Estonian Air Force - Pilot
Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge
The independent Estonian air regiment that entered WWII and was subsequently taken over by the Soviet Union in 1940 began like all the Baltic countries with the bolshevik revolution in 1917 and the end of WWI in 1918. Imperial Russian-trained pilots (part of the army engineering battalion) started an air unit on 21 November 1918. The unit went through a number of reorganizations as planes and pilots were acquired and became the Estonian Air Force Regiment (Lennuväerügemendiks) in 1924. Following the Soviet takeover of 1940, a number of Estonian pilots fled, trained and flew with the German Luftwaffe while the rest were incorporated in the VVS, or Soviet Air Force.

The standard pilot wing was established in 1923 and features the mythic great northern eagle (Põhjakotkast) from the national literary epic Kalevipoega. The eagle is clutching a sword and the newly established national colors (1918) in the form of the air force triangle. The air mechanic badge was established in 1925.

All information courtesy of Tod Rathbone

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Single screw back
Warren Carroll Collection
1/18/2002
Please see Mr. Carroll's wonderful book on British Commonwealth wings in the Resources section.
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Note: 		31.9 mm
37.9 mm
22.1 grams
Roman Tavast, Tallin
Single screw back

4/23/2003
This is a two piece badge. The shield is a seperate piece of metal
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Tod Rathbone Collection
7/14/2019
Estonian Pilot with 10 years loyal service. This is the same as the standard pilot badge but the sword has been layered in gold.
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Tod Rathbone Collection
7/14/2019
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Note: 		43.3 mm
33.1 mm
23.4 grams
900, 1937
Hooks

5/11/2002
This badge has long been considered a fake but Chris Langley appears to have verified that these are actually a badge awarded to the top graduating cadet pilot in each year. Chris suggests these were ceremonially attached to uniform, never intended for daily wear but as an acknowledgement of prowess. He was able to connect with someone in Estonia who had a letter from their grandfather who graduated as top of his pilot class and mentions a ceremonial badge that was "larger than the standard, somewhat different, large and heavy, very detailed, made in silver and marked with the year. ."
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Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars