Established in August of 1944, the First Allied Airborne Army was intended to condense and unify all Allied airborne infantry operations, bringing together American, British and Polish paratroopers under one roof. During its tenure, subordinate units would participate in the combat drops for Market Garden in Holland and Varsity across the Rhine in Germany, as well as being thrown into action for the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, the British resumed direct control of their airborne forces, the Polish outfit disbanded (with most choosing to go into exile instead of returning to their now-Soviet dominated homeland), and the American elements kept together as the First Airborne Army for occupation duty in Berlin. The unit insignia, a winged "1" over a par of crossed daggers on a red field, is present on a 2 1/4 inch wide shield patch and a pair of enamel pins, and a silver bullion Army Glider Badge is present. Four additional emblems are attached to a 12 1/2 inch diameter white cloth circle with a one piece stitched on black swastika (appears to have been removed from a German flag); a set of Army "U.S./crossed cannons" lapel pins, an enamel badge featuring a diving eagle holding lightning bolts, and a Parachutist Badge on yellow and red background trim. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection