US Navy Naval aviator wings for review

[wrongplanet67]

May I ask your expert opinion on this badge? Does everything look in order? Can it be attributed to a time- and/or war period?
Many thanks for your help!

[rra227]

It is W.W.2 or earlier. Because it is not a clutch back design. Rich A. in Pa.

[MAP]

I did a bit of digging as I don't know much about these.

It is believed that Vanguard was mostly a retailer and didn't make their wings (or all their wings). There are a few threads over on USMF that I was able to find (I'm sure their are more), but there still appears to be some/many unknowns as to the dating and most of the hallmarks but a general concensus that Vanguard pin backs were made until the mid 1950's.

Here is one thread

Vanguard Navy Wings - WING BADGES - U.S. Militaria Forum

[MAP]

Two other threads. The first showing your exact hallmark and attributed to WW2 or potentially KW (but no explanation why)

Origin of Navy Vanguard Marked Wings. - WING BADGES - U.S. Militaria Forum

and another thread

Vanguard WWII Navigator Wing - WING BADGES - U.S. Militaria Forum

[drmessimer]

Here is a link to an official history of Naval Aviator wings, with ilustations: https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw5/ht18...aval-wings.pdf Dwight

[wrongplanet67]

Many thanks MAP and drmessimer. Very informative!
Also thanks for pointing me towards the US Militaria Forum.