Posted 5 years ago
MarkFoltz
(6 items)
This was in with my grandfather’s WWII medals. He was a pilot that was killed (as a passenger) in a stateside plane accident.
I’ve recently discovered it could be a unit pin.
I’m still discovering his contributions during the war, and hope this will give me a new direction.
Thank you Keramikos!
I don’t know the unit yet. He was with the Ferrying Command (Air Transport Command).
He was moved around quite a bit, so he may have been part of them at some point. He was promoted to Captain during his time in Africa. He also airlifted troops from the Philippines and even a crew from Chennaults Flying Tigers.
Thanks for your contribution to my search.
Your pin is called a Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) and typically just called a unit crest by soldierss.
Your dui is for the 153rd Infantry Regiment. The unit was part of the Arkansas National Guard and when activated for WW2 served and fought in Alaska.
The current unit crest has a bear at the top, which was probably added after WW2 to represent its Alaska service:
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-153in.htm
scott
You’re awesome Scott!!!!
Exactly the info I was hoping to find. I just skimmed it briefly and picked up that it involved units from Arkansas....where he was from.
We've sent off for military records on him, and are still waiting on that, but with that archive fire in st Louis, I’m not very optimistic.
Glad to help out.
He may have been in the 153rd pre or early war and then applied to become a pilot.
Here is a database that would have him if he were an early war enlisted man in that unit:
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=WR26
Use the search and put in "last name, first name". If his name is common, you may want to add "Arkansas" to the search block. If he isn't in the database, then it was probably pre- war service or just a dui from a friend or relative.
Good luck with the search and keep us posted.
Also, if you have the inclination, consider posting his other items.
scott
I am hoping for the best on the archive search. Any info will be more than I have now.
Post more? I sure will. I have some wings that were also in his collection but I think they were souvenir wings...as I can’t find any like them.
If you’re curious....here’s the story of my search.
I was adopted and found my biological mother. She’s still alive and glad to inform me of any and all info regarding my family history. She was the only child of Capt Jack Harrison. Together, we are trying to find out as much as we can. She was 2 when he died, and by the time she was old enough to be curious about her father, her mother was dating and there ‘never was a good time to discuss it’.
If you’re interested, here’s the bizarre story of his death. This is a summary that I sent to my brother after receiving the crash report. It’s almost unbelievable....but I have the report as proof.
“I FINALLY got that aviation crash report.
He was a passenger, not the pilot.
He was with the air transport command, that would move planes, people and equipment.
This same group did some aviation training as well, and I’m still trying to glean info.
Regardless, these guys had some really bad luck.
Engine failure on takeoff, then crashed into 4 gasoline tankers parked at the end of the runway.
If that wasn’t enough, the plane crashes into a storehouse that stored kerosene.
It’s amazing 3 survived.
The pilot survived with major injuries.
There were 2 civilians on board that both died...that were on assignment with the army to conduct safety program on (of all things) fires.”