Military Patch??

Greetings all. Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.

i bought a sandwich size plastic bag at thrift for $1.00. It had the following items including some vintage brass medallion ornaments made in England (not pictured). I am interested in the patch with an owl smoking a cigarette. To the right of the owl is what looks like a bomb. Does anyone know if this is a military patch? If so, can you tell me the approximate date and what service its for?

thanks all

 

Not so sure that's a bomb. The 2 white and red things looks like sparkplugs which wouldn't have anything to do with a bomb. In addition, the owl is wearing an orange beanie hat and an orange scarf - looks collegiate to me, not military. JMHO

 

Aw. Thank you. My eyes are bad.

 

little boy & Fat Man.......

 

I know there are such things as non-military issue patches that soldiers conjured up and I've read that they can be traced back to the pre WWI British Army, where they were called, "Battle Patches." The US refers to them, colloquially as, "Morale Patches." They often had humorous tones to the images.

They weren't supposed to put them on their uniforms, but some put them on jackets and whatnot. I sold one a while ago, but the details slip my memory, but I was able to find a candid photo of a guy who had the same one on his jacket.

Wouldn't hurt to snoop down that road.

 

Thank you. I will keep researching. I have not found one like mine.

 

This is how I read the image.
This wise owl is telling us just how easy his work would be, to drop one of these bad boys. He's in a relaxed pose, drinking a cocktail, smoking a cigar, snapping his fingers and winking.

 

It’s the emblem from the 343d bombardment squadron, WWII.

 

Thank you

 

That's very interesting, Anund. How did you find it and any connection between the owl, the orange beanie and scarf, with the squadron?

 

Nice, anundverkaufen!

 

I searched bomber squadron owl and it came up on google. I can’t find the page now that gave the meaning of the emblem but the owl is smoking and drinking a martini, as to convey “I couldn’t care less”.

 

Thanks!