60's ABN Wing, WW2 Wing and Oval?

[Grunt1SG]

Is my ID correct on these?

 

Top to bottom:

 

Meyer wing from the 60's?

WW2 Wing?

WW2 11th ABN Oval?

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Allan H.]

I'd say that your IDs are pretty much accurate. The Meyer wing is best dated by determining whether it is an M-9 or and M-22 maker's mark. Either way, it will date to the 1950's or 60's. The second wing appears to be WWII manufacture.

 

The oval is widely associated with the 11th Airborne Division, though it was worn by other units as well to include the Airborne Command. The oval MIGHT date to WWII, though I would say that it is more likely from the Korean War period based on the size and the shape.

 

Allan

[Grunt1SG]

Allan, thank you.

 

The Meyer wing has a M-22 in the shield, so that should be 60's correct? Were they still making pinbacks that late?

 

Thanks for the clarification on the oval. That's the only 11th Abn/Abn Cmd oval I have had in my hands.

[doyler]

A friend started out in the 11th Airborne in the late 50s prior to its retirement.He stated there were pin back wings still in unit supply available.Also when he retired/left the Army in 1969 he said there were pin backs still sold at the PX and other places at Fort Benning and to him being a collector he noted they appeared to be WW2 stock.

[Allan H.]

I have a friend who went through jump school in 1967. His graduation wing was a pin back and sterling marked jump wing that anyone would call a WWII example. I have no doubt that it was simply left over from WWII stocks. Interestingly enough, my friend told me that the first thing that everyone did was to go to clothing sales and buy a clutch back jump wing because the pin back wings didn't look as good when they were pinned to their uniforms!

 

Allan

[Grunt1SG]

Thanks guys.

 

When I graduated Pathfinder School in '07 the torch that I got pinned with was dated 1982. The instructors handed them out to everybody still sealed in plastic.

 

So I understand the NOS still being around.