Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
Insignia / Medals / Badges - U.S.
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Flying Tigers commemorative reunion pin.
A very nice, well-made Flying Tigers reunion or commemorative pin, approx 2" x 1" enamled n gilt metal with a locking pin-back.
$18 / £15 / €17
 Flying Tigers commemorative reunion pin |  Flying Tigers commemorative reunion pin |
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WWII USAAF Irving "Caterpillar Club" badge.
Caterpillar Club badge, awarded exclusively to USAAF and USN aviators whose lives were saved by a Irving Parachute, the majority being awarded during WWII. Instituted in the 1930s by Leslie Irving, inventor of the Irving Air Chute and founder of the company, the badge is silver and measures 1.25" (3cm) in length. These were often (but not always) engraved with the recipient's name (this particular example is not engraved, and bears only the words "Presented by Irving"). Many were presented to WWII pilots and crews who baled out using Irving parachutes. Of note is that the British award to RAF aircrews was slightly smaller and made from gold metal. The company was known as "Irvin" in Great Britain due to some strange copyright laws regarding the name "Irving." Not an easy badge to find!
$250 / £205 / €240
 USAAF / USN Irving "Caterpillar Club" badge. |  USAAF / USN Irving "Caterpillar Club" badge. |
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 USAAF / USN Irving "Caterpillar Club" badge. |  USAAF / USN Irving "Caterpillar Club" badge. |
 USAAF / USN Irving "Caterpillar Club" badge. |
AAF Liaison pilot's wing, unmarked standard issue.
Standard 3" Liaison pilot wing with no markings, though it does appear to be sterling silver, clutch back (one clutch is "sterling" marked). One of the more scarce of the AAF pilot insigne because it was introduced quite late in the war and there weren't too many awarded. It is also a one-piece strike - not a modified pilot or observer wing. Just a nice, honest, no frills example.
$110 / £88 / €100
 AAF Liaison pilot's wing |  AAF Liaison pilot's wing |
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 AAF Liaison pilot's wing |
Lovely 8th Air Force patch, bullion on blue felt.
This is a gem. Magnificent heavy bullion embroidered 8th Air Force patch, most probably English made, in heavy gold bullion wire on a royal blue felt background. Slightly smaller than the standard sized shoulder patch (diameter slightly under 2.5") but just superb!
ON HOLD
 Lovely 8th Air Force patch, bullion on blue felt |  Lovely 8th Air Force patch, bullion on blue felt |
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AAF bullion on felt 8th Air Force patch.
Beautiful full-size 8th Air Force patch, gold bullion wire on dark blue felt, with silver bullion star and red felt centre. One small moth hole to edge of felt and has ben sewn on. Lovely patch
$75 / £60 / €70
 AAF bullion on felt 8th Air Force patch |  AAF bullion on felt 8th Air Force patch |
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Fabulous theatre-made bullion AAF Liaison pilot wing.
Absolutely stunning theatre-made full-size Liaison pilot wing, made by modifying a bullion pilot wing. A metal shield with separate "L" welded on, sewn into the centre of the bullion embroidered wings on a green gabardine backing. This is just a beautiful and probably unique wing. Great patina to the bullion and to the metal.
$120 / £95 / €110
 Fabulous theatre-made bullion Liaison pilot wing |  Fabulous theatre-made bullion Liaison pilot wing |
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Thai Air Force pilot wings for a USAF technical advisor, in original box.
Thai Air Force pilot wings, designed for a USAF technical advisor (lacking the Royal cipher above the shield). Exquisitely made with gold bullion wings and Thai headdress motif, and red/white/blue silk shield on a black felt background. Still sealed in cellophane and contained in their original cardboard box with printing and price label to the top. These are the same design as WWII but my guess would be that these probably date from the 1960s.
$150 / £120 / €140
 Thai Air Force pilot wings for a USAF technical advisor |  Thai Air Force pilot wings for a USAF technical advisor |
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 Thai Air Force pilot wings for a USAF technical advisor |  Thai Air Force pilot wings for a USAF technical advisor |
AAF winged prop collar device/sidecap badge.
Lovely example of a two-pice Army Air Corps winged prop collar device or sidecap badge, snowflake back, marked Amcraft, Attleboro, Mass and Acid Test. Nice patina o the gold wings, fitted with the early style backing grippers.
$20 / £18 / €20
 AAF winged prop collar device/sidecap badge |  AAF winged prop collar device/sidecap badge |
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 AAF winged prop collar device/sidecap badge |
US soldier's Christian medallion/amulet with the Virgin Mary.
Sterling silver medallion showing the Virgin Mary and bearing the date 1830 (though it is obviously a WWII piece). It also says "Army" and has stars and stripes enamelled at the top. Most likely given to a soldier by his family or a loved one to help keep him safe. striking memento.
$35 / £30 / €34
 US soldier's Christian medallion/amulet with the Virgin Mary |  US soldier's Christian medallion/amulet with the Virgin Mary |
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Unusual style English made US Army / AAF lieutenant's bars.
Nice matched pair of lieutenant's bars as worn by US officers. These appear to be English made by their unusual style, being flat (no bevelled edge). They are tarnished like real silver but not marked as such, so may be plated or may have a lower than sterling silver content. Great patina. Typical English style pinback.
$20 / £17 / €20
 US English made lieutenant's bars |
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 US English made lieutenant's bars |
 US English made lieutenant's bars |
Vintage Art Deco Pratt & Whitney engine plate/logo.
Haven't been able to dig up too much information on this little gem, such as exactly where it went or what era, but I do know it's an older incarnation of the Pratt & Whitney logo, very Art Deco in design and most probably a plate for attaching to an engine. It's slightly domed, enameled in blue on heavy plated metal, and measures 2" (5cm) across and 1/16" (1.5mm) thick - there are two tabs which I presume are for attaching it in situ. A gem for the collector of aircraft badges and apparently not very common.
$25 / £20 / €24
 Vintage art deco Pratt and Whitney engine plate/logo |  Vintage art deco Pratt and Whitney engine plate/logo |
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 Vintage art deco Pratt and Whitney engine plate/logo |
WWII US Navy pilot wing in original glassine envelope.
Unused US Navy pilot wing in gold bullion wire on dark blue wool background, unused and still in its original glassine paper envelope as when originally purchased. Envelope has been torn open but still present and has protected the wing for 80 years! Superb condition with a lovely patina. Impossible to improve on this on this!
$75 / £60 / €72
email to secure this item
 WWII US Navy pilot wing in original glassine envelope |  WWII US Navy pilot wing in original glassine envelope |
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 WWII US Navy pilot wing in original glassine envelope |
US Indian Service button.
Very scarce Indian Service uniform button. Bronzed uniform button of the smaller size 5/8" (16mm) for tunic pockets and therefore less common than the larger buttons. These uniforms were worn by US Army Cavalry Divisions and Police assigned to Indian Reservations between 1850 and 1890. Made by Waterbury Button Co. A very scarce item.
$45 / £35 / €40
 US Indian Service button |  US Indian Service button |
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AAF full size (3") pinback sterling pilot wing by Gemsco.
Lovely USAAF pilot wing by Gemsco, NY. Classic pattern with flat radiator, pinback lacking the rolling catch, otherwise excellent. Nice patina.
$110 / £80 / €96
 AAF 3" pilot wing by Gemsco |  AAF 3" pilot wing by Gemsco |
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AAF full size (3") pinback sterling pilot wing by Amcraft.
Lovely USAAF pilot wing by Amcraft of Attleboro, Massachusetts. Convex radiator, pinback , in excellent condition excellent. Nice patina.
$110 / £80 / €96
 AAF 3" pilot wing by Amcraft |  AAF 3" pilot wing by Amcraft |
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US Marine Corps pilot wing in leather, removed from a flying jacket.
US Marine Corps pilot wing for a flying jacket, gold embossed on dark brown leather to Col. A.W. Campbell. Has been sewn on with remnants of thread remaining in the stitch holes.
$45 / £35 / €40
 US Marine Corps pilot wing in leather, removed from a flying jacket |  US Marine Corps pilot wing in leather, removed from a flying jacketDSCN2536 |
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Cased WWII era AAF Air Medal.
Unnamed WWII era US Army Air Forces Air Medal in its original case, together with its ribbon for the uniform ribbon bar, and small buttonhole badge for civilian clothes. Medal is in great condition and though not rare, will perhaps fill a hole n a display.
$75 / £55 / €65
 Cased WWII era AAF Air Medal |
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 Cased WWII era AAF Air Medal |
 Cased WWII era AAF Air Medal |
WWII era USAAF Distinguished Flying Cross miniature medal in box.
Unnamed WWII era US Army Air Forces miniature DFC Medal in its cardboard box. Miniatures were for wear on the mess dress at special events. This is very likely a later replacement medal, sealed in plastic and in its box.
$20 / £15 / €18
 WWII era USAAF Distinguished Flying Cross miniature medal in box |
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 WWII era USAAF Distinguished Flying Cross miniature medal in box |
WWI US Air Service winged propellors, matching pair.
Lovely matching pair of US Army Air Service winged propellors, WWI era,. Bronze wings with silver propellors, 43mm across with great detail. Pinback.
$95 / £70 / €80
 WWI US Air Service winged propellor devices. |  WWI US Air Service winged propellor devices. |
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US Army Air Service collar devices with flags and winged globes. British made.
Excellent matching pair of US Army Air Service collar devices with crossed signal corps flags over flaming torch in bronze and silver winged globes. Lovely early design with crisp detail. British made and maker marked J. Gaunt & Son.
$120 / £88 / €100
 US Army Air Service collar devices with flags and winged globes. |  US Army Air Service collar devices with flags and winged globes. |
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Exceptionally nice English made AAF aircrew wing.
Full size (3.25") aircrew wing of typical English manufacture. No maker mark and as usual not sterling silver, but very highly detailed. Nicely die-struck with fine feathering and crisp US seal, with typical English style pinback. Lovely wing.
$95 / £68 / €80
 English made AAF aircrew member wing |  English made AAF aircrew member wing |
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AAF "sweetheart" pilot wing in sterling.
Lovely miniature US AAF pilot wing, with pin-back. 1.5" (4cm). Lovely detail. NS Meyer hallmark and appears sterling but not marked as such.
$20 / £15 / €17
 AAF "sweetheart" pilot wing in sterling |  AAF "sweetheart" pilot wing in sterling |
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AAF miniaure "sweetheart" bomb aimer wing.
Lovely miniature US AAF bomb aimer wing, with pin-back. 1.5" (4cm). Lovely detail, sterling marked.
$20 / £15 / €17
 AAF miniaure "sweetheart" bomb aimer wing |  AAF miniaure "sweetheart" bomb aimer wing |
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USN miniature pilot wing for sidecap (or "sweetheart").
Lovely miniature USN pilot wing, with pin-back. 1.5" (4cm). Lovely detail, sterling +1/20 Gold Filled marked. Worn on sidecap but also presented to sweethearts.
$25 / £18 / €20
 USN miniature pilot wing for sidecap (or "sweetheart"). |  USN miniature pilot wing for sidecap (or "sweetheart"). |
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Early WWII Army Air Corps pinwheel patch, 2-piece blue on orange felt.
Early, pre-war pinwheel design patch for the US Army Air Corps worn from 1937 to 1942. Lovely, unused early example in perfect condition, two-piece felt on felt. 2.75" diameter.
$30 / £23 / €25 email to secure this item
 Early Army Air Corps pinwheel patch, 2 piece on felt |
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 Early Army Air Corps pinwheel patch, 2 piece on felt |
RARE WWI US Navy pilot wing.
Beautiful WWI era US Navy aviator's wing on a black velvet backing. Fine feathering detail on the wings typical of the period. Velvet wrapped around cardboard shows some wear commensurate with age. Carefully unpinning the wing and taking it off the backing reveals no markings whatsoever, but it appears to be gold or at least plated. Just a lovely wing.
$275 / £220 / €240 email to secure this item
 WWI US Navy aviator wing |  WWI US Navy aviator wing |
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 WWI US Navy aviator wing |  WWI US Navy aviator wing |
 WWI US Navy aviator wing |
Lovely WWII AAF pilot wing.
Standard issue type pilot wing, with no markings to rear, clutch back style. It looks like sterling with tarnish and patina but not marked as such. Nice, honest full-size 3" wing.
£43 / $45 / €48
 WWII AAF pilot wing full-size |  WWII AAF pilot wing full-size |
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 WWII AAF pilot wing full-size |  WWII AAF pilot wing full-size |
Set of 2 Distinctive Insignia for the Army Air Corps Advanced Flying Training School.
Lovely matching pair of enameled DIs, pin back and maker marked NS Meyer bearing the famous UT VIRI VOLENT scroll under the flaming torch. Excellent condition.
$25 / £20 / €23
 AAF Advanced Flying School DI set |
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 IMG_339AAF Advanced Flying School DI |
WWII USN officer's full-size visor cap badge.
Beautifully made full-size USN visor cap badge, s-piece construction with screw back. Maker marked Amcraft and 1/20 10K gold. Superb patina.
£28 / $35 / €30 email to secure this item
 WWII US Navy officer's cap badge |
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 WWII US Navy officer's cap badge |
WWII USN officer's overseas cap badge
Beautifully made small size clutch back badge for the overseas cap. Marked W-22-N
£8 / $10 / €9 email to secure this item
 USN overseas cap badge CB |
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 USN overseas cap badge CB |
WWII USN ratings sleeve badges (x3)
Please see pictures. All are WWII and came from a veteran's estate.
1. On blue wool still in cellophane wrapping dated 1945
£16 / $15 / €17 email to secure this item
2. On white cotton unused dated 1945
£8 / $15 / €9 email to secure this item
3. Air Electronics tech. On blue wool unused (larger)
£8 / $12 / €9 email to secure this item
 WWII USN sleeve badge 1 |
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 WWII USN sleeve badge 1 |
 WWII USN sleeve badge 2 |
 WWII USN sleeve badge 2 |
 WWII USN sleeve badge 3 |
 WWII USN sleeve badge 3 |
WWII CBI tie clip in sterling silver.
Not sure if this is a souvenir piece or a later reunion item, but it's old based on the stye and the fact it's made of solid silver with an enameled CBI shield. Lovely item, heavy with a solid spring. 1.75" long.
$25 / £20 / €22 email to secure this item
 WWII CBI tie clip |  WWII CBI tie clip |
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