MILITARY ZIPPOS

The U.S. Military was an early customer of Zippo and became Zippo Manufacturing Co.'s exclusive customer during World War II with a steel Zippo with a "black crackle" finish. After the war, ability to personalize the Zippo led to its adoption for use as commemoratives and souvenirs by US as well as foreign military divisions and units. The Zippo lighters on this page include examples of how Zippo lighters were engraved for various military and related organizations. For more examples of military Zippos, see the World War II, Vietnam War, and Navy pages in the Lighter Gallery

This is a 1936-40 Zippo with diagonal lines engraved with a line-drawn US Marine Corp logo and "C. Kenneday" on the lid. The is one of the earliest Zippos with a military-related engraving.

This is a 1940-41 model Zippowith an attached seal of the United States.

1941 Zippo with an lion and crown engraved badge of the British War Relief Society (BWRS). "Deu et Mon Droit"meaning God and my right, is the motto of the Monarch of the United Kingdom outside Scotland — 1941 Zippo with an lion and crown engraved badge of the British War Relief Society (BWRS). "Deu et Mon Droit"meaning God and my right, is the motto of the Monarch of the United Kingdom outside Scotland

1946-49 Zippo which has been engraved with the image of a top hat and "Top Three Club - . Top Three Club Ashiya Air Force Base, Kyushu Japan" during the US occupation of Japan.

1952-53 Zippo for USS Consolation (AH-15), a hospital ship that served the wounded during the Korean War and became the “First Hospital Ship to Receive Casualties Directly by Helicopter”

1949-50 Zippo.  The front is engraved with maps of Korea and Japan and "Far East Command 1948-49-50-51-52 Robert J.Tooley.  The reverse has an engraving of a topless Japanese woman grooming herself.  Elaborate Japanese designs on Zipp… — 1949-50 Zippo. The front is engraved with maps of Korea and Japan and "Far East Command 1948-49-50-51-52 Robert J.Tooley. The reverse has an engraving of a topless Japanese woman grooming herself. Elaborate Japanese designs on Zippos and Japanese made Sterling lightera for Zippo inserts were common during the post WWII occupation.

This 1949 Zippo engraved in Japan for US Army Lt. Col. C.J. Nelson with Mt.Fuji and cherry blossoms on the front and a map of Japan on the reverse appeared in a full page Life Magazine ad in September 1967.

1953 Zippo for the with engraved emblems for the Army's 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. The front of the lid reads "16 AAA Bn. (Gun 90MM) 10 Dec 1952 - 5 Jan 1954", referring to the 90mm antiaircraft gun used by the battalion.  The lid r… — 1953 Zippo for the with engraved emblems for the Army's 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. The front of the lid reads "16 AAA Bn. (Gun 90MM) 10 Dec 1952 - 5 Jan 1954", referring to the 90mm antiaircraft gun used by the battalion. The lid reads "Major J.A. Tringali on the reverse

1952-53 Zippo with an attached badge with the logo of the First Allied Airborne Army

1954 Zippo with non-factory engraving for Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls owned by E.B. Godfrey. These atolls in the Marshall Islands were used to test atomic and hydrogen bomb from 1947-1962

Z 16 windproof lighter with Zippo insert.  The black lighter has the Polish military eagle emblem on the lid wit the initials "R K" on the lid and a a map of Poland attached. (The map shows lines which may reflect one of the many partitions Pol… — Z 16 windproof lighter with Zippo insert. The black lighter has the Polish military eagle emblem on the lid wit the initials "R K" on the lid and a a map of Poland attached. (The map shows lines which may reflect one of the many partitions Poland was subjected to). The reverse has a Polish officer's "rogatywka" four cornered hat on the lid and a miniature of the Order of Polonia Restituta with ribbon on the case

1957 Zippo for the light icebreaker and medium endurance cutter USCGC Storis commemorating its role in the "1957 Dewline Operation - Crossed the Arctic Circle"  The DEW line was a "Distance Early Warning" line of telecommunications stations ac… — 1957 Zippo for the light icebreaker and medium endurance cutter USCGC Storis commemorating its role in the "1957 Dewline Operation - Crossed the Arctic Circle" The DEW line was a "Distance Early Warning" line of telecommunications stations across the Arcticto provide the earliest possible warning of aircraft passing the polar route

1959 Zippo for the US Air ForceTactical Missile School 4504th Missile Training Wing

1961 Zippo with map of Cuba for US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay. The Bay has been US territory since the end of the Spanish American war — 1961 Zippo with map of Cuba for US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay. The Bay has been US territory since the end of the Spanish American war

1966 Zippo for the 538th Ordnance Company which was stationed in South Korea. Note the Russian Bear with the red star on lid

1956 Zippo engraved with the logo of the Strategic Air Command. The reverse has
been personalized for "R. K. Hamilton Eighth Air Force Outstanding Crew April 1956"