight and was abandoned, or unreported and overdue, was classified a missing, the first available crew and aircraft which could be spared from the Hump operation began a search for it.

Such crews did the best they could with what facilities they had, but delayed reports, meager information, and unfavorable weather often resulted in discouraging results. From such a beginning, however, the present Search & Rescue organization rapidly grew.

The purpose of rescue activities in ICD is to bring aid to all survivors of United Nations aircraft which have crashed along air routes operated by the Command. Particular missions are: (1) to search for missing aircraft and personnel in the Hump area; (2) to supply and rescue all personnel surviving from aircraft forced down or abandoned in the Hump area; (3) to identify crashed aircraft and salvage or destroy equipment aboard, and to identify, collect personal belongings from, and arrange for burial of all bodies contained therein; (4) to augment gathering and dissemination of military intelligence pertaining to jungle survival and search and rescue work, and (5) to coordinate search-rescue activities with all allied units.

As ICD's Search & Rescue Squadron has grown into a highly specialized organization, its success has grown with it. In 1943, 62% of personnel missing from flights over the Hump were rescued, and during the first six months of 1944 77% were rescued. This was the result of improved technique in searching for, signaling and supplying bailed-out airmen, and the utilization of greater facilities-aircraft, communication, supply and liaison-for finding "lost" crews. The saving of life has been increased greatly by the parachuting of medical officers and/or medical supplies, including plasma, and whole blood, to injured personnel located far from any other medical unit.

The 1352nd AAFBU, originally know as "Blackie's Gang" was the first AAF Para-Rescue ever formed. As a part of the 10th AF, the utilized a variety of aircraft, including early Sikorsky helicopters (Really) to search and rescue (or recover the remains) of downed airmen that flew the Hump in the CBI. A small group of these men were jump qualified in order to insert into areas inaccessible by ground or without viable landing strips. They attended the British parachute course at Imphal, India.

VINTAGE:

Circa late World War II, 1944.

SIZE:

About 4-1/2" in width x 5-1/8" in height.

CONSTRUCTION / MATERIALS:

Hand painted leather.

ATTACHMENT:

To be sewn onto Flight Clothing.

MARKINGS:

Burmese Maker Stamp on reverse.

ITEM NOTES:

This is from a United States Army Air Forces Flight Jacket Patch Collection which we will be listing more of over the coming months. VAADX07 LGGEX07/07 SLABGEX04/07/26

CONDITION:

8 (Excellent-): Very minor wear and light soiling.

GUARANTEE:

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.