US WWII Airborne - Rare 502nd Parachute Infantry Patch

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Rare 502ndt Parachute Infantry patch. A rare patch worn during WWII by members of the 502nd Parchute Infantry Regiment. On 2 March 1942, the 502 nd Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated at Fort Benning, GA from the 502 nd Parachute Infantry Battalion. In July of 1942 the activation of two full airborne divisions the 82 nd and 101 st was ordered and the 502 nd was assigned as a permanent unit of the 101 st Airborne Division. Shortly after they became part of the 101 st the 502nd PIR moved from Fort Benning GA to join the rest of the division, at Fort Bragg NC. . On September 4 1943 men of the 502 nd set sail for England and landed in Normandy on D-Day. Their mission was to secure two northern causeways leading inland from Utah Beach and destroy a German coast-artillery battery near Ste Martin-de-Varreville. After regrouping the 101 st received the new objective of seizing the city of Carentan. It was during this operation that Lt Col Robert Cole received the Medal of Honor for leading his battalion in a fix bayonet charge on the Ingouf farm house, a German stronghold defending one of the bridges over the Carentan Causeway. His Executive Officer, Maj John P Stopka, led the charge on Cole's left and received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Lt Col Cole never got the chance to wear it since he was killed by a snipers bullet 3 months later in Holland. Maj Stopka was killed two weeks after receiving his medal at Bastogne. On 29 June the 101 st was relieved from the VIII Corps and sent to Cherbourg to relieve the 4th Infantry Division. The 502 nd PIR returned to England shortly tafter for rest and training. The 502nd jumped with the 101st during Operation Market Garden. The unit was to land in Holland on DZ C, seize the small highway bridge over the Dommel River north of Saint Oedenrode and the railroad and road bridges at Best. The 502 nd was also given the mission of guarding DZs B & C for the subsequent glider landings. . German resistance was tough in the vicinity of Best but the 502 nd fought their way to within 100 yards of the bridge before the Germans blew it up. After securing their hard-won objectives, the men of the 502 nd moved north with the rest of the 101 st to take hold of defensive positions on 'The Island', south west of Arnhem. The unit fought with the 101st at Bastonge during the Battle of the Bulge and then held a line along the Moder River for over a month as part of the US 7 th Army. On 23 February, the Screaming Eagles were relieved and returned to Mourmelon, France. At the end of the war, the 502 nd moved to the Ruhr Pocket on 2 April to help in mop-up operations. the 502 nd went on the line facing the Rhine River south of Dusseldorf, Germany. On the 4th and 5th of May, the 502 nd received and carried out its final wartime mission - the capture of Berchtesgaden, Hitler's Eagles Nest. The 502 nd spent the summer of 1945 on occupation duty near Mittersill, Austria. Returning to France in September, the soldiers continued waiting for transport stateside. The 101 st Airborne Division was deactivated in December of 1945. This patch is standard US made cotton machine embroidered with cut edge and fine cotton mesh backing. One of the rarer airborne patches so if you collect some of the rarer WWII patches its a good one to pick-up since you don't see them that often especially in this condition. Would rate as about unissued condition. No mothing or damage. Passes the black light and burn tests. Nice patch to add to your WWII patch collection.. I am selling off a lot of my US patches and insignia collected over the last 40 years so check my other auctions. Three day no questions asked return but buyer pays postage both ways on returns. Insurance is optional but buyer is responsible for loss or damage in shipment. SORRY NO PAYPAL but check or Money Order is OK checks take 10 days to clear before I can ship. Email with any questions. Priority postage is to continental US. Alaska, Hawaii and Internation... read more

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