![]() ![]() Again, this change was officially brief as on 29 December 1917, just over two months later, the Army replaced the shield on Observer half-wing badges with the gothic “O.” This final design would remain the regulation badge for observer until the Adams-designed half wing would replace it in February 1919. The same change assigned the half-wing with shield for Observers. To recap here: The original badge for Junior and Reserve Military Aviator or Observer, was only authorized 76 days (15 August 1917 - 27 October 1917) when the Army changed wing badges by adding a star for Military Aviator, re-designating the full-wing without star for Junior and Reserve Military Aviators. I has the "old style" WWI Dallas wing pattern.In late April, WWOWW #18 discussed the timeline of US Air Service half wings. It has an interesting US built into the "O". Showing the classic WWI version of the "British-like" hallmarks of Robbin Co. To my knowledge this is a new hallmarked badge. I am not sure if this is the same wing that keeps being recirculated or one of 2 or 3 examples that keeps being recirculated. There may even be a TV Alan version.Īs for the pilot/observer wings, there are also a couple of patterns using the Adam's wing as a base and there is a rather nice version (I always feel that it a Shreve made badge but others disagree) that was shown in a recent thread. There are a also a couple of Dunham patterns, but those are rather rare. except there are some vintage photos of these being worn. I personally do not find this very handsome, and would normally have discarded these as fakes. However, in short order, the 1919 Observer and pilot/observer wings were replaced by the traditional full size "O" wing of the aircraft/combat observer pattern (in which the "US" was finally removed totally).Īs for collectors the 1919 half wing is rather rare, with most examples I have seen existing as an Adam style half wing with an integral US in the center of the "O". Interestingly in 1919 and the very early 1920's a new Observer (a half wing with the gothic "O"), but with NOW a "US" added, and the pilot/observer wing (a full size wing with the gothic "O") also with the "US". In fact, there is some evidence that the 1919 half wings may have been used more commonly as balloon observer badges. worst thing that could ever have happened to collectors. Then in 1919 or so the original flamboyant WWI pattern of wings were neutered (for some crazy reason known only to the War Office), the US was removed from the pilot wings and the Adam's style wing was adopted (and the half wings were "mostly" discarded)-the aeronuat wing being a slight exception to the rules. In either case, you do find a fair amount of overlap during the war, with photos showing a mix of half shield wings and half "O" wings being worn.īut what is interesting is that the 1/2 shield wing used a "US" but the 1/2 observer wing didn't. To me this then makes me think that the next SECOND pattern observer using the shield as apposed to the the gothic "O" also makes sense over time. I suspect that (at least overseas) the use of a half wing for a pilot was quickly dropped. ![]() Certainly, the initial plan of the full USA wings for MA, and the half wings for RMA/JrRMA seems to have been disliked and its difficult to find a photo of an RMA/JrRMA wearing a half wing. To me, this makes better sense as the early aviation guys would have been working closely with the RFC and French Air force with the allies distinct 1/2 wing patterns for observers. In my mind, the FIRST patter of observer wings were the RFC types with the Gothic O. In general, I look at this a little different than CWNORMA (although to be clear, nothing in my hypothesis is based on facts and he is probably more correct than I will ever be). Just some history, there appeared to have been 2 versions of the observer wing. I am going to add a "relatively" recent addition to the collection, thanks to my good buddy, who kindly let me spend an obscene amount on this wing. There have been some really nice wings shown recently. ![]()
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