The Case:
A Louisiana man received a military style footlocker that someone discovered dumpster diving. It was filled with papers that apparently belonged to a World War II airman, Lionel B. Potter. Along with the documents he found two patches embroidered with evocative symbols: a bird in the clouds dropping a bomb. Is this a unit insignia?
Years of searching turned up no answers. So he’s turned the investigation over to History Detectives host Wes Cowan. Were these patches used in World War II? Who made them and why?
More Information
Southern Museum of Flight
 4343 73rd Street North
 Birmingham, AL  35206
 (205) 833-8226
 southernmuseumofflight.org
Alabama Veterans Memorial
 Liberty Park exit (exit 23) off I-459 North
 Birmingham, AL  35236
 www.alabamaveterans.org
Commemorative Air Force B-29/B-24 Squadron
 4730 George Haddaway Drive
 Addison, TX  75001
 www.cafb29b24.org
Excerpts From The Journal of Lionel Potter
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