Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, military and historical items for discerning collectors
Insignia / Medals / Badges - U.S.
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Scarce WWII USAAF Flight Surgeon's gold 2" shirt wing by Amico and matching collar devices.
The Flight Surgeon's qualification wing was the only AAF wing produced in gold, which proved unpopular and was quickly replaced by the same badge in sterling silver. This is the 2" shirt sized wing by Amico in gold plated sterling silver. A beautiful, two-piece construction wing which shows a nice patina and comes with a matched pair of gilt medical branch collar devices. Sold as a set.
$175 / £138 / €160
Superb printed leather reproduction jacket patch for the 4th Fighter Group.
Lovely leather jacket patch for the AAF 4th Fighter Group, based on the design of the Eagle Squadron emblem from which so many members joined after the United States entered the war. This is a reunion patch (c.1990s) and extremely well made, full size (5" diameter) printed on leather. A fraction of the cost of an original and will look great on a replica A-2 jacket!
$65 / £48 / €55
Vintage enameled pin badge for the famed Flying Tigers / 14th Army Air Force.
Very nice pin-back badge for the Flying Tigers. 1.5" (3.5cm) diameter on silver plated copper alloy, with detail in the tiger enameled in white, yellow, blue and black. Well made, heavy construction with a cross-hatched checkered background pattern. Maker marked "Premier Howram" on the back in raised letters. Probably not wartime but perhaps an early reunion piece that would look great as part of a Flying Tigers display.
SOLD
Souvenir USAF key ring for grand opening of the Officer's Mess at McGuire AFB, June 5, 1971.
Home of the 438the Military Airlift Wing. Interesting souvenir USAF key ring for grand opening of the new Open Officer's Mess at McGuire AFB, June 5, 1971 – just as the Vietnam War was starting to wind down.
$12 / £9 / €11
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
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
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 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
ON HOLD
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
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.
ON HOLD
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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 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