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Author
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Topic: Shuttle crew member-worn 'USAF' patch
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 51815
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-04-2024 12:15 PM
   
Somehow I missed this until last night, but while flipping through photos from STS-51J, I noticed a U.S. Air Force ("USAF") patch: Some further browsing (and a quick chat with a friend) showed that the patch was not limited to Atlantis' maiden flight and it was sewn to both polo shirts and coverall jackets. A few more questions for those who might know: - Were the patches limited to only crew members who were serving in the Air Force or was it a reference to the (classified) mission being flown on behalf of the branch?
- Were there other service patches of a similar style?
- Was the USAF patch directly inspired by the NASA "worm" patch?
- When did the USAF patch first fly? When was it retired? On which missions was it worn and by how many crew members in total?
- Has anyone ever seen a flown example in a museum? For sale? Were souvenir versions ever made?
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hoorenz
Member Posts: 1042
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-04-2024 12:52 PM
I have an original from the collection of late Randy Wagner. He received it directly from STS-51C Payload Specialist Gary Payton (who was wearing a similar patch on that mission). A souvenir version was available mid 1990's, I believe from Spaceland Enterprises or Stewart Aviation. If I remember correctly, it had a twill background instead of fully embroidered. The patch can also be seen in the STS-62A crew portrait, worn by Pete Aldridge (the other DoD Payload Specialist, Brett Watterson, was wearing one as well). As far as variations for other branches: the only missions that comes to mind is STS-44 with U.S. Army Payload Specialist Thomas Hennen, but he was wearing a NASA-worm. Was the USAF-worm inspired by the NASA-worm? Similar rectangle patches of the same size existed at the time for ESA (STS-9/STS-61A), Canada (STS-41G), CNES (STS-51G), EG&G (STS-51B), JPL (STS-51B), DFVLR (STS-61A), Hughes (STS-51L), CSC (STS-61E). So probably at least the format was inspired by the NASA-version.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 51815
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-04-2024 01:38 PM
Thank you Erik! That answers a lot of my questions. I am still trying to figure out how or why I didn't notice the patch until now. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 854
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 02-04-2024 02:15 PM
Here's one of the souvenir versions. The "S" has a slight angle on the middle that differentiates it from the original.  |
SpaceCadet1983
Member Posts: 479
From: Pacific NW, United States
Registered: May 2012
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posted 02-04-2024 04:15 PM
I've been looking for a USAF patch for my collection. Does anyone have a replica one they'd be willing to part with? Thank you! |
Kevmac
Member Posts: 313
From: College Station, TX
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-05-2024 12:15 AM
While in the Air Force at Los Angeles AFB in the mid to late 80s, I watched the Air Force Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program based there winding down after the Challenger accident and the military missions from Vandenberg were cancelled. But a couple of the MSEs still got missions and are well documented in the Nebraska Press book "Come Fly with Me". There are good in-flight pictures of Payton and Pailes in their short-sleeve shirts with the USAF patch across their left breast.I picked up a USAF patch for my collection about that time but don't care to part with it. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1865
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 02-05-2024 08:22 AM
I was there from '83 to '88. Through office symbol changes and one move, I was in CF, YO and CL. I did some training with the last class of MSEs. quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
...a reference to the (classified) mission being flown on behalf of the branch?
All classified or military missions were flown on behalf of the DOD. |
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