Paraglider wings - did they exist in Senior and Master grades?

[Brittroop]

I'm putting together a display of US Airborne wings and want to include the paraglider wings, as issued in the 11th Airborne Division during and after WWII.

 

I know they were unofficial and found in the 'basic' grade, but I have also seen them in Senior and Master grades (in metal). Are theses legit or just fantasy items made for collectors?

 

The Senior & Master grade Parachutists Badges were instituted in 1949 and no doubt some paratroopers from the 11th remained in the Army into the 1950s and would have fulfilled the criteria for Senior and Master wings. Could they have worn the Senior or Master grade versions of the paraglider wings?

 

Thanks for any help you can give me,

Brittroop

[Old Marine]

The Glider Badge was only issued as the basic badge. There was never an official Senior and Master version of that badge.

[Brittroop]

Thanks for confirming that the Glider badge was only issued in the basic grade but does that also apply to the Paraglider badge?

[Old Marine]

By Paraglider badge do you mean the badge with the parachute wings and a glider superimposed over the parachute? If so, that is an unauthorized/fantasy badge and was never issued by the US Army.

[Brittroop]

The badge I'm asking about is the Glider badge where the glider is superimposed on a parachute. I know it was never authorised by the U.S. Army but it was approved and issued by the 11th Airborne Division during WWII and afterwards in Japan and later in Germany. This was because the Division's glider infantry regiments were later converted to parachute infantry and soldiers became dual qualified. I guess my question is whether the 11th ever issued the unauthorised paraglider badge in Senior and Master grades?

 

The 11th was not deactivated until 1956, so there was time for Senior and Master jump wings to be earned after they were first instituted in 1949. The existence of metal paraglider wings in the higher grades suggest that dual qualified troopers may have worn the paraglider badge in Senior and Master grades, but they could equally be fantasy badges. I just want to find out whether these badges are genuine badges, unauthorised but worn, or just items made for collectors?

[Tonomachi]

I don't have an answer to your question as I've never come across a period photograph of anyone wearing a para-glider wing on their uniform. I have collected para-glider wings over the years so I can give you my observations and opinions of what I've come across over the years. These para-glider wings did exist but I don't believe they were ever an "issued" item. They were probably worn on an unauthorized basis during the occupation of Japan by members of the 11th Airborne Division and tolerated by I guess you would call them command staff. Like you said the 11th Abn Div had a number of glider only battalions which they converted over to airborne battalions by getting their glider only personnel through an in house airborne course in Japan. So now you had a lot of dual qualified personnel in the 11th Airborne Division which probably gave birth to the para-glider wing. So this was a post war only practice not something worn during WW2. I have encountered genuine variations of Japanese made basic para-glider wings so they did exist but what I don't know is if they were worn on the uniform or possibly on a baseball cap while off duty or both. I have never come across a senior or master level Japanese made para-glider wing. The only two US insignia companies that seem to have manufactured early basic para-glider wings was GEMSCO and NS MEYER. They were both pin back wings, sterling marked and have been copied repeatedly by somebody. All the copies appear to be cast but cast real well as you need to have them in hand to examine them with a jewelers loupe to tell the difference. I have come across a number of the GEMSCO wings but have only encountered the NS MEYER wing once and someone else bought it before I got the chance to buy it so I'm not 100% sure it was genuine. I have encountered later period US manufactured para-glider wings hallmarked with GEMSCO or NS MEYER that look genuine but are not sterling and are either pin back or clutch back. I've seen these later period para-glider wings with senior and master grades. What I don't know is if these later period para-glider wings were ever worn by members of the 11th Airborne Division that stayed in the military into the 1950s or 1960s. My guess is that this practice continued even after the 11th Airborne Division was moved to Germany as paratroopers are very proud of their insignia as in the early days they were unique to airborne alone. Another possibility is that the insignia companies didn't know any better and continued to manufacture these later period para-glider wings as maybe novelty pieces despite the fact that the practice of wearing them was no longer tolerated by upper staff. I have also come across supposedly British made para-glider wings one that was even on a WW2 airborne Ike jacket. I believe these are all totally bogus and never existed during or after the war and was something made by the same folks in the UK who were making copies of the British made US basic paratrooper wings.

[Brittroop]

Thank you, Tonomachi, for such a comprehensive reply. Your thoughts agree with mine, that there may have been some unauthorised use of the Senior and Master para-glider wings by the 'Old & Bold' in Germany in the 1950s, but we will never be able to confirm that theory unless we see a period photograph or hear it from a Veteran.

 

I'm now trying to decide whether to buy the wings I have seen. It will be a private sale, so I don't have photos. They are quite well made but are a mid bronze colour, rather than the silver/white metal normally seen with US wings of this age. They certainly look old but I cannot now remember whether they are clutch back or pin back. If they are a reasonable price I may take a chance on them. If I get them, I will post photos here to get more expert opinions.

 

Anyway, thanks very much for the help.

 

Brittroop