Navy Air Crew Badge..3 stars

[kphfun]

This is part of a group that I picked up today and have no idea what date, who it was for or what the three stars are for. It is marked "STERLING" on the back and some small stamp above that. Can I get some help please on it's history and mabey any value..Thank's, Kev

[Paul S]

Hello Kev,

 

My vote would be post WWII, probably the '50's or ''60's. The berries in the shoulders suggest that to me; stars represent a number of patrols, and the man wearing them was likely a crew member of an ASW aircraft such as a P2V or later airplane. In sterling, maybe $15 to $20.

 

Paul S.

[pfrost]

We had a thread on these earlier here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=21161

 

But, I can say that the original purpose of the stars were:

 

"The initial requirements (May 1943) were: a. Having served, subsequent to 7 Decemger 1941, for a total of three months as a regularly assigned member of the Air Crew of a combatant craft. 1. "Combatant aircraft" shall be considered as all operating aircraft of the Fleet or Frontier Forces. 2. The term "regularly assigned member of the Air Crew" shall be interpreted literally, and shall be substantiated the the battle station bill of the unit. b. Having suffered injuries or other physical impairment, while engaged in combatant operations since 7 December 1941, as a regularly assigned member of a combatant aircraft, which precludes the possibility of fulfillment of the time requirements . . . and is recommended by the Commanding Officer of the Unit . . . c. Individual combat stars will be authorized by Unit Commanders, in conformance with instructions issued by C-in-C, United States Fleet, to those members of Air Crews who: 1) Engage enemy aircraft, singly or in formation. 2) Engage armed enemy combatant vessels with bombs, torpedoes, or machine guns. 3) Engage in bombing offensive operations agains enemy fortified positions. 4) A maximum of three combat stars shall be awarded for display on the Air Crew Insignia; combat operations reports in excess of three will be credited only in the record of the in individual concerned. d. Personnel qualified by provisions of subparagraphs A and B above may wear the Air Crew Insignia permanently."

 

As to this wing, I think I would likely agree with Paul, it looks to be from about the 50's (hard to tell from the photos) and the value is about 20$ or so. Almost 100$ if from WWII I would think.

 

Patrick

[kphfun]

Thank you Paul and Patrick. What do you need to see in pic form to help I.D. it?

[John Cooper]

Just to add one more bit of info that sometimes can help. The clutches with the pimples on them which did not come into use until about 1947. (I know that often cluches are mis-matched or replaced but wanted to add that little factoid)

 

John

[USMCRECON]

FYI, were are a couple aircrew badges from my collection. The shot of the front of the two is a bit fuzzy but you can see that there are no "berries" on the shoulders of the wings. I could only get two pics on this post. Even though the front shot is fuzzy, you can see a distinct difference in the stars on each wing. I'll follow it with a close up of the way the stars are mounted in a follow-on post.

 

[USMCRECON]

FYI, were are a couple aircrew badges from my collection. The shot of the front of the two is a bit fuzzy but you can see that there are no "berries" on the shoulders of the wings. I could only get two pics on this post. Even though the front shot is fuzzy, you can see a distinct difference in the stars on each wing. I'll follow it with a close up of the way the stars are mounted in a follow-on post.

 

Here's the close-up of the mounting of the stars on the wings. The wing on the left has smaller stars and I believe it was purchased with the stars already attached. the one on the right seems to have stars similar to those applied to miniature medals attached and this is obvious by the mounting wires on the back. I suspect this one was initially purchased when the crew member was in basic drew status and he applied the stars as they were earned.