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WWII NAVAL AVIATOR WINGS , ID BOOKS , RINGS


KASTAUFFER
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I dont think anyone has started a thread on examples of WWII US NAVAL AVIATOR wings and associated items , so I thought now would be a good time to do it!

 

Show your Wings , Rings , or ID's fellas! Any of the above!

 

I will start this thread off with this group.

 

Wings, Naval Aviator ID , and Naval Aviator graduation ring to Eldon Rucker . He served with VPB-112 in the Atlantic during WWII.

 

One of his wings is a variety I have not seen before. The top of the wings are very straight with an unusual 1-20-10k on Sterling mark ( no maker ) . The other is a classic clutchback Amico Sterling wing. Notice the curve to the Amico wings compared to the others .

 

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His Naval Aviator graduation ring. It is a man's pinkie ring, which is unusual. Maybe he had it made for his wife?

 

It has KNAS on the side which must mean Kingsville Naval Air Station in Texas. Its where he would have gone for flight training on 4 engine bombers.

 

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John Cooper

Kurt,

 

 

 

Great idea.. so here are mine... Everything you see is made by Balfour... Not the best photo but give you an idea... The photo was taken with the top woodframed glass cover removed.

 

 

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

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John

 

I love those boxed examples thumbsup.gif . if you get a chance , you should post some pics of the hallmarks and pins on the reverse.

 

Kurt

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Does anyone know what this set of wings was used for? I used to think they were given for completion of introductory flight training. But it looks like there was no actual flight time in the V-5 program, which concentrated on athletics, military training, and ground school academics.

 

Also, I have never seen any photos of V-5 cadets wearing these wings. So what were they given for?

 

Dennis

 

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John Cooper

I think the V5 pilot program was to quickly train Naval aviators for WWII and provide some college credits. There was flight training and I know they used the N2S Stearman to train on and there was a very short period in which to solo (10 hours) which might have varied from location to location.

The Navy had three programs:

V5 - for officers

V6 - for enlisted

V12 - for the naval reserve.

 

John

 

BTW those wings are interesting - all the stamps and the PAT PEND..?

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Here are a few Naval Aviation items. First is a Naval Aviator Certificate to Ens. Jack Miller who completed flight training in July of 1944.

 

 

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These are the wings and ribbons of Lt. Frank Welsh who flew PB4Y's out of England in 1943-44. He was later awarded the DFC and 2 more Air Medals. Mark.

 

 

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These are the wings and ribbons of Jack Porter who retired a Commander. He flew PBY's and PB4Y's with VP-91 and VB-106. I posted his medal bar in a thread a while back. I also have his sword, logbooks, photo album, G-1 and some other items which I will post in the grouping section one of these days. Jack was awarded 3 DFC's and 8 Air Medals and had 13 battle stars! Mark.

 

 

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John, it seems many of my USN wings are LGB or Balfour marked. Here is a USMC Naval Aviator's wings and ID. He was a Corsair pilot with VMF-251 and VMF-212 in the Philippines and Okinawa. I also have his medals and documents, a ton of photos and some other insignia. Mark.

 

 

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