Original Items: Only One Lot of 5 Available. This is a fantastic grouping of WWII era Aviator wings as worn by the Pilots and Crew members aboard the various types of aircraft during and after the war. All 3 were produced by N.S. Meyer Inc of New York. It is generally believed that this firm was founded in 1906 by Nathan S. Meyer in New York. This company, located at 79 5th Ave, was considered an army and navy equipment store. His father, Simon N. Meyer, was a clothing merchant whose business began selling “gold and silver trimmings” and eventually was listed under “Regalia” in the directors in the 1880s and 1890s. It is believed that Nathan played an active role in this business. This explains why some sources state that N.S Meyer had created medals for the Army since the late 19th century.
Their marking changed slightly over time from being incised or raised, but is generally identified by a shield shape with MEYER running vertically and NEW YORK horizontally in a cross shape (intersecting at the Y).
The wings in this lot:
- US Army Air Forces Pilot “Wings”: During World War II, with the rise of the Army Air Forces, a second series of aviator badges were issued to include a design that has survived to the modern day. The Pilot Badge was issued in three degrees, including Pilot, Senior Pilot, and Command Pilot. A polished silver colored version of these badges is currently used as the United States Air Force Pilot Badges. This example is for a Pilot and is offered in wonderful condition with a functional pin arm and locking catch.
- US Naval Aviator “Wings”: The aviator badge currently used in the Navy has remained virtually unchanged since it was first issued on 13 November 1917. The Naval Aviator Badge is earned by all U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard pilots upon graduation from advanced flight training. Additional aviator badges exist for Naval Flight Officers (USN & USMC), Naval Flight Surgeons, Naval Aviation Physiologists, Naval Flight Nurses, Naval Aviation Observers (USN & USMC) and enlisted Naval Aircrewman (USN, USMC & USCG). Naval Aviators' badges are gold in color. Unlike the Air Force and the Army, the naval services do not employ senior or command/master aeronautical ratings.
- US Army Air Forces Senior 2” Pilot Miniature “Wings”: This badge is similar to the Pilot wings with the exception of the star on top of the center shield. This was to identify a pilot of their seniority. The higher degrees are denoted by a star or star with wreath above the badge.
- US Army Air Forces Senior 2” Miniature Observer “Wings”: The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States armed forces dating from the First World War. The badge was issued to co-pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel (as air observer) who had received a variation in the training required for the standard Pilot's Badge. The Observer Badge survived through the Second World War and into the 1950s, at which time the concept of an Observer Badge was phased out in favor of the modern Aircrew Badge and Navigator-Observer Badges. In addition to wings for Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers, the United States Navy still maintains an "Observer Badge" which is issued to flight-qualified mission specialists, such as a select number of meteorologists and intelligence officers in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The U.S. Air Force awards its USAF Observer Badge, which is identical to the USAF Navigator Badge, to Air Force officers who have qualified as NASA Space Shuttle Mission Specialists, have flown an actual mission aboard the shuttle and/or the International Space Station and who are otherwise not previously aeronautically rated as an Air Force pilot or navigator.
- US Army Air Forces Miniature 2” Flight Engineer “Wings”: The Flight Engineer Badge was a qualification badge of the United States Army Air Forces authorized late in the Second World War on 19 June 1945. It was awarded to those military officers and NCOs who had qualified as flight engineers on board a military aircraft. As aircraft grew increasingly complex, the need arose for an in-flight specialist dedicated to monitoring and operating the various systems. However, prior to the creation of their own distinctive wings, flight engineers wore aircrew wings.
During the Korean War, the Flight Engineer Badge was slowly phased out by the United States Air Force and replaced with the Aircrew Badge. By 1962, the Flight Engineer Badge was no longer issued and had been declared obsolete. However, regulations through the early 1970s authorized USAF personnel who had been "...granted aeronautical ratings no longer current ... to wear the aviation badge that was in effect when the rating was granted." The Flight Engineer Badge continued to be worn by some remaining World War II and Korean War veterans until they eventually retired or otherwise left military service. The badge is still worn today by some flight engineers as unofficial novelty badges, but only on flight suits during inflight operations. The official design incorporated a four-bladed propeller with 18 radial engine cylinders.
All badges are still in functional condition with their respective pin or locking catch mechanisms. All details are still crisp but does show wear. They are all presented without any extensive damage and comes more than ready for display.
