1946 Region V - "Wings Over Dixie" Felt

In 1946 the Air Scout program in the United States was at its zenith.  With the end of World War II and aviation interest at its peak, the Air Scouting movement was popular around the country.  Most Regions sponsored events for Air Scouts / Explorers.  These were usually held at Air Force Bases or Naval Air Stations.  One of the most popular was the early "Wings over Dixie" sponsored by Region V of the BSA.  This event went on for about five years and originally started in 1946 at Keesler Air Force Base near Biloxi, Mississippi.

The felt patch pictured above is one of the rarest Region V Patches ever produced.  The event had no more than 200 participants due to the distance many would have to travel to get there.  In addition with the patches being flocked felt they simply did not stand up well to time, washings and moths.  Very few have survived.  They recall an era when the U.S. was still in the euphoria of the World War victory and along with that the desire for a lot of youth to participate in military type activities. Being able to attend an Air Encampment and witness firsthand WWII aircraft was a big deal for many Air Scouts / Explorers.  The patch above became a source of great pride upon its awarding.  A great piece of Scouting history if you are lucky enough to find or own one.