tigerfan Posted July 23, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 23, 2014 Here is an interesting photo of a 2nd Lt. wearing a 2" navigator wing and 3" bombardier wing. I assume he was rated for both positions. Sadly this soldier was KIA on October 14, 1943 raid on Schweinfurt. Although this photo shows the prominent wing to be the bombardier, he is listed as being the navigator on the crew list when he was KIA. Anyway an unusual period photo out of the norm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 23, 2014 Share #2 Posted July 23, 2014 Fascinating! It's one of those anomalies which, if you recreated it today, people would say "No way!" Just goes to show, never say never! I assume he trained as one and "upgraded" to the other, and was proud of his dual qualifications? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 23, 2014 Share #3 Posted July 23, 2014 Double post? I commented in the other one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrabassett Posted July 23, 2014 Share #4 Posted July 23, 2014 Very interesting photo, thanks for showing it. I have never seen a photo or blouse with 2 US wings worn like that either. Sometimes you see a set of foreign wings with US wings if they were in the RAF or something like that but never a 2" and 3" US wing. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusl4 Posted July 23, 2014 Share #5 Posted July 23, 2014 You said it Sabrejet, I hate it when people say "they never did that" or "they never wore that" I had an A2 one time that had the wings painted on the left front pocket flap, I don't know why the guy did it but that's where they were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 23, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 23, 2014 I have a uniform to anEighth Air Force member who wore both Bombadier and Gunners wings. He also had sets made when he was in pow camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted July 23, 2014 Share #7 Posted July 23, 2014 I have a B-26 group that belonged to a guy who classified himself as a bombardier/navigator.....his dress uniform just has navigator wings, but I could see someone in his position posing for a photo like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryant U. Posted July 23, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 23, 2014 Great photo. There's always something new to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 23, 2014 Share #9 Posted July 23, 2014 There is actually a Bombigator wing, information file and their own magazine. I had an incredible grouping to a bombigator with the wing. A collector/dealer in Pa. got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ram957 Posted July 23, 2014 Share #10 Posted July 23, 2014 Was the the elusive bombigator ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 23, 2014 Share #11 Posted July 23, 2014 Here is a picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 23, 2014 Share #12 Posted July 23, 2014 The bombigator wing that came from a Harrisburg, Pa. vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted July 23, 2014 Share #13 Posted July 23, 2014 I could see a Airman proud of being doubled rated and wearing both wings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted July 23, 2014 Share #14 Posted July 23, 2014 The bombigator wing that came from a Harrisburg, Pa. vet.That is a Cool Daddy set of wings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted July 23, 2014 Share #15 Posted July 23, 2014 DUAL QUALIFICATION------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
557 Posted July 30, 2014 Share #16 Posted July 30, 2014 I met a guy that wore two, bomber and radio. Never seen the radio wings until I saw them framed on his wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29navy Posted July 30, 2014 Share #17 Posted July 30, 2014 My uncle was qualified as a bombardier, navigator, observer, and gunner. Don't know if he wore more than one at a time. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted July 31, 2014 Share #18 Posted July 31, 2014 You know....over the years, I've seen several photos posted showing studio shots of soldiers wearing things that most would say "no way!" I think after this one I will draw my conclusion that during studio photos they wore what they wanted. As Ian said, I guess you never say never! I guess we should stop beating ourselves up over oddities. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted July 31, 2014 Share #19 Posted July 31, 2014 You know....over the years, I've seen several photos posted showing studio shots of soldiers wearing things that most would say "no way!" I think after this one I will draw my conclusion that during studio photos they wore what they wanted. As Ian said, I guess you never say never! I guess we should stop beating ourselves up over oddities. Daniel I'll agree with that Daniel "A Studio Portrait", unlikely that both wings or similar portraits where mulitple qualifcation badges of these type were worn, were worn in formation or on everyday duty. This falls into the same catogory of those WWII portraits of Enlistedmen wear Officer Branch Insigina on the Garrision Caps and such, done only for sitting for a formal portait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
501stGeronimo Posted July 31, 2014 Share #20 Posted July 31, 2014 The bombigator wing that came from a Harrisburg, Pa. vet.Isnt that on bullfrog militaria..or something like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 31, 2014 Share #21 Posted July 31, 2014 Ken bought the Davis group from me as well as several other groupings, some which are on his site and others that he has sold, when I had to start liquidating. Lt. Col. Davis was from Colonial Park to be exact and had a mail box that was a P-40 painted like an AVG Flying Tiger. The mother of my children still has a bunch of Davis' stuff including his Bombigator Information File. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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