Although there is no lineage connection to the 2nd Bn 503rd PIR that would later serve in the Pacific and are more commonly associated with this patch, a few 509th Veterans have been found having the 503rd Patch in their collection. The original design is found in the 503rd Parachute Battalion (503rd PB) graduation annual as shown below. With the rapidly expanding parachute forces, the 503rd PB was redesignated 1st Bn 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (1/503rd PIR) and remained in the States for a few more months. The 504th PB was redesignated 2nd Bn 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (2/503rd PIR) and would leave for England shortly thereafter. Originally the 1/503rd PIR was expected to join the 2/503rd PIR in England. However with the rapidly changing situation and the demand for parachute units in the Pacific Theater the 1/503rd PIR was diverted. In the Pacific, the 1/503rd PIR received orders to stand up a 2/503 PIR while at nearly the same time the 2/503rd PIR in England received orders to be redesignated as the 2nd Bn 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment 2/509th PIR). There is much confusion over this history in that the redesignation orders were cut before the first combat jump and arrived at the 509th rear detachment headquarters in England but was not relayed to Lt. Col. Raff down in Lands Ends, England before they departed on 8 November 1942. Therefore the paratroopers and their commander still referred to themselves as the 2/503rd PIR for most of the campaign in Algeria and Tunisia.
While the 2/503rd PIR (soon to be 2/509th PIR) was in England in 1942, the unit had the Cat Patch locally made. The theater made Cat Patch is different by the use of square blue wool background instead of the blue circle and white background found on US made Cat Patches. This was likely done due to English shops not being capable of producing fully embroidered patches.
The wildcat parachute artwork found in the 503rd Parachute Battalion yearbook published February 1942.
Another example of the Cat Patch on medium blue wool
Cat Patch purchased at a shop in England late 1943 or early 1944 by Joe Beyrle 1/506th PIR
The 2/503rd PIR had this aircraft and door exit procedure trainer built on the grounds at Chilton Foliat, England in 1942. It was named Suzy after the lady of the estate in which the 509th was using as their billets and training facility. You can see next to the door the Cat Patch painted in the original round patch design. First Lady Elenor Roosevelt stands next to Lt Col. Edson Raff, Battalion Commander and another unknown officer while observing demonstrations of parachute training by an unknown lieutenant.
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