307th Unit Insignia

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So, got a question about the 307th Insignia patch. In all my researching, I've not found a definitive on what or even if the 307th had a pocket patch during WW2. I know there is a post-war patch, red circle with a parachuting Indian holding a sub-machine gun a pick axe.

But running around, I've recently found a "insignia" from two sources on Ebay, listing a style that I've never seen before, certainly looks like a ww2 vintage insignia in style. Consists of a Engineer crest (castle) surrounded with para-wings, with a parachute above and 307th above in red letters with the 82nd AA centered within.

Does anyone know if this is a valid insignia, albeit maybe one that's hard to find, or maybe the fevered product of someones imaginative mind?

www.ebay.com/itm/b0856-WW2-US-Army-Airborne-307th-Engineers-82nd-Division-Pocket-patch-/350583511144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a067d868

Note on this one, it's a certificate of participation for C company 307th Engineers. I picked one up to take a look, and I've got to say that it certainly looks a lot like a vintage document (although it's listed as a 70's repro).

www.ebay.com/itm/COP-307th-Airborne-Engineer-Battalion-company-C-Z912-/310271490367?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483d9f393f

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Closer look at the Company C Certificate of Participation, if you would like a better pict, I can arrange to give some close ups from the samples I obtained!

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Well, think I found a source to answer my own questions!

www.insigne.org/307-I.htm

Appears the Red "Injuneer" patch dates from 1957-59, so definitely post war.

According to the information on the page above, the insignia in question is a WW2 design, but was exclusive in use for Company C. One of the picts on the page is a bronze plaque dedicated to the 307th at Fort Bragg, and clearly shows an identical insignia. Story goes that a commanding officer of the 307th C company designed the insignia shortly after Anzio and had a local Italian embroiderer make up a limited number of the patches (around 10), which were given out to personnel in C company only.

The Certificate of Participation also appears genuine based on a photo from the page. It features the same C Company insignia, and features signatures/well wishes not found on the reproduction one that I obtained from Ebay.

A further wrinkle would be there's also a third insignia for the 307th that I've found that appears to be a local made patch dating from the 307th's time in Holland. It's a variation of the Paratrooper/engineer hat patch, featuring a red circle, white border, black parachute, and 307 in black letter underneath. This one shows up in on the official 82nd/307th history page.

www.ww2-airborne.us/units/307/307_honor.html

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307th Memorial showing insignia.

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V/R,
LT Strain, XO

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