For sale is a very rare, and original 1944 dated US Army officers tunic of the rank of Colonel.
This officers tunic retains the qualifications of US Army Airborne, Pathfinder, and OSS Special Forces training.
The awards are numerous, two of which I am not even certain of.
Most notable of the insignia is this officers connection to the OSS. The “Jedpers” wing SF, is in pristine condition, and a silk and wool hand made English example.
The OSS branch insignia (in bullion) are worn as distinctive insignia on the epaulets, as I have never seen before.
The OSS Airborne “flash” is an English made example in the proper black on orange – red with gold bullion inner ring.
The bullion RECONNASSANCE tab is in the proper gold bullion on black, but with a simple border of red.
The green horizontal stripe mid left arm, I am told, is indicative of what we now recognize as a “leadership tab”, that would later be worn on both epaulets. The color of this tab is actually a darker color than my picture.
The Pathfinder patch, in silk on wool, is a very close to pristine example, and is actually a more purple
blue color of wool felt backing than my picture indicates.
The “combat” patch on this example is a machine made version of the 82nd Airborne Division patch, with separate tab.
The ribbons on this tunic are all sewn on. The Presidential Unit Citation is English made, and the “oak leaf cluster” is of a silver colored metal. The European – African – Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon holds 4 bronze stars, 1 silver star, and 2 invasion arrow heads. The French Croix de Guerre has 1 silver palm. I believe the Croix de Guerre fourragere is the Belgian example, and in this case is worn backwards, but this is how it came with the uniform.
The US Airborne qualification is an early 1940\'s issue, with the addition of the gold OSS to the risers, and the stamping of twelve 1 mm. sized stars on the wings. Some of which still retain a slight gold inset. The wings have a raised STERLING to the rear, and a hollow backed ice cream cone. I have never polished this wing, but it has been cleaned, and the back edges are still sharp from stamping. The patina is more of a rich dark brown color than the pictures indicate. The back, slightly less so.
The condition of this size 34 Regular tunic is immaculate, and should be in a museum. Other than one small moth hole on the back left shoulder under the fourragere, a slightly frayed belt tip, and some slight discoloration to the base of the left sleeve, this tunic is in VG condition. One more note on condition; The OSS DI\'s are in very delicate condition. The bullion is very oxidized and the velvet backing is quite worn from brushing. This tunic has been on a mannequin for many years, and is now cleaned with an air compressor, not brushed. The bullion has been cared for with a blitz cloth, then a baking soda method. All quite sturdy other than the DI\'s.
Though unnamed, and with no provenance, this example was to nice to pass up, it came from a very good home. It and this are non smoking. This tunic was formerly owned by a WWII veteran whom collected anything he had more than two of, and could only tell me “it came from a friend in the VFW”.
This tunic and it\'s insignia pass all tests as 100% original. I even went as far as to look at all of the insignia stitching under black light (with a loop) for luminescent pull through.
All questions will be answered. Thanks for looking. Good luck with your offer, and good hunting.
