Original Items: Only One Group of 5 Available. The First Allied Airborne Army was an Allied formation formed on 2 August 1944 by the order of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The formation was part of the Allied Expeditionary Force and controlled all Allied airborne forces in Western Europe from August 1944 to May 1945. These included the U.S. IX Troop Carrier Command, the U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps, which controlled the 17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and a number of independent airborne units, all British airborne forces including the 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions plus the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade.

From the time of its creation until the end of World War II, the formation commanded the Allied airborne forces that participated in the Allied advance through North-West Europe, including Operation Market-Garden in September 1944, repelling the German counter-offensive launched during the Battle of the Bulge between December 1944 and January 1945, and Operation Varsity in March 1945. The formation was then officially deactivated on 20 May 1945, with the British units under its command returning to the United Kingdom and the American units being renamed as First Airborne Army and taking over command of the American Sector of Occupation in Berlin.

The grouping consists of the following:

Airborne Overseas Cap: The cover is approximately 6 ⅝ and is in great condition. The piping featured is a maroon red and white, identifying it as Medical Department.
Airborne Artillery Overseas Cap Patch

1st Allied Airborne Patch: The patch appears to be British made and is constructed of light blue felt with a black background. All thread appears to be complete and there is only one small moth nip present.
Combat Medic Badge

Belgian WW2 Fourragere: Awarded to units that were cited twice or more in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, the Belgian fourragère is in the same colors as the ribbon of the World War II Belgian Croix de Guerre and is more or less the unit version of that award.

The fourragère was created by Prince Charles and is referred to as the “Fourragère 1940,” denoting the year Belgium was attacked by Germany in World War II. Orders of the Day of the Belgian Army were not issued only during wartime; some American units that earned their second mention in orders issued as late as July 1950. Also, the second mention did not automatically guarantee a unit would receive the fourragère. The Belgian government instead had to issue a specific decree authorizing the honor.

Following the war, veterans who had served in units honored with the Belgian fourragère who for some reason had not received the device could send a request to the Military Section of the Belgian Embassy (these requests required proof of military service). After verification by the historical center of the Belgian Ministry of Defense, the Defense Attaché’s Office would contact the U.S. Army to confirm the veteran had indeed been authorized to wear the Belgian fourragère.

All items are absolutely beautiful and come ready to display in your WWII Airborne collections!