Sylo patches12/19/2023 ![]() Viewers will note that there are a lot of patches from recent times, but fewer and fewer the further back one goes on the missile timeline. Even after more than 40 years of collecting, I still occasionally discover a vintage patch I have never seen before. But it is important to remember that just because something other than a patch was scanned does not necessarily mean a patch does not exist. Notice I said “emblems” rather than “patches” because a number of the images are of decals, plaques, or art work. Is this gallery comprehensive? No, but it’s close! This is believed to be the most extensive image collection of missile-related emblems in existence. That is why not every patch in this gallery has the word “missile” on it, but without a doubt every patch pictured is a missile-related patch! You may not have the launch codes, but your individual contribution is key to the team’s success. ![]() It’s not just crew members sitting on alert, or team members turning wrenches in a silo or on an ALCM, it’s also the cops providing security, technicians maintaining the lines of communication, transportation folks readying vehicles, logistics personnel providing supplies, weather forecasters warning of blizzards, helicopter pilots rushing a part or a person to or from the support base or flying top cover for a convoy, transport pilots and crews delivering boosters or components of special weapons, engineers fixing glitches, even the contractors and sub-contractors who built the weapons systems-and all the other individuals doing the jobs they were trained to do so that we have the capability to accompany the will that makes nuclear deterrence effective. ![]() One thing I have learned from collecting and studying what I collect is how diverse the missile community is-and how important the TEAM effort is to ensuring mission accomplishment. A patch announces, “Hey, I am part of this organization, and I’m proud of what I do!” It was true more than 50 years ago and it’s still true today. Patches are a tangible part of our rich missile legacy, linking us to those who wore them. You’ll be viewing “pieces of history” that, collectively, relate the mission of primarily nuclear-tipped missiles and those who operated, maintained, guarded, and supported that mission-and, in fact, who are still doing so today. I have thousands of missile-related patches, and this gallery illustrates patches from virtually every organization that ever produced missile-related insignia. A message from the gallery curator, Greg OgletreeĪlthough we have recently opened this gallery to allow all AAFM members the opportunity to post missile patches they have that are not already displayed, the gallery was created to allow me to share a portion of my rather extensive patch collection with you.
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