Cowan’s Corner: Early aviation wings take flight with collectors
Four Russian pilots’ badges and leather box with Imperial Russian Coat of Arms, estimated to sell for $5/7000 in Cowan’s Nov. 4, 2009 Fall Firearms and Early Militaria Auction.
Early WWI aviation collecting is an exciting and popular field. Collectors are drawn to aviation because it was new, dangerous, and filled with unlimited possibilities for technical advancement. At the inception of WWI there were only five airplanes in the American Military Aviation department. By the war’s end this number jumped to 2,500 airplanes.
The field of early aviation insignia collectibles is fairly large in scale. In addition to the aviation wings there are also collar, sleeve insignia and other aviation cloth insignia with corresponding symbols to denote pilot’s divisions and units. Because WWI aviation wings are scarcer than their WWII counterparts, a beginning collector should be prepared to pay a premium for WWI wings.
The earliest American aviation wing was created when the U.S. War Department’s General Order #39 was issued for the first Military Aviator’s badge on April 17, 1913. The first badges had an eagle clutching two Signal Corp flags and was entitled “Military Aviator.” They were manufactured by the U.S. Ordnance Department at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois. These rare first issue wings were originally made of 14-karat gold. The inspiration for the badge was the “Expert Rifleman’s Badge,” which was intended to be used as an award badge and not a qualification badge.
Usually the more common WWI wings were struck from one piece of silver, embroidered with silver wire and the gold “U.S.” was applied to the shield. These badges had pins, safety catches or screw posts for attachment to uniforms. WWI badges have symbols and letters that designate the bearer’s position in the military. To distinguish between experienced aviators and junior aviators, the right wing was omitted from the junior aviator’s badge. The half-wing form of badge was discontinued after WWI.
Independent jewelry stores created badges for two years during WWI, though most of the early badges were made by one of the dozen large manufacturing companies. These jewelry-store badges are hard for a collector to identify because each one has individual characteristics. However, advanced collectors can identify the jeweler who made these badges by inspecting their unique, individual style.
Dallas Wings from WWI, made for pilots and crew at Kelly Airfield in Texas, the largest military airfield at during the war, are highly sought by collectors, possibly because of their associations with Charles Lindbergh, who graduated from the Kelly Advanced Flying School in 1925. 250,000 men were organized into aero-squadrons in 1917 and 1918 associated with Kelly Airfield.
During WWII, large medal manufactures such as Balfour and Jostens flourished. WWII wings are mass produced and slightly less ornamental, and are therefore generally of lesser value than earlier WWI wings. Wings are still produced today for commercial and military purposes, but lack the craftsmanship of their earlier counterparts, thus making the WWI wings even more desirable.
One can start to collect early aviation wings by going to local military shows that hold conventions throughout the country. Auctions and antique shops are additional possibilities. As always, a collector should beware of the numerous fakes and reproductions that are on today’s market.
Research by Joe Moran.
Wes Cowan is founder and owner of Cowan’s Auctions, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio. An internationally recognized expert in historic Americana, Wes stars in the PBS television series History Detectives and is a featured appraiser on Antiques Roadshow. Wes holds a B.A. and M.A. in anthropology from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan. He is a frequently requested speaker at antiques events around the country. He can be reached via email at info@cowans.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
U.S. military aviator’s badge, 1913 pattern, estimated to sell for $5/7,000 in Cowan’s Nov. 4, 2009 Fall Firearms and Early Militaria Auction.
WWI 1/2 observer’s wing, estimated to sell for $1,200/1,600 in Cowan’s Nov. 4, 2009 Fall Firearms and Early Militaria Auction.
WWI jeweler-made bombardier’s wings, estimated to sell for $800/1,200 in Cowan’s Nov. 4, 2009 Fall Firearms and Early Militaria Auction.
WWI Dallas wings, estimated to sell for $800/1,200 in Cowan’s Nov. 4, 2009 Fall Firearms and Early Militaria Auction.
