Rare Early WWII 23rd FG CATF Patch of 5 Kill Ace & Eventual Maj. General Charles H. Dubois Jr.

ARTIFACT: Rare, early WWII 23rd Fighter Group, China Air Task Force patch of 5 kill Ace and eventual Major General Charles H. Dubois Jr. 76th Pursuit Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the 23rd FG formed in 1942 as a component of the China Air Task Force and contained a small group of previous AVG pilots, as the formation of the 23rd FG was almost simultaneous to the disbanding of the American Volunteer Group. The 23rd FG carried on, in tradition with the AVG aircraft and the P-40 Warhawks and P-40Es flown by the 23rd were decorated with the same "Shark Teeth" nose art and the Flying Tiger tail code "FT". The 23rd Fighter Group was involved in a large part of the action in Southeast and Southwest Asia in WWII, during this time the unit received the Distinguished Unit Citation for their involvement with Hunan Province and their courageous and successful efforts to push back the Japanese and help protect Chinese forces despite bad weather and heavy ground fire. The 23rd FG has been credited with destroying nearly 900 planes both in the air and on the ground, sinking and/or damaging nearly 400,000 tons of enemy shipping, all while causing an estimated enemy troop loss of more than 20,000. Thirty-two pilots of the 23rd Fighter Group achieved Ace status by shooting down five or more enemy aircraft. The 23rd Fighter Group left the theater in December 1945 and was inactivated in January 1946. This beautifully embroidered silk patch features a flying tiger with a red, white, and blue top hat bearing stars and stripes. The tiger is flying or jumping through the center of a Chinese sun with the country's flag in its paws. This example belonged to eventual Maj. General Charles H. Dubois Jr., who started his flying career as a civilian in 1938 and after serving 3 years in the ROTC, attended and graduated military flying school. Originally serving as pilot, flight commander, and operations officer, in the 10th Pursuit Sq. before joining the China Air Task Force and the 23rd Fighter Group. During 1942 - 43, as flight and squadron commander, he flew 87 combat missions and downed five enemy aircraft with two probables and later became Assistant A-3 in the 14th Air Force. Post WWII he commanded the 110th Fighter Squadron and the 131st Fighter Group (1946 - 1950). During the Korean War he commanded the 131st Bombardment Wing and later the 131st Tactical Fighter Wing and was ranked Major General in 1960. Through his years of service he received many decorations including the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.

VINTAGE: Circa early WWII

SIZE: Approximately 7" x 6-1/4"

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Silk embroidered with silk thread and bullion

ATTACHMENT: To be sewn on.

MARKINGS: None.

ITEM NOTES: This is from a USAAF collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. VGEJX9/10 LDEGEX SDJJJX07/21

CONDITION: 9- (Excellent+): The patch shows minor wear with uniform fading to the blue thread of the center sun, the patch was never sewn on and remains in overall excellent condition.