Original U.S. WWII US Army “Red Ball Express” Ike Jacket With ADSEC Oise & 9th Army Patches - Rare

Original Item. Only One Available. The Red Ball Express was an American truck convoy system that supplied Allied forces moving through Europe after breaking out from the D-Day beaches in Normandy in the summer of 1944. To expedite cargo shipments to the front, trucks emblazoned with red balls followed a similarly marked route that was closed to civilian traffic. The trucks also had priority on regular roads.

Conceived in an urgent 36-hour meeting, the convoy system began operating on 25 August 1944. Staffed primarily with African-American soldiers, the Express at its peak operated 5,958 vehicles that carried about 12,500 tons of supplies a day. It ran for 83 days until 16 November, when the port facilities at Antwerp, Belgium, were opened, enough French rail lines were repaired, and portable gasoline pipelines were deployed.

This is a great Ike jacket for a Technician, 5th Grade serving with the Red Ball Express during the war. The uniform bears US & Quartermaster collar discs, an ADSEC patch with an Oise scroll below it on the left shoulder, and a 9th Army patch on the right shoulder, with four overseas stripes on the left cuff, and a Meritorious unit patch on the right cuff. There’s a ruptured duck patch over the right breast pocket and a Good conduct medal ribbon and EAME Campaign ribbon with two stars over the left breast pocket, with Proficiency badges on the pocket with bars for Rifle, Driver-W, and Mechanic. Below these is a great period-stitched Red Ball Express patch! The initials T.C. and M.T.S. signify “Transportation Corps” and Motor Transportation Service.”

The jacket retains the size tag, 38R. There is little damage across with good wear in the right places. No name but a fantastic representative example of the scarce Red Ball Express patch!

Ready for display.