Non Weapon ID Help Needed
 

Hi,
Not sure if this is OK to post and if not Mods please feel free to delete this.


I bought this about 15 years ago in a garage sale and completely forgot that I even had it until I found it today while cleaning out my own garage. It is made of bronze and has the dates 1941 & 1945 on it so I would suppose it has something to do with WWII. I have an idea of what it might be and I'm hoping I am wrong. Any help in identifying it would be greatly appreciated.

Robert

Hi Robert,
A flash from the past! I havent collected medals etc. since I was a kid, and I remember these..it seems its an Army World War II service button, and I think the various branches had variations. I think I've seen these in patch form as well, but way, way too long ago to recall for sure.

Best regards,
Jim

Hi Jim,
Thank you for your quick reply to this. This seems a little large for a button at 9 inches across :confused: I was thinking it was more of a plaque possibly made for some specific use.

Robert

ruptured duck
 

Hi,

Thats a metal plaque of the ruptured duck insignia.

There is some information on this site--perhaps the dealer could help you as well

http://www.therupturedduck.com/

good luck
Matt

My pleasure Robert! I didnt note the measuring stick and overlooked the size!
Also Matt, thank you for the link, I hadnt realized the story nor the term 'ruptured duck' applying to this. I did think that this was some sort of patch though as I had one or two.....WWII was less than a decade before and as a kid always living near air bases, medals and WWII items were all over the place. Thats how I got started on edged weapons...buying bayonets out of barrels for a quarter apiece!

The ruptured duck term also reminded me of the B-25 flown by Lawson in the famed Doolittle raid in 1942, and as a kid, the name of course intrigued me.
Always loved the B-25's and in early days working at the airport, back in 69, I heard roaring radials rattling the windows, ran outside and saw a line of Mitchells waiting to take off!!! They were filming "Catch 22" and I think there were five in line....a sight I'll never forget :)

The patch with eagle was worn by those about to be discharged in the interim period and permitted the uniform being worn. Apparantly the name of Lawson's plane must have been tongue in cheek referring to this...I thought it was referring to the ungainly attitude of these bombers as they barely made it off the carrier deck.....absolutely incredible flying!!!! and the story of thier heroism told in "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo".

Best regards,
Jim

Matt,
Thank you for the link. I contacted Bill (the dealer at the site) and he confirmed what I was worried that it might be, a grave marker to show that someone served in WWII. :( It does appear to be in new condition so I don't believe it had ever used for its intended purpose.


Robert

I have this oddity, why :confused:

Where do you guys find these things!!!? :) amazing !
I guess there are all manner of little treasures out there, and nobody knows why they were kept or signified.
The 'ruptured duck' thing seems to have of course had WWII connotations.
Obviously this plaque must have been celebratory and probably one of a number presented en masse to those attending a ceremony? The fact that it is not carrying name, date or event simply means there must have been a significant number of these made.

Is the 571 still in service? If not, is it static somewhere? Wasn't this one of the first nuclear submarines (Jules Verne would have loved it!).....perhaps something presented to visitors?

She is currently at a museum in Connecticut; Groton near New London where she was built .

Nautilus, of course, was the first nuclear sub; she was also the first one to transit the Noth Pole underwater .

She was also the the inspiration for the first British nuclear sub. A direct copy under a shared technology agreement, that not all were in favour of. Kind of ethnographic?

I'll bet these were given to VIP visitors at some point in her career .
The plastic is typical naval door and desk sign material .

Gotta love it ! :)

I covet . :o

Thats really nice mate! I'll give you a 'deep sea diver' for it? ;)

(Couldn't resist, clearly my humour needing work!)