cwnorma Posted December 8, 2017 Share #1 Posted December 8, 2017 Inspired by a similar thread over in Edged Weapons, As we approach the end of the year, I thought it would be great if everyone would share their favorite acquisition of 2017. Doesn't have to be most rare, or most expensive--just favorite! Here is mine: This handsome, likely Eisenstadt (it is unmarked) wing came affixed to the uniform of a stateside pilot. The young aviator must have come from a moneyed family--all of his military items were; "top notch." I particularly love the artistic balance of this wing. So what did my fellow "wing-nuts" add to their collections last year? I would love to see! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted December 8, 2017 Share #2 Posted December 8, 2017 Didn't find many wings this year, but these were nice. Came out of an estate jewelry box at $7 each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted December 8, 2017 Share #3 Posted December 8, 2017 Hi, I have acquired quite a few Navy wings this year but here are my favourite three at the moment...... Meyers, three hallmarks ('ROLLED PLATE', shield and 'N.S.Meyer NEW YORK'). A.E. Co., hallmark A.E.Co. UTICA N.Y. Gemsco pattern, no hallmarks, open-C catch. I guess my favourite is the Meyer wing and it's lovely detail (every bit as nice as a Robbins wing). Have a great Christmas and a safe and happy 2018 everyone. cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted December 9, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted December 9, 2017 Great stuff! I know there have to be more out there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted December 10, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted December 10, 2017 Thats it? Only me, AustinO, and Flightpath have favorite acquisitions this year? Inconceivable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted December 10, 2017 Share #6 Posted December 10, 2017 My best pick up in 2017 was a parachute badge that has eluded me for literally decades. I have known that they exist for many years, but I have finally been able to add this baby to my collection. THe maker is Uriscraft. Although the overall quality is less than I would have expected from this quality, it is an original and in mint condiion, though you can see that it has plenty of patina. All in all, not a bad year for me. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted December 10, 2017 Share #7 Posted December 10, 2017 Got a couple of gems this year but this is my favorite. Bell flight surgeon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghcal Posted December 11, 2017 Share #8 Posted December 11, 2017 Can I pick Marty's Blackinton Liaison pilot wing as my favorite lol. Some great stuff here congrats and hope next year is just as good for all of you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ram957 Posted December 11, 2017 Share #9 Posted December 11, 2017 My favorite pick up this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted December 12, 2017 Share #10 Posted December 12, 2017 First, is my most PRETTIEST!! STERLING, Navy sweetheart wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted December 12, 2017 Share #11 Posted December 12, 2017 Next. Is my BEST deal. $10, Pilot ATC wings. Maybe someone can help me figure why my pictures keep going sideways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted December 12, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted December 12, 2017 Awesome! Looks like some good acquisitions for 2017! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted December 13, 2017 Share #13 Posted December 13, 2017 My best pick up in 2017 was a parachute badge that has eluded me for literally decades. I have known that they exist for many years, but I have finally been able to add this baby to my collection. THe maker is Uriscraft. Although the overall quality is less than I would have expected from this quality, it is an original and in mint condiion, though you can see that it has plenty of patina. All in all, not a bad year for me. Allan Allan, first I have ever heard (and now seen) from this manufacturer? Nice addition...and they much be rare if it's taken you this long to add some to your collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted December 14, 2017 Share #14 Posted December 14, 2017 Lot's of nice eye candy so far! Here is my favorite find of this year;an Amcraft Navy Wing that I came upon quite unexpectedly as a very reasonable BIN on eBay. Have a safe joyous Holiday all,and happy hunting for next years favorite in 2018! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kropotkin Posted December 14, 2017 Share #15 Posted December 14, 2017 For me, a tidy Amico Liaison: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted December 14, 2017 This years finds are awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted December 15, 2017 Share #17 Posted December 15, 2017 Here is my trophy for 2017. This is a sew on metal parachute badge that has eluded me for at least 30 years. It has four small holes that were made when the badge was manufactured. It has no maker marks. I saw one at the Fort Bragg Military Collectors meet in the mid 1980's and have sought one ever since. I was beginning to give up until I took a chance on what looked like the one I was seeking. In Volume one of Heroes in our Midst, there is an example featured on page 152. Mine came still attached to a well worn 505th Parachute Infantry oval, but I carefully separated the wings to examine the back. It is absolutely identical to the one in the book that I am hoping Allan still has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted December 15, 2017 Share #18 Posted December 15, 2017 Here is the back. I would like any input on who possibly made these and if other examples exist. I know of only three, but certainly there were others. Great thread. All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted December 16, 2017 Share #19 Posted December 16, 2017 The wing in HIOM on page 152 is mine as I wrote the original draft of the chapter. When I picked my example up, it came from a 505th PIR veteran who thought that he had picked it up in Italy, so I have always assumed that this was where they were made. For you to have gotten one stitched to a 506th PIR oval kind of pokes holes in that assumption. Back in the day, I spoke with hundreds of WWII paratroopers. When I would display my parachute badge collection, I would normally get comments from the veterans that they had never seen some of the examples that I had picked up. The sew-on variety of wing is a good example of one that most veterans had never seen or heard of. I can say with confidence that it is a WWII vintage piece. One thing that I would like to mention is that this wing design is they same image as what you can find on Yarborough's patent application. I recall getting to meet General Yarborough and talk to him about jump wings. He said that while the 509th was in Italy, he had parachute badges made there and that he had to provide the makers with written permission to make a wing based on his patent. He also said that many of the manufacturers who used different patterns of wing feathering etc. had done that in an effort to circumvent his patent. He wasn't pleased about that. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted December 16, 2017 Share #20 Posted December 16, 2017 Allan, it was on a 505th oval. I will post photos of it before I separated it later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted December 16, 2017 Share #21 Posted December 16, 2017 Pardon my inability to read anymore. Getting older stinks! It makes a lot of sense to find this wing on a 505th PIR oval as the only ones I have encountered have been linked to the 505th. I now feel better about going back to my assertion that I believe this wing to be Italian made. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted December 16, 2017 Share #22 Posted December 16, 2017 WOW! Some very nice finds this year! Here is my contribution for 2017. These wings were worn by D-Day 508th PIR Pathfinder Charles H. Rogers. Rogers was killed in action at the end of Operation Market Garden. You can read more about T-5 Rogers at: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/291252-charles-h-rogers-d-day-pathfinder/?hl=rogers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted December 17, 2017 Share #23 Posted December 17, 2017 As mentioned above in reference to the sew on metal parachute wings, here are the photos of the badge as originally attached to the 505th PIR oval. Some may say that I should not have removed it from the oval, but I had to see the complete back. So with a surgeons scapel, I carefully cut the threads without any damage to the oval. It was old thread and must have been on there a very long time. They now rest together in my collection. I am very happy to have finally found this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share #24 Posted December 17, 2017 This forum doesn't have "up votes" but consider this mine! Great stuff Thanks to everyone for sharing! Any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomcatter Posted December 22, 2017 Share #25 Posted December 22, 2017 In 2017 I got only two US-related wings: a not hallmarked, late-WWII USAAF Service Pilot wing and an early-WWI French Pilot wing made by Oria (sometimes worn also by US Volunteers Pilot).Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all USMF members! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now