A little more on early naval observer wings

[Justin B.]

We have discussed before the early period of the naval aviation observer qualification and the "type 2" NAO wings, which we a silver version of the naval aviator wings. I recently read about officers of the navy's Construction Corps in qualifying as observers and even as aviators in the '20s and '30s. The response to the demands of WW1, most notably setting up the Naval Aircraft Factory, brought with it a demand for qualified engineers and designers, and some Construction Corps officers began to specialize in aeronautical rather than marine engineering. To better appreciate the application of their work, the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Rear Admiral Moffett, encouraged a number of them to go through the courses at Pensacola beginning in the early '20s, soon after the NAO qualification was established.

 

Here is a photo of future vice admiral and WW2 shipping czar Emory Land. He qualified as a NAO in July 1922, and served as Assistant Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics, 1926-1928. He held the rank of captain from 1923 to 1932. I have never seen a flag rank photo of him wearing his wings, but at this point, perhaps while serving at BuAer, he is wearing the silver NA-style observer wings and of course the Construction Corps sprig devices on the sleeves.

 

 

By the way I wondered in a thread years ago whether there were ever any enlisted observers, and now I'm pretty sure there weren't. In 1926 Congress defined NA's, NAP's, and NAO's, and observers were by law to be commissioned or warrant officers.

 

 

Justin B.

[rustywings]

Justin, thanks for posting this interesting read. I'm looking forward to seeing how this fresh information is received by some of our more advanced USN collectors.

[tafh63]

Justin - I can't comment on pre-WWII issuing of observer wings to enlisted. However, in the late-fifties/early-sixties, as the Navy rejuvenated the NAO program, a number of first class petty officers, Chiefs and warrants filled the role of navigator and/or tactical coordinator on ASW aircraft until enough junior officers could be trained and assigned to the fleet. Based on anecdotal stories, publications from that period, and faded memories aviation enlisted personnel who had not earned aircrew wings, and were performing the above described functions wore the observer wings.

 

Even today, one may come across a sailor who did a tour in the aft section of a EP-3, who is not aircrew qualified, wearing observer wings.

 

Happy to hear from others

[manayunkman]

Certainly is very interesting information.

 

Great photo too.