Need some assistance..
My father has been working on a display HIS fathers ww2 service. (305th BG B17 radio operator who finished the war as a POW)
After years of working on it, a health turn has put his project in my hands.. I'd like to finish it for him, and fairly soon.
I've tried to acquire the medals and such that he had yet to bring together.. (replacing one or two bad reproductions while im at it, like that purple heart) and am now waiting on the mail.
There are a few questions I hoped to ask from any who might know, to get as accurate as possible with what i can put together.
Im putting together a board: (main pic is the half I've taken over or since acquired)
- Does this medal order look correct:
Purple Heart
Air medal (w/ oak)
POW medal
Good Conduct medal
American campaign medal
European (EAME) campaign medal
Ww2 victory Medal
The list I took over showed an "air offensive medal".. am I correct that this should be a star added to the EAME? And the medal thats available is a recent/ unofficial thing?
The 305th recieved the distinguished unit award twice, the collection i have includes two patches (one shown in pic).. should that actually also be a bar on the rack? Where would that go? Is there an accompanying medal?
4 if im displaying some patches.. is it odd to have army air force AND the 8th army air force patches? (In pic) (i have radio operators patch and group patch inbound)
5 I was going to display the signal corp, caterpillar, and discharge pins together near a B17 part I acquired... (it's the switch to blow the radio before you jump: seemed fitting) but I have two very diff color discharge pins, both in original wrappings.. is one more accurate? (Pic)
6 qualifications: I have aerial gunner, carbine is on the way.. I assume Pistol D is accurate for the 45cal qual?.. does the order matter?
Any clarification is appreciated.