Dan / Bill, thanks for the replies. I didn't think enlisted were allowed to have the modified open collar in 1945, thought it was just officers. And I was pretty sure officers did not wear qualification badges but wondered about this one because of the Artificer badge.
My understanding was that the Artificer badge as a rank (private) went out before WW2 and the Artificer insignia was worn as an appointment to NCOs.
Given that this jacket has no rank but 4 years service, it seems unlikely that a gun-plumber Private would risk the wrath of those above by wearing an unauthorized collar for ORs & an obsolete rank insignia.
Or that might be exactly what it is. It would explain 4 years service and still being a private.
