AboutJohn Vargas Expertise I can answer both specific and general questions about US Army, and Naval Aviation from 1913 to 1946, and WWII US Airborne, to include key personalities, units, commands, and doctrines.
My specialty is US Aviation Badges (all Branches of the Service, from WWI to the Present), US Airborne Badges (from WWII to the Present) as well as Aviation, Airborne, and Infantry Insignia (from WWI to the Present), both authorized and unauthorized, of the period.
I have access to a vast library of text that is specific to this period of history.
Experience I have over 20 years experience in collecting and cataloging WWI, and WWI US Army Aviation, WWI, and WWII US Naval Aviation, and US Airborne Badges and Insignia.
I was the former assistant curator at the Gen. Wm. C. Lee Airborne Museum, when I lived in NC.
I am a consultant on regular basis to many museums (including the USAF, and the Institute of Heraldry), and I am regularly called upon to authenticate US Aviation Badges and Insignia (all Branches of the Service) for Fine Auctions Houses such as Bonham’s and Butterfields, and many others.
Education/Credentials I am perusing an advanced degree in history with a concentration in WWI, and WWII US Aviation (Ph.D.)
I spent several years on Active Duty in the US Army as a Paratrooper.
Dear Mr Vargas
My brother and I hope you can identify a pin that was among our father's WWII items. The front has a red griffin holding a dagger on a blue background above the initials: F.W.S.S. The back is engraved with Dad's first initial and last name; the maker's stamp I think is "BIRKS" or "SIRKS" above the word "Sterling."
His name was Richard S. Livermore, in the US Army from approx. 1942-1946. European theater, landed on Omaha Beach (D+8?), with a pool of unassigned 2nd Lts.
We believe he was assigned as a 2nd Lt with the 473rd AAA AW, "attached to combat commands generated by the 3rd Army." His outift was assigned to different branches of the army at different times to provide armored support.
Fought near the Battle of the Bulge, crossed the Rhine. Unlocked some of the concentration camps, to let in the Red Cross. Those camps included Bergen-Belsen and Dachau, but there were others. He went over the Brenner Pass into Italy, and also into Czechoslovakia.
We hope you can identify the pin, and perhaps you can recommend any sources we can search for further information about his service. We are waiting for his records from the VA, but fear they may have been lost in the fire.
At the end of the war his rank was Capt. He accepted an offer from the military to attend a semester of college in Europe and did so at University of Aberdeen in Scotland. We wonder if the pin might be from Scotland.
With sincere thanks in advance,
Joanie Livermore
Answer Hello Joanie,
The pin that you have is the Coat of Arms, or Badge for the Livermore Family (from the United Kingdom). You are correct that it is a Griffin. The F.W.S.S. stands for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. I would like to give credit to Rosalia Caruso, and Andre Richard of Birks and Mayors, both located in Canada for identifying the Coat of Arms for you.
Here is the history of the 473d AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion.
The "care and feeding" of Barrage Balloons, means to keep the Balloons patched and full of gas.
Here is information about those who attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Camp Davis, North Carolina; all were Commissioned as Officers (2LT’s) in the Antiaircraft Artillery Corps.
“2. The Antiaircraft Artillery Officer Candidate School, Camp Davis, North Carolina. The individual must have attended between 1 April 1941 and 31 October 1944, and be commissioned Coastal Artillery Corps upon graduation.”
I would contact the Fort Sill, Field Artillery Museum, as they are the ones who should have the records for 473rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion. Again, I would ask them for all the information about the unit, and I would also ask them for information about your Father as well, they should have a record since he was an Officer.
Here is the link to the Fort Sill, Field Artillery Museum.
Here is the contact information for the Research and Inquiries Section of the Fort Sill, Field Artillery Museum. I also included the e-mail address and direct telephone number to the Museum Curator, and the Administrative Assistant.
Fort Sill National Historic Landmark
437 Quanah Road
Fort Sill, OK 73503-5100
In addition to the FT. Sill Museum, I would contact the Air Defense Artillery Museum at Fort Bliss, Texas to see if they have any information about your fathers WWII Service. I would ask them for any and all information about the 473rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion.
I would also contact the Air Defense Artillery Association, and ask them if they can assist you in finding more information about your Father (more specifically if they have anything in their archives about your Father).
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