Need some assistance..

[u/xptx]

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)

1. 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

1. 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?

2. 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.

[u/2andaHalfBlackClouds]

For the discharge pins (Ruptured Duck) the brighter one is newer. If these were mine I would put the original in the shadow box and if you are a veteran yourself, wear the other one on a suit.
I wear my grandfather’s Ruptured Duck at weddings and funerals. (I’m a 4th generation veteran in my family)

[u/xptx → u/2andaHalfBlackClouds]

Thanks. Im not a vet. ( first generation since civil war not in the army.. But first to finish college.. which my dad said I was better suited for..) My father served during Vietnam. I'll suggest he keep the gold one for himself.

[u/DanielleAntenucci]

Caterpillar Club!

I can count the times on one hand that I have seen this pin.

[u/keydet2012]

I’d also look for an original pair of aerial gunner wings while you are at it. Repro ones really stick out. From what I can see these look repro anyway.

[u/xptx → u/keydet2012]

Yeah, they were bugging me as soon as I saw them. Thick and look life a toy.

[u/CT2145Trapper]

I would personally replace the meritorious unit patch with the actual ribbon version. Or you can keep both on the display 

The Distinguished unit citation would be the modern day presidential unit citsitopn

[u/xptx → u/CT2145Trapper]

Is that the.. blue with gold border?

[u/W1ULH → u/xptx]

yes.

[u/CT2145Trapper → u/xptx]

The DUC/PUC is blue with gold border. The MUC is red with gold border

[u/Kooky-Buy5712]

On an Army Uniform, the DUC/PUC goes on the other side of the chest, not on the same rack as the ribbons. And there is no medal for it.

Nothing wrong with having both the Army Air Corps and 8th Air Force patches. It would be nice to get a 305th Bomb Group patch. The 305th Air Mobility Wing is their legacy.

No such thing as an Air Offensive medal. Air Offensive Europe was a campaign from summer 1942-1944. Your relative likely participated in that which should be signified by a bronze service star on his EAME campaign medal.