8th AF100th BG and 349-350-351-418th Squadrons Patches

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8th AF100th BG and 349-350-351-418th Squadrons Patches From the estate of Thomas I. Anderson These are movie prop creations. Below is their stary as I found on the Internet about these patches ~~~~~ Someone was producing these insignias in substantial quantities, but who? I've searched high and low for the answer, and have come back empty handed. No one seems to know just who was in charge of producing and distributing these insignias. For now, I've focused on the patches, and here's what I have confirmed:Most "authentic" squadron patches appear to fall into one of these categories: Embroidered or "Chenille" which seems to be the most common type seen in photos dating from the era. Hand painted leather or a decal on leather Hand painted on canvas or silk-screened on canvas Several different "field made" variants are also known to exist. This is about as far as the trail goes. I've found no records indicating who manufactured or distributed any of the various different styles listed above, with exception of the hand painted canvas style. Nearly all of the hand painted canvas patches I've seen have the "RKO Radio Pictures" or "Max Berman & Sons Costume and Props" ink stamp on the back.I decided to focus on these RKO-Max Berman patches since they were the only clearly marked insignia I've found. Here, my search took another turn. After contacting several of the experts in the field, I found that opinion is split regarding the authenticity of the RKO-Max Berman patches. Some collectors claim the RKO patches were produced by RKO Radio Pictures in conjunction with Max Berman & Sons during the years 1941 to 1945, making them authentic wartime insignia. This theory seems logical as RKO Radio Pictures was a major distributor of Disney films and merchandise at the time.Other collectors challenge that shortly after the war, RKO came into possession of a large quantity of squadron patches, and had their prop artists (Max Berman & Sons) copy each insignia and warehouse them for future use in the movies. Those that suggest this theory claim the RKO-Max Berman patches are, in fact, these studio copies made shortly after the war. While this theory is also a possibility, I have seen RKO marked patches for nearly every unit that ever saw service in the Air Corps, including various flight schools, air warden/ civil air patrol units, even gunnery and navigation schools. I find it highly unlikely that RKO Radio Pictures would have planned on producing a movie so monumental it would include basic training schools and the civil air patrol.What is known about the RKO-Max Berman patches, however, is that they were produced sometime between 1941 and 1950. RKO began to experience financial problems in 1948, and beginning then, the studios were bought and sold several times. By 1950 they had dropped the "RKO Radio Picture" title (as is found on all of the patches) in favor of the "RKO Pictures" title. In 1955 Howard Hughes bought RKO, merged it with General Tire creating "RKO-General" and micro-managed it into the ground.Today, original squadron patches of any sort are extremely rare finds, including the mysterious RKO patches. Original patches showing a Disney character are highly prized collectibles among both militaria and Disneyana collectors. Many were made, but few still exist today, and nobody seems to know where they came from or where they all went. Maybe someone will remember how and where they got theirs during the war, I'd love to find out.Today, if you're looking to add a squadron patch to your collection, high quality, affordable reproductions of the embroidered versions are available. I have not seen any reproductions of the painted or silk-screened types. Be careful when buying an original; fakes, post-war replacements, and "worn" reproductions are nearly impossible to tell from originals. The safest bet when searching for an original, or at least a vintage item, is the hand painted RKO style, due to the amount of work that would b... read more

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