The lot consists of three groupings. The first is a collection of items from the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 5th Air Force. Also know as the "Eight Ballers", the 8th was active in the Pacific during World War II, often performing high-risk runs over occupied islands to gather intel used to plan amphibious assaults. The set includes a 5" wide cloth patch of the unit logo (an stereotypical Mohawk Indian with a hatchet, camera and large 8-ball, a Holiday greetings card "from Somewhere in New Guinea" with a picture of a serviceman, a larger picture of the same serviceman wearing corporal's stripes and a 8th unit patch, a set of "G" glider wings and other small pins and patches. The greeting is signed by "Nephew Don", with "Don Wolzmuth" on the back; records show a Donald Wolzmuth of New York born in 1915 and deceased in 1998, with a final rank of Sergeant. The second collection contains two patches and a photo for the 44th Bomb Group. Part of the 8th Air Force, the 44th claimed a U-Boat kill in the Gulf of Mexico before relocating to Europe, operating out of the UK, Libya and Tunisia, earning multiple Distinguished Unit Citations on missions including the Ploesti Raid. The patches feature a bird-like creature made from an 8-ball and a bomb, one embroidered with a green beak, the other felt with embroidered accents with a multicolored beak and the words "FLYING CONTROL" on the bottom. The photo is of a man in an "Ike" style jacket, with the 8th Air Force patch on his shoulder and the 44th BG patch on his breast. The third collection contains a patch and custom pin from the 490th Bomb Squadron. Active in the China-Burma-India theater from 1942 into 1945, the 490th became known as the "Burma Bridge Busters" for their refinement of the "glip bombing" tactic that made it possible for their Mitchell medium bombers to reliably inflict severe damage to enemy-held bridges. The patch is white and black painted leather, 5 inches wide, and the pin is silver plated brass, about 1 inch wide, both featuring a set of aviator wings adorned with a skull. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection

Very good overall, showing wear appropriate to age and travel. The 490th BS patch shows evidence of removed stitching from around the edge.