Japanese National Flag Sleeve Patch ?

[vintageproductions]

This piece just came in a shipment from my best picker in Japan. It is older construction, two piece cotton.

 

The sun is machine sewn and so are the edges.

 

It is about five by seven inches.

 

Looks like the size you see on some pilot flight suits / jackets.

 

I have owned Mae West's with smaller versions sewn to them.

 

It is much darker in person as the flash washed it out a bit.

 

Am I right with thinking its for a piece of flight uniform? Or am I off?

 

Thanks.

 

[gwb123]

Rising Sun flag on a Japanese flight suit similar what Bob was referring to.

 

https://media.defense.gov/2007/Apr/19/2000497849/-1/-1/0/070419-F-1234P-020.JPG

[tiger41]

Bob,

Both the army and navy wore these flags.....the navy had a habit of sewing or painting them on their flight helmets and were smaller than this patch. I have not seen an army flight helmet with them but its possible they also painted them on the helmet. The flags were sewn (could be painted) but mostly sewn on the flight suits and could be either the hinomaru or rising sun on the sleeve or sleeves. I have seen one pic of navy pilots with 13 flags on the uniform....5 on the helmet, painted on the goggle strap, a flag on each sleeve, each glove, each side of the knee and on each boot.I have several examples of these flags on flight helmets and goggles and Dean K. has some really great examples of flags on everything. The size of the patch varied depending upon where it would be used. Most were field made and varied in materials. I have seen flags painted on float vest and sewn also but usually smaller in size. These were worn by home defense airmen. I would assume there were some suggested sizes according to regulations but in the field they used what they had available.

[vintageproductions]

Thanks John.

 

I think I got three in this group.