Original Item: Only One Available. This is really nice! We just purchased this at military show from the family of the original owner. This type of armband was typically used by U.S. Paratrooper forces, for example in North Africa (1942), during the D-Day invasion in Normandy (June 1944) and during Operation Market Garden (September 1944). They were also used during the paratrooper drops that were part of Operation Dragoon in Southern France (August 1944). The armband was typically fixed to the uniform jacket arm with safety pins.

This is the third type of Arm flag, which was printed as an armband on a kind of sturdy paper stock resembling wall paper, called oilcloth. This is a semi-waterproof material also called "lacquered cloth" and "American Cloth". It has punch holes and originally came with two safety pins, though these were most likely lost long ago.

The armband has an old note attached to it, which is dated at the top:

11. DEC. 1944
THE AMERICAN FLAG ARM-
BAND I WORE FOR THE
LANDING IN SOUTHERN
FRANCE AND FOR SOME-
TIME AFTERWARDS AS
YOU CAN TELL.

As indicated in the note, the condition is well used, and shows a lot of dirt and staining. It was then taken off after this, folded, and pressed quite flat.

This type was issued for the Southern France, Holland and Rhine jumps and was worn as an armband or cut or folded and pinned to the sleeve. 509th PIR troopers during Operation Dragoon wore their flags on the left sleeve. 517th PRCT troopers may have done the same, but we do not have any verification on this.

There are two variations of this type of armflag, and you will mostly find both described as printed on oilcloth. This is true for the second type, which has a hemmed edge all around, but which is otherwise identical in pattern and size.