Original Items. Only One Pair Available. This is a very nice original post WWII occupation era (late 1945-1948) matched pair of 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (504th PIR) Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) pins, representing one of the most celebrated American airborne units of the Second World War. Known as the “Devils in Baggy Pants,” the 504th served with the 82nd Airborne Division throughout some of the most important airborne operations of the European campaign. Both insignia feature distinctive red enamel devils, surrounded by blue enamel borders and parachute designs. The pins retain their original pinback attachments, both of which remain in good working order. Neither example bears a manufacturer's mark, and the pair remains in very good overall condition, with the colorful enamel decoration particularly well preserved.

The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was constituted on February 24, 1942, and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on May 1, 1942, during the rapid expansion of the United States Army's airborne forces. The regiment was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in August 1942, becoming an important component of America's developing airborne infantry capability. The 82nd was among the first American divisions reorganized specifically for airborne operations, and the 504th played a prominent role in establishing the combat reputation of American paratroopers during WWII.

This is a very good wartime pinback set of 504th PIR DUI insignia, worn on the collar. They have lovely red enamel for the devils and the parachutes and borders are blue. Both pinbacks are in good working order, and there are no maker marks. 

This matched pair of WWII 504th PIR Distinctive Unit Insignia is particularly interesting for its association with one of the most recognizable American airborne regiments of the Second World War. The distinctive red devil designs, blue parachute and border enamel, and surviving functional pinback attachments preserve the characteristic appearance of these wartime insignia. Although neither pin is maker marked, both remain in very good condition and represent the strong regimental identity developed by the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment during its service in Italy and Northwest Europe. The pair is particularly relevant to collections focused on American WWII airborne forces, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the history of the “Devils in Baggy Pants.”