Crasher Posted August 25, 2016 Share #1 Posted August 25, 2016 Maybe y'all can help give an opinion on these wings that my uncle picked up recently. My uncle is a Catholic priest, and as he's been a WWII militaria collector since he was a kid, he carried that hobby into his vocation, collecting WWII chaplain's items. He bought these wings on eBay recently, and wanted my opinion on them. From what I can see, being pin-back, that pretty safely makes them WWII period, am I right? Has anyone ever seen the chaplain's cross welded to the front of jump wings? How about the star on the front? Looks to me like a campaign star, which is kind of odd as well. Strange that he'd put that on his jump wings, maybe he was just particularly proud of a combat jump or something? Anything you guys can chime in on, that'd be great. He'd like to find out anything he can about them. He paid $40, so even for plain wings, I think that's a pretty good deal from what I've seen. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0bbeL Posted August 31, 2016 Share #2 Posted August 31, 2016 Tough to see, those are faked by the thousands, and not many Chaplains served in the Airborne, and even fewer adjusted their wings with a cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crasher Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted August 31, 2016 Even pin-back Sterling wings? I only found one place making repro pin-back jump wings, and those were neither Sterling silver nor solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0bbeL Posted August 31, 2016 Share #4 Posted August 31, 2016 They fake even British-Made pins, from actual silver, so yes. Think you need some opinions from some true jump wings collectors, so hopefully they will respond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted September 1, 2016 Share #5 Posted September 1, 2016 Crasher, I have specialized in collecting WWII parachute and glider badges for over forty years now and can tell you that I have litterally seen over 100 parachute badges with a cross applied to the wing or cut out of the canopy to form a cross. All have been advertised as "chaplain wings." In those forty years, I was fortunate enough to have known two chaplains who were qualified paratroopers during World War II. Neither of the two chaplains had ever seen a wing with a cross apllied to them, let alone having owned or worn one. To be entirely honest with you, I do not ever plan to own one of these wings unless and until I can get one directly from the vet's family AND with photographic evidence that they were worn. I have never seen one that I was 100% confident was an original. As for the wing itself, yes, I would say that the cross and star have been applied to a WII vintage parachute badge. I just have qualms about when the soldering might have been done. I hope this helps. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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