{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-rare-red-ball-express-sleeve-patch-theater-made","title":"Original U.S. WWII Rare Red Ball Express Sleeve Patch - Theater-Made","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. The Red Ball Express was an American truck convoy system that supplied Allied forces moving through Europe after breaking out from the D-Day beaches in Normandy in the summer of 1944. To expedite cargo shipments to the front, trucks emblazoned with red balls followed a similarly marked route that was closed to civilian traffic. The trucks also had priority on regular roads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConceived in an urgent 36-hour meeting, the convoy system began operating on 25 August 1944. Staffed primarily with African-American soldiers, the Express at its peak operated 5,958 vehicles that carried about 12,500 tons of supplies a day. It ran for 83 days until 16 November, when the port facilities at Antwerp, Belgium, were opened, enough French rail lines were repaired, and portable gasoline pipelines were deployed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a scarce Red Ball Express shoulder sleeve patch. The initials \u003cstrong\u003eT.C.\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eM.T.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e signify “Transportation Corps” and Motor Transportation Service.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe patch measures 2 x 2¼”. Comes ready for display.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43886978105413,"sku":"ONJR25AUCC274","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR25AUCC274__01.jpg?v=1761311208","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-rare-red-ball-express-sleeve-patch-theater-made","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}