Initially, twenty-four officers were qualified to receive the badges, but the first written orders listed only eleven men: Capts. It was suspended from a bar inscribed “Military Aviator.” These badges were made of 14-karat gold and plated with pure gold. The design of the original Military Aviator Badge was an eagle in flight, carrying signal flags. Now, fifty years later, the US Air Force is celebrating its Golden Anniversary of Silver Wings.īut the silver wings weren’t always silver. On October 6, 1913, the first two Military Aviation Badges were awarded. The flyers who receive silver wings wear them proudly. These badges of accomplishment are awarded only to those who serve our country in the sky-or space. It was commonly replaced in 1916 by the bullion type wings though some did continue to wear the gilded wing on dress uniform until the unification of the RFC and the RNAS into the RAF on April 1st 1918.The most cherished possession of tens of thousands of members of the US Air Force is the pair of silver wings that adorns their uniforms. This wing was brought into use in 1913 and continued in use to 1916 in dress and undress use. It is of course gilded and is usually found with either a full plate over the back which would be hard to detect as an add-on if the small gas holes were not present, or with the reverse tips of the wing plated over (the main part being open) with the hinge and hook attached to these partial plates. "This is a sample of the dress uniform and undress uniform wing (same wing, two forms of wear). ![]() The "GJ DF" mark was no longer used after 1915 when George Jackson left the firm. The company itself existed before them and lived on after them as well. George Jackson and David Fullerton were the proprietors of Joseph Williams & Co from 1884 through 1915. This badge was manufactured by Jackson and Fullerton in London. Royal Flying Corps, Pilot, field dress uniform. When replaced with woven badges many metal badges were simply discarded." - Chris Langley These metal badges with their pin backs frequently caught on straps and exterior clothing during field use causing tears to uniforms. It was first issued in February 1913 to the very small army flying corps and then fully replaced by February 1914 by woven fabric badges. Authorized in late 1912, this item is unusually manufactured in bronzed copper. "United Kingdon, Royal Flying Corps, Pilot, field dress uniform. This badge was VERY rare then and of course most of the pilots were pleased to chuck it away when they got their fabric wings." - Chris Langley In Feb 1913 there were two squadrons of aircraft and one balloon unit, so 24-30 aircraft and pilots plus the balloon unit. It was quickly replaced by the wool backed embroidered wing in very early 1914. The problem with the field service wing was that it was used on the lighter fabric field service jacket and this was worn all the time including when preparing for and completing flight, which meant that it was always catching on straps or clothing and coats and consequently tearing the uniform jacket open along the line of the pin. This badge was approved for use in 1912, came into use in Feb 1913 and was replaced by cloth badges by Feb 1914. This wing was used with field service uniform only (and the gilded one was NOT for use with the field service uniform). The long pin bronze wing was most usually found open-backed and had the typical British simple folded wire hinge instead of the bar hinge found on the gilded wings. When they were replaced in 1914 with the woven badges, apparently many of these badges were simply thrown away as they had developed a bad reputation for tearing uniforms when snagged by belts, coats etc. They were only in use between Feb 1913 and Feb 1914 when the RFC was a very small body with a very limited number of pilots. Even photographs of these in use on field dress are exceptionally rare. "These are original RFC 1913 pilot wings for the field uniform. ![]() Click on the images to see a larger version and the back of the wing/badge
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