U.S. Navy - Between The Wars

Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge
Naval Aviator
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2.75"

NS Meyer Inc, New York, Meyer Shield, 10k
Pin
Andrea Mayer, Roland's granddaughter
2/1/2015
These wings belonged to Roland G. Mayer. He was an airship pilot and a survivor of the USS Shenandoah crash.
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2.75"

NS Meyer Inc, New York, Meyer Shield, Meyer Metal
Pin
Dave Handley Collection
2/25/2011
These wings belonged to Captain Ward Carr Gilbert. You can see more of his items on the Wings of Heroes page.
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2 13/16"

1/20 12k
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Cliff Presley Collection
9/15/2010
This aviator badge is from the mid to late 1920s.
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Sterling
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4/10/2011
This aviator badge is from the mid to late 1920s. It is the same pattern as the wing above but with different markings on the back and different hardware.
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Noble Hallmark (N in a circle), Sterling
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Mark Leonard Collection
4/16/2014
This badge was worn by Ensign Vernon Williams - click on the photo to see a larger photo of the wings and his ID card.
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Gemsco, Acid Test
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Ron Rozsa Collection
7/7/2014
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Robbins Hallmark, 14K
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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BBB, 18K
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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Rolled Gold
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
This is the Link pattern but this one was possibly made by Amcraft (see back of wing)
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2 3/4"

Rolled Gold
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2/14/2021
This is the Link pattern as well but with a different back.
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Pin
Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
This is the Robbins pattern
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Meyer Shield, Meyer Metal
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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Meyer Shield, Meyer Metal
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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Meyer Shield, Sterling, N.S. Meyer New York
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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AE Co, Utica, N.Y.
Pin
Patrick Frost Collection
03/08/2023
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
This is the A.E. Co pattern
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Gemsco, Acid Test
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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Gemsco, Sterling, 1/20th 10k
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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Jerry R. Perry inscription
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
This is the White Co. pattern
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Tod Rathbone Collection
2/5/2021
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2 3/4"

Jessop, 14K, Air Squadrons Battle Fleet, Mrs. E. W. Eberle, Nov. 1922
Pin
John Ferguson Collection
2/12/2021
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Sterling, EJ CO (Elebash Jewelry Company) on catch
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John Ferguson Collection
4/30/2023
These are from Elebash Jewelers of Pensacola, FL.
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2 11/16"
7/8"
Meyer shield, Rolled Plate
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Remi Biebuyck Collection
04/29/2024
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Cliff Presley Collection
2/20/2012
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John Ferguson Collection
2/25/2021
These wings were worn by Lt. Elmer Cooper. Elmer Glenn Cooper graduated from the US Naval Academy 2 June 1927 and was winged Naval Aviator #3714 on 2 Oct 1930. Lt. Cooper was killed 2 Feb 1938 in a mid-air collision between two PBY's during a formation bombing attack in fleet tactical exercises off the coast of Southern California. The USS Cooper, DD-695, was named in his honor.
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3 27/32"



Cliff Presley Collection
7/11/2021
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1 1/2"

Nanco
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John Ferguson Collection
4/12/2011
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1 9/16"

Jessop
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John Ferguson Collection
2/12/2021
Lighter Than Air Naval Aviator
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4 5/16"
2 1/4"


Cliff Presley Collection
2/5/2021
Enlisted LTA Airship Pilot wings 1920-1925. These wings were owned by Chief Petty Officer Stanley R. Soulby who had piloted the USN Airships USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), USS Akron (ZRS-4) and USS Macon (ZRS-5).
Naval Observer
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2 3/4"

B,B & B, Sterling
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These are second pattern, 1920's era, Naval Observer wings. They are often incorrectly identified as enlisted pilot wings.
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2 3/4"

Pasquale, S.F., Silver
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John Ferguson Collection
2/14/2021
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2 3/4"

Robbins Co, Attleboro Mass, Sterling
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John Ferguson Collection
2/14/2021
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2 3/4"


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John Ferguson Collection
2/15/2021
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2 13/16"
1 5/16"
Sterling
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R. & J. Quetel Collection

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2 3/4"
1 5/16"
Sterling
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R. & J. Quetel Collection

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2 3/4"

LGB, Sterling
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A. L. Collection
11/12/2001
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2 3/4"


Pin Back

6/28/2004
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Sterling
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John Vargas Collection

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1 17/32"
1/2"
Sterling
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R. & J. Quetel Collection
8/28/2004
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Wall & Dougherty (An early 20th century Hawaiian jeweler)
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Tod Rathbone Collection
5/24/2021
This wing was owned and worn by Leroy Francis Smith, who started his naval career as a newly enlisted apprentice seaman July 15, 1936. He quickly embarked on an aviation track, assigned to scouting squadrons on the Saratoga and the Ranger. He eventually entered the SNAP program and became a Naval Aviation Pilot and later a commissioned Naval Aviator. He apparently died in a crash in 1950. These silver half wings were authorized in 1919: "Regular members of seaplane flight crews among the enlisted men will wear a pin similar to that of the student naval aviator, except it shall be of silver." It is unclear when these became obsolete but Seaman Smith wore them and eventually changed to the standard dual-winged observer wing before he became an NAP in December 1941.
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Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars