US Aviation Wings 3"

[soalebm]

Great set of service wings on the right einflieger! what is the maker? Walkwolf I love your collection my favorite wing has always been the flight engineer! it is a very art deco design. Do you have any Aussie made wings in your collection? I think the maker is K. G. Luke... Now that I know you can identify wings I may need your help! I only own two that I purchased with uniforms but I would like to buy a Radio Operator's set but I don't know enough to get a WWII pattern and not something post war.

[Walkwolf]

Hey everyone. I have in my possession a "series" of 4 aviator wings, all of which I believe are original. All are marked "Sterling" with some other markings on them as well. These were passed down to me several years ago by my father, who is a WWII veteran. I am interested in selling them if the price is right (tough economic times right now). Can someone point me in the direction of an appraiser in the Maryland area? Three of the wings are (I believe) the standard aviator wings...one has just the shield in the center, one has the star over the shield and one has the star with a wreath around it. The fourth set of wings is has what I think is a dirigible of sorts in the center. I understand these were copied
and dulicated over the years and would like to get an honest appraisal of there worth. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, Fedtec. welcome to the Forum !

If these 'other markings' are of letters and/or numbers they are post WWII,
possibly into the 60's and 70's. Although the 'Airship' and 'Balloon' pilot
wings were phased out during WWII, you are correct - this type is
heavily reproduced.

Please post close up photos of them for us - front and back - if you can.

[Walkwolf]

Great set of service wings on the right einflieger! what is the maker? Walkwolf I love your collection my favorite wing has always been the flight engineer! it is a very art deco design. Do you have any Aussie made wings in your collection? I think the maker is K. G. Luke... Now that I know you can identify wings I may need your help! I only own two that I purchased with uniforms but I would like to buy a Radio Operator's set but I don't know enough to get a WWII pattern and not something post war.

Hi, Soalebm, love to see what you have !

Flight Engineer wings were available by mid 1945, but too late to have been widely distributed
during WWII and sometimes considered to be mostly post war manufacture - they are nice
looking, well designed wings. I have no 'Aussie-made' USAAF wings in the collection as yet
because they are fairly rare and quite expensive. As I remember, there were two
or three makers of USAAF wings in Austrailia. The 'Radio Operator' wings
you speak of are U.S. Navy, but perhaps you already knew this.

Genuine WWII maker-marked 'Sterling' wings are the most desireable, but in most cases
the common, standard 'slick pattern' or 'Graduation' type wings are found. (mostly in
clutch-back and not typically maker-marked, but will sometimes be Sterling marked)

Remember that an officer or aircrew member probably needed several uniforms and had
to outfit them all with insignia. Not everyone had the funds in those days to buy the
best, and 'made-do' with whatever was most economical or readily available.

[fedtec30]

Hi, Fedtec. welcome to the Forum !

If these 'other markings' are of letters and/or numbers they are post WWII,
possibly into the 60's and 70's. Although the 'Airship' and 'Balloon' pilot
wings were phased out during WWII, you are correct - this type is
heavily reproduced.

Please post close up photos of them for us - front and back - if you can.

I appreciate the response. I will most certainly post photos for you. If I remember correctly the "markings" on the back...in addition to "sterling"...is the stamp of a small star. That is if I remember correctly. The photos will be forthcoming. Thanks again!

[fedtec30]

Here are the photos as promised. As you can see from the photo, I was incorrect about the "star". My eyes aren't what they used to be...neither is my memory! I mainly would like to know what these wings are worth, as I would eventually be interested in selling them.

[Walkwolf]

Fedtec, I'll be curt and take a stab at these wings:


'Airship Pilot' is an N.S. Meyer restrike; $50 - $150.

'Command Pilot' marked 'Sterling' is a copy; $50 - $100.

'Senior Pilot' by N.S. Meyer is from the 50's or 60's; $80 - $100.

'Sterling' marked piece with brass pin is from the WWII era
-attributed to 'Bell Manufacturing'; $100 - $150.


These are only my opinions. There are many variables. Figuring out the
originallity or era of U.S. wings is not an exact or complete science,
and I may be wrong in my assessments.................

[fpicoli]

WOW!!!
Nice collection, you have!

Well displayed too.

Congratulations!

Fábio

[Josey]

Steve,
I am just browsing through some older posts looking at photos of other folks collections and I find this one.
All I can say is WOW!! Very nice indeed. I appreciate collections like these as I know they take some time to put together, well done sir.
One question for you. Are any of your wings marked "coin silver" ? I have only a few wings and one is marked that way and was wondering if the coin silver type are uncommon or not.

Josey

[Eric Zentner]

I agree very nice Steve I must have missed this thred before.

Eric

[Walkwolf]

Thanks for the compliments...........!