The 1st Laotian Parachute Battalion badge 1952 – 1954
The first Lao parachute unit, 1ere Compagnie de Commandos Parachutistes Laotiens (1ere CCPL) was raised by the French in July...
An unidentified French Indochina or 1950’s period Airborne unit badge.
This is an unusual and as yet unidentified early Vietnamese Airborne patch that I have in my collection. It is...
A WW2 South African Veterinary Corps Medal Group
During a recent visit to my parents in Melbourne, I was given this group which belonged to my father’s uncle,...
An Australian souvenir from Operation CRIMP, South Vietnam, January 1966.
One of my collecting interests is Australian cigarette lighters from the Vietnam War. In recent years I have tended to...
The Pioneer Parachute Co. pin. Not a Caterpillar!
The Caterpillar Club, started in 1922 by Leslie Irvin’s Irving Air Chute Company, as a way of recording the names...
Australian Airborne Insignia #2. The 6RAR Parachute Company Group
In 1974, the Brisbane based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) under the command of Lt Col Tony Hammett took...
The Southern Rhodesia Commando ‘Cobra’ Qualification badge – 1941 – 45
In 1941, fearing that the Japanese may launch an invasion of southern Africa from Vichy French controlled Madagascar, the OC...
A 1992 issue Switlik Caterpillar Club badge for a WW2 Soviet pilot.
Last week’s post featured the Caterpillar Club badge of RAAF pilot Patrick Heffernan who became member number 16000 of Irvin’s...
WW2 Caterpillar Club pin to RAAF pilot, Group Captain P.G. Heffernan
The Caterpillar Club began in 1922 shortly after an American aviator, LT H.R. Harris, made an emergency descent using an...
Australian Airborne Insignia #1 – Airborne Platoon?
This is the first of an ongoing series of articles which will take a closer look at some of the...
