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| "787th EFS" patches https://warthogterritory.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9507 |
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| Author: | JJ [ 15 Aug 2005, 15:16 ] |
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In my very first topic on this forum (see "Warthogs at War: Afghanistan Deployment Update") I stated, that during USAF´s Air Expeditionary Force (Cycle 5) rotation of AEF 1/2 (September – December 2004) a so called A/OA-10A "Rainbow Team" or "blended" team was deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of the ongoing Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF). At this deployed location in U.S. Central Command´s Area of Operations (U.S. CENTCOM AOR), all Warthogs in Afghanistan are assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group (455th EOG) – part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing (455th AEW). This deployed team consisted of aircraft and personnel from the active 81st FS "Panthers", 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (Tailcode "SP"), and the 706th FS "Cajuns", 926th FW (AFRC), NAS JRB New Orleans, Louisiana (Tailcode "NO"). Both units teamed up to form the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (81st EFS), commanded by Lt. Col. John Cherrey, deployed 81st FS commander. In all related USAF, AFRC and 455th AEW PA news articles, this team was officially called as 81st EFS. But some people dubbed it as so called "787th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron" ("787th EFS") – 81 plus 706 = 787. After replies from "Gunsmoke" and "Coach" to my first topic (thanks!) I decided to create a new topic to discuss this open question separately. I´m nearly sure this question is mainly related to patches. Some months ago before I joined this forum, I found two different "787th EFS" patches, both on http://www.usafpatches.com and also on http://www.quizmos.com. On usafpatches.com the right mouse click has been disabled for downloads. You must contact the webmaster if you wish to make use of any image. At quizmos.com you can easy download any picture with the right mouse click. Here are the pictures from quizmos.com: <img src="http://www.quizmos.com/gifs/787EFS.jpg" border=0> <img src="http://www.quizmos.com/gifs/787EFSa10.jpg" border=0> The first patch shows a red panther whit a lightning (squadron symbol for the 81st FS "Panthers"), the word "CAJUNS" (squadron name of the 706th FS) and the term "787TH EFS" (combined with two ancient "halberds" - is this correct? -, a 706th FS symbol. The second patch, titled "A 10 LITENING II" shows a large A/OA-10A (which "targets" a tank with a red laser beam from the pod on station 9), a yellow lightning and the term "787 EFS". Both patches are in U.S. CENTCOM´s usual "Desert Style". The webmaster of usafpatches.com originally called the patches as 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron patches. In an updated version, which is currently online, he states: "Although the 787th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron designation appears on the patch, the 787 EFS is a bogus designation. The designation comes from adding the numerical designators from two fighter squadrons that deployed together in support of OEF – the 81st Fighter Squadron and the 706th Fighter Squadron (81 plus 706 = 787). The official designation of the unit is the 81 EFS, as the 81 FS was the lead element for the combined deployment." According to quizmos.com, the patches are a "joint deployment patch for the 706 and 81st (706 plus 81 = 787) FS´s" and a "joint deployment A-10 Litening II targeting pod patch for the 706 and 81st FS´s". It´s clear, the designation "787th EFS" was only "informal", what means inofficially. The remaining question is: Who created these patches? Really involved personnel (who used the patches during this deployment) or only commercial patch manufacturers? A sign for the second version is the fact, that both patches integrate an "enemy" tank – not much more a real target in Afghanistan after the main combat phase of OEF! Regards J.J. |
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| Author: | Coach [ 15 Aug 2005, 16:26 ] |
| Post subject: | |
The patches were created by members of the 787 EFS. They are real, I wear both of them proudly. Coach |
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