As the Russian Army closed from the east, there was concern that our men might crashland or bail out in Russian captured territory. Thus a special Identification patch was designed and made available to the 8th Army Airforce for missions near the Russian front.

The flag is a printed on high quality silk, on one side an American flag, on the other side instructions in English and Russian. For example the first instruction to the airman states: Learn by heart the Russian phrase "Ya Amerikanets" (means I am an American). The instructions are to carry this folder in the left breast pocket.

The Amerikánets Identification Patch can be seen on the left knee of Sgt. Hutchings in the Douglas' Crew - 603rd Squadron - 21 April 1945 photograph. On that day, the 398th flew to Munich, Germany.

The Amerikánets Identification Patch is also mentioned in Len Streitfeld's, HELL FROM HEAVEN Chapter 33 excerpt for the April 19, 1945 mission to Elsterwerda, Germany

Comments:

  1. Photo Reference Nos: Quest01 and Quest02
  2. Information compiled by the 398th web team with thanks to Ed Quest, nephew of Fred Barkovich. Ed Quest provided a scan of the above Amerikánets Identification Patch. The patch was left to Ed by his uncle, Sgt. Fred Barkovich, who was with the G2-Photo Intelligence section of the 398th Bomb Group, 603rd Squadron.
  3. If you would like to add information about this Identification Patch, please contact our 398th Photo Historian. Please mention the title.