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88th AERO SQUADRON PIN WW1


F 106 Pilot
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Just purchased a group of items from a WW1 soldier from the 91st Division 346 Field Artillery. He was a cook but in his group was this great pin from the 88th Aero Squadron. I don't know if he was temporally assigned to them or how he came about to have this pin.Ben

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I have been seeing a lot of this particular pin in the last year, a few on ebay and even some other auction sites. All have been unmarked with the open catch. Nice pin tough, I'd snag one! Mark

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I have been seeing a lot of this particular pin in the last year, a few on ebay and even some other auction sites. All have been unmarked with the open catch. Nice pin tough, I'd snag one! Mark

 

Our old friend "Mr. Mac" has been pumping the out. One on e-bay currently at $20.

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If you post a picture of the back, it might be instructive.

 

There are several fakes of this badge out there. The ones Terry referred to, and re-strikes from a worn-out die.

 

Your's seems to have good detail to the front. That is a good sign. We will need to see the back to make a judgement call for you.

 

Chris

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I have seen those copy pins before. I do not worry about this one. It also came with a good sized untouched grouping nothing added nothing taken out. It has such better detail than the copies and the back is different. I am sorry that my scan is so poor. But you can see that the pin is altogether different.Ben

 

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I have seen those copy pins before. I do not worry about this one. It also came with a good sized untouched grouping nothing added nothing taken out. It has such better detail than the copies and the back is different. I am sorry that my scan is so poor. But you can see that the pin is altogether different.Ben

 

 

I agree with both you and Chris on your assessment. Those being made by "Mrmac" show definite signs of being a cast copy. Something in the back of my head says that this style of badge might be a reunion pin. Years ago I saw a 88th squadron pin with just the bucking horse with rider on a silver disc. No wings or writing as I recall. I'm sure Cliff has a better grasp on these.

 

Terry

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Here is a link to another discussion on this badge:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/274413-wwi-88th-aero-squadron-pin/

 

 

And one for sale at Ron Burkey's site.

 

http://devel.flyingtigerantiques.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=0u37afib10000asf-CON

 

I, for one, would love to see some higher resolution photos of this badge. That would be pretty cool if it turned out to be a good one!!

 

P

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I wish I could post some better photos. I will have to wait for my son to come over. I have no worry's about this pin. I am confident it is a WW1 era pin. It looks very similar to Ron Burkey's pin. The group this came with was a righteous group nothing added nothing removed. Ben

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I think I may have found the only photo of the 88th AS squadron pin being worn.

 

This is an image of Lt. Fletcher L. McCordic taken at Trier, Germany in February 1919. Within days of this portrait being taken, Lt. McCordic was killed in a crash flying a Fokker D.VII. The image is from pg.8 of the squadron history.

 

Out of the 100's of photos I have on the 88th AS, this is the only one showing the squadron badge. Of note, the squadron badge was usually worn above the left breast pocket, above or below the wings.

 

-Chuck

 

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Beautiful bage and great info.

 

The pin assembly on the posted example sure reminds me of german made pin assemblies.

 

congratulations on your new group.

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...and here's a wartime menu showing the squadron pin design existed as early as October 1918.

 

 

-Chuck

 

That certainly lays to rest that thought that was bouncing around in my head about the period pin just being a bucking bronco on a disc. I think now that I was thinking of the painting on the side of the plane.Thanks Chuck for posting.

 

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That certainly lays to rest that thought that was bouncing around in my head about the period pin just being a bucking bronco on a disc. I think now that I was thinking of the painting on the side of the plane.Thanks Chuck for posting.

 

Terry -

Those were my thoughts, too, until this thread...

I was content with thinking the 88th AS pin must have been similar to what we've seen painted on the fuselage. I guess I've learned something new.

- Chuck

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