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.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note:


Clutch Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/3/2010
Made by the Wm. Link Company.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note:

Firmin, London
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
This badge was worn by Ronald H. Short, purchased by him while in England during WW2.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Josten, Sterling
Clutch Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Snowflake pattern
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note:

N.S. Meyer, Inc., New York, Sterling
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
This badge was worn by Colonel Gerald G.Johnston, O16621.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Sterling
Pin Back
Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Sterling
Pin Back
Marty Upchurch Collection
11/24/2024
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
3"



John Vargas Collection

Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
1"


Pin Back
Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note: 		3 1/16"


Pin Back
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.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note:


Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/3/2010
Made by the Wm. Link Company.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Firmin, London
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Josten, Sterling
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Amico, Sterling
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Sterling
Pin Back
Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:



Pin Back
Tod Rathbone Collection
3/11/2021
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:


Sterling
Clutch Back
Russ Wilson Collection
3/26/2022
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
3"



John Vargas Collection

Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
1.5"

Dodge INC, Chicago, Sterling
Pin Back
Michael Harner Collection
2/25/2015
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note: 		3"

Josten Sterling
Pin Back
James Reddish Collection
7/3/2001
This is a balloon observer wing
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note:

Meyer Shield
Pin Back
Cliff Presley Collection
9/22/2010
This badge was worn by Colonel Gerald G.Johnston, O16621.
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:



Pin Back
Tod Rathbone Collection
3/11/2021
Width:
Height:
Hallmark:
Pin/Clutch:
Contributor:
Date Added:
Note: 		3"



John Vargas Collection

This is a balloon observer wing
All electronic scans remain the copyright © of Bob Schwartz or the specific contributors and cannot be reproduced by either digital, electronic, electrostatic or lithographic or by any other means without expressed permission from the originator of the web site or its contributors.

Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars