Here are photographs of both Navy and Army silver stars in my collection. In the third photo you can see the difference in thickness.

Hello, I recently picked with what I think is a "CBI" pilot wing.  I personally have never seen this pattern before. Really well made. Lightweight. I assess as Indian made.  Hallmark is "925" with an English style hook.  The 'wing tops' on this wing resemble an eagle profile.  I have several Indian made wings and Pakistani wings in my collection, and I really think these are Indian made.  Any comments and opinions welcome.  cheers!

I would personally call this cap Wartime/ww2

Highers routinely looked the other way even outside combat in the early years. During WWII, standards were poorly enforced even Stateside in garrison, as the brass recognized that many personnel were drafted and there were other things to focus on. Countless wartime photos exist in the States of Marines wearing non-regulation insignias and uniform items.   Likewise, during the interwar years, it was not unusual to find out-of-regs insignias, particularly trenching, among seagoing Marines and those posted at overseas legations, even outside of combat. Again, countless period photos exist of these practices, as well.   While discipline and regulations have always been important, the rabid adherence and enforcement of uniform regulations and other disciplines to the extent we know today really came about heavily during the Vietnam era, when boot camp was shortened and these methods were used as a way to teach and enforce discipline due to abridged training pipelines. 

Thanks for the help guys, there are quite a few nice patches and helmet decals there. I'll post them once I pick them up which will most likely be tomorrow. 

My only guess as to what is on the skunk's head is an oddly rendered gray field hat turned sideways with the bill curled up?

I believe the patent number was granted and included on the sweatband as Feb 45. Wartime.  There used to be a great thread here on the forum with posts from the grandson ( ? ) of the Bancroft founder.

I don't believe it's French. Driving band looks more like a 155mm MK1 Shrapnel shell from the US side. Just my guess as it looks very similar to mine. But I could definitely be wrong.

Someone here must be close to him?

Kunsan has a local drug called spice or skunk. https://www.kunsan.af.mil/News/Article/413415/air-force-officials-warn-spice-harmful-to-health-career/   The skunk's hat could be this. (From https://www.armynavyshop.com/prods/rc9860.html)