B-17Guy Posted February 2, 2013 Share #1 Posted February 2, 2013 Hello All, I am a wing collector and normally reside in the wing forum. I have a question regarding the sleeve rates worn by enlisted pilots (NAP). I have searched the forum for answers and have found none, so here goes. As a wing collector, I have a few NAP sleeve rates in my collection, some blue, some white. I am wondering why some white rates have blue or gold wings, and some blue rates have silver or gold wings? It is known that some have mis-i'd metal silver Observer wings for Enlisted for many years and this has lead to the common mis-conception that NAP's wore silver wings. So why the variation in wing color on sleeve rates between gold, silver and blue? I have attached a few pics. Thanks, John PS: Here are a couple of great links about the metal wings and NAP's- http://www.usmilitar...lver-nap-wings/ http://www.usmilitar...ww1-navy-wings/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bx Posted February 2, 2013 Share #2 Posted February 2, 2013 Per John Stacy's book, NAP wings were originally to be yellow on all rating badges to give the general appearance of Naval Aviator's wings. The wings were changed to white on blue rating badges and blue on all others in July 1944. The gold wings are definitely more difficult to find. -Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted February 3, 2013 Thanks for the reply. Here are the backs of the two white rates above and the front of a blue rate with no date. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted February 9, 2013 Two more to add. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted February 9, 2013 Backs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted February 24, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted February 24, 2013 Here is another that I just picked up last week. Maybe others could post their variations? There doesn't seem to be many NAP sleeve rate examples on the forum. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted February 24, 2013 Share #7 Posted February 24, 2013 Here's my NAP collection cpo's Lower ranks 1920-30's NAP'S Along with Aviation Quarter master and aviation rigger Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted February 24, 2013 Share #8 Posted February 24, 2013 Three more........ 1920's-30's Grey bullion po1, maybe CG?? Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted March 7, 2013 Excellent collection! Here are two I picked up at SoS. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bx Posted March 7, 2013 Share #10 Posted March 7, 2013 Here's my NAP collection cpo's Lower ranks 1920-30's NAP'S Along with Aviation Quarter master and aviation rigger Jason Jason, this has to be one of the most complete, non-bullion NAP collections I have ever seen. Just beautiful. -Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted March 8, 2013 Share #11 Posted March 8, 2013 Thanks John and fritz, I have a few of the strikers as well. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted March 9, 2013 Great additions! I hope we can keep this going with variations. It would be great to have as much NAP Rate information in one thread as possible. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted March 9, 2013 Share #13 Posted March 9, 2013 This is on the uniform of Sheehan W.W. that I have. He flew photo recon missions from what I gather. There is something under the rating badge were the shield is. The shield all most looks like a old time camera. Thought I would add this to the thread. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted June 2, 2013 Couple of recent additions. Best, John CPO 1943, front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted June 2, 2013 CPO 1943, back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted June 2, 2013 PO3, Gemsco, front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share #17 Posted June 2, 2013 PO3, Gemsco, back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin B. Posted June 2, 2013 Share #18 Posted June 2, 2013 Both nice examples. The chief is interesting because the eagle faces the pre-41 direction but it looks more like post-41 style, straight up instead of leaning slightly like the white badge. The variations of rating badges seem almost endless, thanks for posting. 3 stripes=PO1 1 stripe=PO3 Justin B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted June 4, 2013 Both nice examples. The chief is interesting because the eagle faces the pre-41 direction but it looks more like post-41 style, straight up instead of leaning slightly like the white badge. The variations of rating badges seem almost endless, thanks for posting. 3 stripes=PO1 1 stripe=PO3 Justin B. Woops, you are right! Thanks for the correction, typo on my part. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bx Posted June 4, 2013 Share #20 Posted June 4, 2013 Very nice examples John, especially the Chief. Thanks for posting. -Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share #21 Posted October 7, 2015 Thought I would bump this thread back to the top with a purchase I made last month at ASMIC Dayton. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Thompson Posted October 8, 2015 Share #22 Posted October 8, 2015 Here is a variation you don't see very often, a bevo weave 1943 dated. It is the first NAP I have seen done this way. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Thompson Posted October 8, 2015 Share #23 Posted October 8, 2015 Back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nilram Posted October 9, 2015 Share #24 Posted October 9, 2015 Another NAP on Aviation Green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bx Posted October 9, 2015 Share #25 Posted October 9, 2015 Another NAP on Aviation GreenGreen.jpg Very nice. I need to find one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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