WWII English Made 8th Air Force 446th Bomb Group 885th Chemical Squadron Flight Jacket Patch

Here is a Super Rare English made, un-issued patch attributed to Detachment A 885th Chemical Warfare & Ordnance Depot 446th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force out of Bungay air base.

Measures 5" in diameter, the star represents the Air Force in white on a dark blue backing with a crowned deer in the centre, which represents the near by Royal Park of Sandringham. Surrounded by branch of service insignia for Communications, Chemical, Artillery, Air Force and an un-identified branch with a red scroll to the bottom of the patch.

From late November 1943, the three bases of Bungay, Seething and Hardwick were the stations of the 20th Combat Wing Eighth Air Force. The 446th Bomb Group was the first full group to be based there. They would stay beyond the end of war in Europe and the crews' commitment to the base came through in their nickname of 'Bungay Buckeroos'.

Attributed to the 446th Bomb Group based at Bungay with Detachment A 885th Chemical Warfare and Ordnance Depot at Barnham near to Liberators on the airfield. Mystery surrounds the covert nature of group and the patch. It is believed that if' the D day invasion failed chemical weapons might be deployed as a plan 'B' ? The 446BG were part of Third Air Division commanded by Brigadier General Curtiss Le May, (Later to command 20th Air Force which attacked Japan) his HQ was based at Elvedon Hall.

I have a small number made by a tailor shop in Norwich, which closed in the 1960's.

See 885th Chemical Squadron post on U.S. Military Forum, thanks to Walika for the post.

I would also like to thank my customer and good friend of 25+ years Allan Hutchings for identifying the patch, the story behind it's existence and supplying various pages of local research and comment about the patch.

Code: 53192