Posted on Jul 31, 2019
Was there ever a time where jump wings were worn on the beret?
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In a discussion with some supposed veterans and one asked when we stopped wearing jump wings on the beret. Now, I didn’t come in until 1997, so I wanted to ask the older vets on here - was there EVER a time where airborne soldiers wore wings on the beret? I thought that was just a Hollywood thing, but I didn’t want to speak out of turn if I was wrong.
Airborne School
Airborne Trainee
Airborne Student
XVIII ABN Corps
Posted >1 y ago
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As far as I know, SFC Justin Scott, jump wings were never worn on the maroon beret. By the time this beret was fielded, the unit flash was used beneath the DUI for enlisted and rank for officers. This precedent was set by Special Forces, because the flashes were an SF creation. Even before, when garrison caps were worn by airborne units, the glider patch was worn on one side with rank or the DUI on the other. No jump wings.
However, in the early days of Special Forces, prior to creation of flashes, jump wings were worn on the green beret.
Here's a c. 1956 photo of LTC (then CPT) Wallace V. Kinsaul, now deceased. He was a member of the cadre from the 77th Special Forces Group that formed the 1st SFG(A) in Okinawa. He was one of the first to wear the green beret and also served with the 503rd PIR at Corregidor during WWII.
(The information and photos were provided by COL(ret) Phil Davis, the brother-in-law of the late Wallace Kinsaul, a founding member of the 20th SFG(A) and a good friend of mine. He was attending the "Q" course at Fort Bragg on 12OCT61 when JFK visited then Brigadier General William P. Yarborough and "approved" the green beret.)
CPT (Join to see) MSG Dan Castaneda MAJ Milan George MSG (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Mark Halmrast SSG William Jones SGT James Murphy LTC Jeff Shearer SGM Gregory Tarancon IV SGM Erik Marquez SP5 Peter Keane CSM Richard StCyr MSG Gary Eckert
However, in the early days of Special Forces, prior to creation of flashes, jump wings were worn on the green beret.
Here's a c. 1956 photo of LTC (then CPT) Wallace V. Kinsaul, now deceased. He was a member of the cadre from the 77th Special Forces Group that formed the 1st SFG(A) in Okinawa. He was one of the first to wear the green beret and also served with the 503rd PIR at Corregidor during WWII.
(The information and photos were provided by COL(ret) Phil Davis, the brother-in-law of the late Wallace Kinsaul, a founding member of the 20th SFG(A) and a good friend of mine. He was attending the "Q" course at Fort Bragg on 12OCT61 when JFK visited then Brigadier General William P. Yarborough and "approved" the green beret.)
CPT (Join to see) MSG Dan Castaneda MAJ Milan George MSG (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Mark Halmrast SSG William Jones SGT James Murphy LTC Jeff Shearer SGM Gregory Tarancon IV SGM Erik Marquez SP5 Peter Keane CSM Richard StCyr MSG Gary Eckert
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SFC Justin Scott
Thank you very much (genuinely) for the history lesson. I never knew this aspect of uniform history.
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SGT Mark Halmrast
Excellent. The way you answered that is simply excellent.
Acknowledged question, gave context, supplied example.
Tone of respect and reflected your own curiosity and interest.
Excellent.
Acknowledged question, gave context, supplied example.
Tone of respect and reflected your own curiosity and interest.
Excellent.
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LTC Stephen C.
SFC Justin Scott, I also read this about the maroon beret. I’ve yet to find a photograph of US Army airborne personnel wearing a WWII vintage beret. The British did have jump wings on their berets, but I’m unable to confirm whether US paratroopers did or not.
“In 1943 General Frederick Browning, commander of the British First Airborne Corps, granted a battalion of the U.S. Army's 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment honorary membership in the British Parachute Regiment and authorized them to wear British-style maroon berets. During the Vietnam War, U.S. military advisers to Vietnamese airborne units often wore the Vietnamese French-style red beret.”
SGT Mark Halmrast
“In 1943 General Frederick Browning, commander of the British First Airborne Corps, granted a battalion of the U.S. Army's 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment honorary membership in the British Parachute Regiment and authorized them to wear British-style maroon berets. During the Vietnam War, U.S. military advisers to Vietnamese airborne units often wore the Vietnamese French-style red beret.”
SGT Mark Halmrast
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I don't know, but if there were, it would make getting your "blood wings" a whole lot more traumatic!!
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Yes, there are several examples of 1950's and early 60's Soldiers with them displayed on the beret.
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