Image used with the permission of Acmedepot.com
        
U.S. Army Air Force - Balloon Wings

Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge
Please also see the U.S.A. - Army World War 1 Wings and U.S. Army Air Corps - Between The Wars sections for World War 1 era and Between the War era balloon wings, the precursor to these WW2 era badges.
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/3/2010
Made by the Wm. Link Company.
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Firmin, London
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
This badge was worn by Ronald H. Short, purchased by him while in England during WW2.
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Josten, Sterling
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
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Snowflake pattern
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
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N.S. Meyer, Inc., New York, Sterling
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
This badge was worn by Colonel Gerald G.Johnston, O16621.
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Sterling
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Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
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Sterling
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Marty Upchurch Collection
11/24/2024
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3"



John Vargas Collection

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1"


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Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
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3 1/16"


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Marty Upchurch Collection
04/10/2023
These wings were made by Blackinton. They are likely pre-WW2 and may be Balloon Observer wings. According to Marty, when the rating was changed from Aeronaut to Balloon Observer in 1921 the badge was changed removing the US on the balloon that was on the earlier wings. In 1940 this style badge was changed to Balloon Pilot and the new wing with the O on the balloon became the Balloon Observer badge. Since it does not appear that Blackinton made balloon badges into the 40s, there is a belief that this is an earlier balloon observer badge.
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/3/2010
Made by the Wm. Link Company.
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Firmin, London
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
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Josten, Sterling
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
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Denmark's
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
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Amico, Sterling
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
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Sterling
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Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
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Tod Rathbone Collection
3/11/2021
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Russ Wilson Collection
3/26/2022
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3"



John Vargas Collection

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1.5"

Dodge INC, Chicago, Sterling
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Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
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3"

Josten Sterling
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James Reddish Collection
7/3/2001
This is a balloon observer wing
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Meyer Shield
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
This badge was worn by Colonel Gerald G.Johnston, O16621.
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Tod Rathbone Collection
3/11/2021
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3"



John Vargas Collection

This is a balloon observer wing
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Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars