Various types of these ‘invasion’ armflags were worn by paratroopers in the course of the war. They were worn specifically by paratroopers to identify them as American forces because paratroopers would be dropped behind enemey lines and risked to be mistaken for Axis soldiers by the main US assault forces approaching them over land. Flag patches continue to be worn by US forces of all branches of service today.

The different types of WW2 armflags are theatre specific. Some types were used in more than one campaign, as explained below. All had 48 stars – one for each state. The current US flag has 50 stars. The differences are in size and material.

The earliest type was a small 12 x 7 cm (3 x 5 inch) flag printed on very lightweight cotton gauze fabric. This type of flag was only issued to 82nd Airborne paratroopers for the Sicily and Normandy jumps. Note that no flags were used for the first combat jump in Tunesia. For Normandy, remember: flag = 82nd; gas detection brassard = 101st). As can be seeen on period photographs, these flags were loosely sewn or pinned onto the right sleeve. It can also be seen that these quickly came loose and faded in the sunlight. Such flags seen on original uniforms today are usually completely faded. These early flags are now very rare and fetch high prices at auctions and are invariably unworn.

1st type invasion armflag printed on cotton gauze Similar flag with stars upside down.

The examples in the pictures above are both reproductions Davy Berry, the pathfinder historian, was so kind to point this out to me.  He can state this with some authority since he made both examples.  The one on the left with faded star field dates from 1982-83 and he made these for the 82nd Airborne Historical Society which was part of the C-47 Club as a way to raise funds for the the Airborne Museum in Groesbeek.  The promotion was called “Buy a Flag–Buy a Brick”. He does not recall how many we sold but many were sold through STATIC LINE newspaper.  So mine (at the left) may well have come from the estate of a 505 vet, as I was told, but it wasn’t the actual flag he was issued for the Sicily jump.  At the direction of the head of the Society, David sent a large quantity to the Airborne Museum in Ste Mere Eglise.  Most of the flags on the mannequins at the Museum are his reproductions, is what he told me.  Many more were sold in the Museum Shop.

The example on the right was also made by David but within the last five years (this update is from 2011).  He made a small percentage with the star field reversed.  Yes it is a very unique mistake found in the original production runs.  You will notice the more solid “white” field behind the red stripes, especially on the right side of the flag.  This is a starch sealer that David used to fix the color fields and how he recognized his work in the photos in my article.  These flags are usually sold through At The Front.

The second type was larger (13 x 9.5 cm) and printed on stronger shirt-weight cotton with a hemmed edge. Most commonly, these flags were properly machine-stitched onto the uniform. Examples of these flags exist sewn onto a white cotton or wool armband which would have been worn like any other armband. These larger size armflags were also worn by glider troops in the Normandy campaign, and only sometimes by paratroopers.

Larger 2nd type invasion armflag on stronger cotton 2nd type armflag sewn on brassard

The third type was a flag printed as an armband on a kind of sturdy paper stock resembling wall paper. It had punch holes and came with two safety pins. This type was issued for the Southern France, Holland and Rhine jumps and was worn as an armband or cut or folded and pinned to the sleeve. 509th PIR troopers during Operation Dragoon wore their flags on the left sleeve. There are two variations of this type of armflag, and you will mostly find both described as printed on oilcloth. This is true for the second type, which has a hemmed edge all around, but which is otherwise identical in pattern and size. The first type is not made of cloth at all. As far as I can tell, both types are from the same period. I am not sure if the first or the second type was earlier, or if both came into use at the same time.

3rd type paper armflag brassard
3rd type oilcloth armflag brassard note the hemmed edge all around

The last type is a small flag which was printed on oil cloth. A sort of sturdy canvas with a satin sheen to it. I only have pictures of them from auctions and I can’t find this in other reference books, but maybe in some book I don’t have. Enlighten me if you can. Combined with the fact that these always turn up with merchants I don’t know and given that most repro early type small armflags also look like this, I have steered clear from them so far. Discussions about repros are never far away on this site. I can only suggest that when considering a bid or a purchase on an armflag, have a good look at the pictures in this article (click to enlarge…)

Police brassard
Photos of this curiosity were sent to me by John Boden in 2012. It’s an invasion armflag with the flag void-stamped and the reverse, which used to be white, stamped with POLICE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
void-stamped invasion armflag
Invasion armflag printed over as MP brassard

Maybe this was for the newly formed occupation force in Germany after the liberation? It certainly looks like something from the end of the war (similar to the ‘emergency printing’ maps printed on the back side of German maps).

CL-marked brassard

CL-marked-armflag-frontCL-marked-armflag-back

In May 2015, Mark Layman from Colorado sent me a photo of his invasion arm flag that looks the same as my type 3, except that it has the letters CL printed in black on the inside. I remember seeing a similar arm flag somewhere, but with a different text. But I can’t find the photo anywhere… I can only guess what CL means. Combat Leader comes to mind, but obviously one wouldn’t want to wear that plainly visible on a white armband. I’m thinking rather something for Civilians, eg Civilian Laborer. The U.S. had patches for non-combatants, but maybe the brassard was an improvised means of clearly pointing out civilians authorized to perform some task helping the army.

If anyone knows or owns a similar type of arm flag printed on the inside, please send my a photo.

toundasarmbandOperation Dragoon invasion armflag

These photos were sent to me by Lisa Sharik, deputy director of the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin, TX. She read the article on all the different variations and thought she’s share this special one from the museum. It came from Manuel Toundas with the Recon Company, 636th Tank Destroyer Bn, from Operation Dragoon. The museum is about to put it on display.

On the inside, it has been marked with PFC Toundas’ details and what looks like the names of other soldiers in his battalion.

toundasarmbandinsideErik Brun sent me information about another type of US armflag. Elements of the OGs were reformed into NORSO in 1945 and jumped into Norway. They seem to have been issued the Type 3 arm flags. Here is one seen in May 1945 in Norway:

OSS OG trooper in Norway with arm flag

The 474th had boarded LSTs at LaHarve in late May 1945 and arrived in Oslo in early June. They were issued flags that don’t seem to quite fit the appearance and dimensions of the Type 3 flags described above:

Detail of an armflag as worn by US forces in Norway

Erik’s theory is they may have been manufactured on board the ships in Oslo. The initial encounters with the locals showed that German Propaganda had created fear of Soviet Occupation. This newspaper clipping would support that. He does not think that these flags had been issued and sewed in France, as suggested on a website about the 99th Infantry Battalion.

Newspaper clipping about US soldiers in Norway being issued arm flags.

You can contribute too:
This article describes the variety of invasion armflags that I have, or have pictures of. I am especially interested in which type was worn when and to get more info about the last type described here.

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Comments

Invasion arm flags — 25 Comments

  1. I have a variation I need to get some info on. Please email me and I will get u some pictures . Thanks ….John

  2. Hi, I have a WWII flag armband, a type two according to your website. I have images if your interested. Thank you Mark

  3. D-day minus one – there is a color footage from the 502nd Pathfinders, whose used the 3rd or 4th type american flag on the right arm. They also covered with the gas bassard, but they used it, as the other 502nd from Lillyman’s group!!!!

  4. it looks like I have the 3rd type it’s old and faded, likre you said it is on the left side on my fathers 509 jump jacket, i’lld liked to know more about it . can send pict. thankyou, john

  5. Wouter–

    Ran across your site tonight and saw the recent comments. I am particularly interested in the comment by Istvan Pentek about color footage of 502 PF before Normandy…if that exists I have never seen it! Did he send a link to you? Did you follow up with him. Do you have contact?

    Wishing you well…

    Dave Berry

  6. I have a type 3 from what you refer to it is a printed flag on a very old thick paper like product with holes punched on the ends. It came from george terus who was in the navy in the 40’s on s.s. ancon ship i have tons of info on tbe ship and him.

  7. Hello, I have what appears to be an invasion arm band it looks to be like your type 3. I would describe the piece as canvas with a satin sheen. on the opposite side it has “CL”in capital letters printed in red.

    Can you tell me more about this piece?

    Thanks,

    Mark L.

  8. I have the 3rd type with the hemmed edge. It was my Grandfathers and he wore it when he landed in North Africa

  9. Hello Wouter,
    I purchased an original invasion force flag claimed as the type used in the operation torch landing in north africa. I would like you to see what you think of it.
    Regards

  10. I have a WWII oilcloth arm band my Dad brought back from his experience. He landed in Anzio in 1944. Would love to share photos of it.

  11. le drapeau deuxième types n’a pas été conçu pour une invasion , j’ai eu l’information par un site americain . Mais il est pas impossible que certain militaires l’ai porté d’ailleur le prix tourne autour des 75 euro maximum.
    alors que en toile cirée les prix sont de 250 a 300 dollars . et pour la France depasse les 450 euro facilement et pas toujours en bonne état . moi personnellement j’ai achete un aux usa comme nouveau avec les épingles d’origine pratiquement comme s’il sortait de la boite , avec bord ourlet les plus rare

  12. Any idea why these paratrooper flags have the stars on the left, but it seems there are a plethora of articles telling me that the flag should always have the stars “facing forward”? I’ve found many examples of paratrooper right-shoulder flags with the stars to the left, but all the details I can find for “proper” flag etiquette say that the starfield should be in the leading position.

    Any idea why the reversal?

    • Hi Max, that’s an interesting thought. Clearly, this rule wasn’t taken into consideration on WWII arm flags, even the ones that were sewn onto combat uniforms. I don’t know why. It’s true that arm flags on present day combat uniforms are worn with the stars facing forward. Reverse flags are even made for wear on the right arm (as are reversed division patches, but those aren’t official). Happy holidays! Wouter

  13. Not sure if this website is still active, but I’ll ask anyway. I recently joined RCPTUSA.org and jumped into Toccoa on 8/16 from a C47. I ordered a WW2 replica unform for our re enactments in Holland and Normandy but I can’t find a 48 star uniform flag anywhere. Do you still have a source that we can reach out to? Cell 678-982-9825

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