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Expert: John Vargas - 9/27/2009


Question

uknown badge
John,

Can you tell me hat is this?

Jerome

Answer
Hello Jerome

The badge that you have is officially called a Distinctive Unit Insignia, commonly called a D.U.I. or D.I., from the Vietnam War.

The D.I. that you have was for the 149th Aviation, and was approved on March 3rd in 1971.

Here is the history of the D.I. that you have, see page 73, Number 3 “149th Aviation” in the book “U.S. Army Heraldic Crests: A Complete Illustrated History of Authorized Distinctive Unit Insignia” by Barry Jason Stein Barry, and P. J. Capelotti.

http://books.google.com/books?id=99fh34SJWr8C&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=%22149th+Aviat...

Here is the history of the Distinctive Unit Insignia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinctive_Unit_Insignia

There were two D.I.’s, one on each side, when worn on the Uniform.  

Here is how they Distinctive Unit Insignia would have been worn in Vietnam (although this say it is for Korea, the insignia placement is the same for Vietnam).  

http://usarmyinsigniahomepage.110mb.com/uniform-korea.html

If the links do not allow you to click on them directly, cut and paste them into a new browser.  

I hope that I have been able to answer your question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me and I would me more than happy to answer them.  

Regards,

John

John Vargas

Expertise

I can answer both specific and general questions about U.S. Army, and Naval Aviation from 1913 to 1946, and WWII U.S. Airborne, to include key personalities, units, commands, and doctrines. My specialty is U.S. Aviation Badges (all Branches of the Service, from WWI to the Present), U.S. 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 personal library (as well as text from others...such as museums) of text, as well as actual badges and insignia that is specific to this period of history.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience in collecting and cataloging WWI, and WWI U.S. Army Aviation, WWI, and WWII U.S. Naval Aviation, and U.S. Airborne Badges and Insignia. I was the former assistant curator at the Gen. Wm. C. Lee Airborne Museum, when I lived in NC. I have written histories of Wing Badges and Aviation Insignia for several manufacturing companies to include The Robbins Company, Bailey Banks and Biddle, and I am working on the histories for several other companies at the moment. I am a consultant on regular basis to many museums (including the U.S.A.F., U.S. Army, Private and Public Museums, as well as the Institute of Heraldry), and I am regularly called upon to authenticate U.S. Aviation Badges and Insignia (all Branches of the Service) for Fine Auctions Houses such as Bonham’s and Butterfields, and many others.

Organizations
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA-FL) Historian - I am not a Vietnam Veteran, or a Vietnam Era Helicopter Pilot, I was not old enough to serve in Vietnam, unless the U.S. needed a one-year-old, then I would have Proudly Served.

Education/Credentials
I am perusing an advanced degree in history (Ph.D.), with a concentration in WWI, and WWII U.S. Aviation. I spent several years on Active Duty in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper. I am a Qualified and Rated Aviator.

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