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NAP Sleeve Rates


B-17Guy
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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/

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post-12439-0-50800000-1359824560.jpg

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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

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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

post-12439-0-14495900-1359925701.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

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

post-12439-0-74573500-1361745068.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here's my NAP collection

cpo'spost-2501-0-26587000-1361746555.jpg

Lower ranks

post-2501-0-13639700-1361746556.jpg

1920-30's NAP'S Along with Aviation Quarter master and aviation rigger

post-2501-0-42353100-1361746554.jpg

 

 

Jason

 

 

Jason, this has to be one of the most complete, non-bullion NAP collections I have ever seen. Just beautiful.

-Fritz

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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

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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.

 

 

post-2501-0-73458800-1362856106.jpg

 

 

Jason

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  • 2 months later...

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.

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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

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  • 2 years later...
Garth Thompson

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

 

 

post-83-0-57801300-1444318554.jpg

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