USAF Pararescue Badge/Flash - Korean made
The beautiful blue enamel on the Pararescue Motto makes a huge difference among the todays known PJ flash. I’m not sure about the material but looks like chrome plated metal rather than sterling silver. This is probably one of the rarest items in my collection.
Over 30+ PJ's from 1968 to 1990's where consulted and no one knows about this item. For some comments I've got from former PJ's, this seems to be the true first Pararescue Badge/Flash edition in the history made in Korea Circa 1968/71' and possible issued to one unit in particular before (as a prototype) the standard flash we all know where released. In 1968, PJs stationed from the 33rd ARRS in Naha, Okinawa were sent to Osan Air Base, Korea. They crewed the HU-16B Albatross. This was in response to the capture of the USS Pueblo. A number of PJ's also started crewing the HH-43B Huskie helicopter at several bases in Korea. Before the PJ Flash was official issued; PJ's used to wear their Parachutist Badge directly in their berets and slowly switched form one to another. There's a big chance that this badge was early supplied or specially made for those PJ's stationed in Osan or Kunsan.
I was looking for this item for over 10 years and got it from another USAF collector that stated he got it in the UK in an Antique militaria store in London. Extremely hard to find (for not saying impossible...), there's a big chance that was made in very small quantities because there’s almost no record of this item rather than only two of these pieces known in the world in private collections and this is one of them. This item completes 100% the badge/flash history of the PJ's in my collection.
Over 30+ PJ's from 1968 to 1990's where consulted and no one knows about this item. For some comments I've got from former PJ's, this seems to be the true first Pararescue Badge/Flash edition in the history made in Korea Circa 1968/71' and possible issued to one unit in particular before (as a prototype) the standard flash we all know where released. In 1968, PJs stationed from the 33rd ARRS in Naha, Okinawa were sent to Osan Air Base, Korea. They crewed the HU-16B Albatross. This was in response to the capture of the USS Pueblo. A number of PJ's also started crewing the HH-43B Huskie helicopter at several bases in Korea. Before the PJ Flash was official issued; PJ's used to wear their Parachutist Badge directly in their berets and slowly switched form one to another. There's a big chance that this badge was early supplied or specially made for those PJ's stationed in Osan or Kunsan.
I was looking for this item for over 10 years and got it from another USAF collector that stated he got it in the UK in an Antique militaria store in London. Extremely hard to find (for not saying impossible...), there's a big chance that was made in very small quantities because there’s almost no record of this item rather than only two of these pieces known in the world in private collections and this is one of them. This item completes 100% the badge/flash history of the PJ's in my collection.
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