Posted 12 years ago
scottvez
(977 items)
This ring appears to be a souvenir item brought back by a US soldier serving in China at the end of WW2.
The ring is silver metal (not sure if sterling, but I suspect it is).
Engraved on one side is "China" other is "1945".
Inside are two stamps with Chinese characters (photo #3).
What concerns me is the "adjustable" nature of the ring-- with two "straps" instead of a solid ring back.
I have several WW2 era souvenir rings and all have a solid back.
Any information on the construction or the characters is appreciated.
Scott
Thanks for looking bones.
Scott
Thanks gypsy, budek, packrat and toolate.
Scott
Thanks again for looking petey!
scott
Hi scottvez! I was just looking at your ring and found a site that has a ring with a different dragon design, BUT the 1945 and China are the same and it too is adjustable. There are pictures at the site, but they didn't do a great job with the hallmarks. Hopefully you can get some information there. There seems to be some 'possible' connection to the Flying Tigers. Good luck in your research. Please let us know if you find out more about this ring! :-)
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/insignia-flags-and-regalia/wwii-us-china-ring-53032/
Thanks chinablue. The Flying Tigers connection is a stretch without provenance (my ring has none). They are the most famous CBI unit, but there were many others that served as well.
scott
You're welcome. Yes, there were many others scott. I only mentioned it because it was mentioned at the site where I found the ring.
I appreciate the link-- it was helpful. I will check the silver mark to see if it matches!
scott
Did you ever determine the origin of this ring? I just received a ring very similar of my uncle's after he passed recently. His is much more worn and instead of CHINA stamped into the side, it has two characters instead - one of which I think represents "middle"
Zhong, the character which looks like a box with a vertical line cutting through the middle means 'middle' or 'centre' (or 'central'). The two characters might be 'Zhongguo' which is 'China'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_China
Hi Scott,
I have an identical ring that was brought back from China in 1945 by my father who was an engineer in the Army Air Corps stationed in Cheng Du for 2 years. He was one of 2 Americans with a British officer and thousands of native workers who constructed an airstrip out of river rock for the Flying Tigers to fly bombing missions "over the hump". I also have many Flying Tigers patches, his blood chit, short snotter etc for the provenance you referred to. He took dozens of tiny black and white photos of the base, the construction, airplanes,and people and shrines in Cheng Du. I also have all his uniforms, orders, and Chinese translation book. His name was Ernest W Smith. Hope this helps.
Thanks much for the information nutfieldmom. I appreciate you taking the time to post on here.
I have some questions-- my contact information is posted, if you don't mind, just click on my name on here.
scott