Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a British made embroidered patch for the 613th Bombardment Squadron, 401st Bombardment Group. The patch does not appear to have been removed from a flight jacket and is offered in wonderful condition.

The 613th Bombardment Squadron was activated in March 1943 at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, as one of the original squadrons of the 401st Bombardment Group. The initial cadre for the squadron was drawn from the 395th Bombardment Group at Ephrata and the 383d Bombardment Group at Rapid City Army Air Field, South Dakota. The cadre soon departed for Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, where they conducted simulated combat missions with the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics from Brooksville Army Air Field.

The ground echelon moved to Geiger Field, Washington in May 1943 and to Great Falls Army Air Base, Montana, in July. At Great Falls the first combat crews were assigned to the squadron. In the final stage of training the squadrons dispersed with the 613th training at Cut Bank Army Air Field.

After completing training the ground echelon left for overseas on 19 October 1943. After staging at Camp Shanks, New York they embarked on the RMS Queen Mary and sailed on 27 October disembarking at Greenock on the Firth of Clyde on 3 November 1943. The air echelon staged for deployment at Scott Field, Illinois then flew to England under the control of Air Transport Command via Newfoundland, Iceland and Scotland.

The patch measures approximately 6 ½” x 4 ⅛” and features a “boxing bomb” in a cocky leaned back stance with a winking smile. The embroidered portions are in wonderful condition with all material and colors retained very well. The only “real” issues with the patch is the beige felt exposed on the outer edges which does have some minor moth nips present. Aside from the nips, this is a spectacular example.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.