Paul S Posted January 2, 2011 Share #51 Posted January 2, 2011 Here are a couple of odd ducks. Both underlying wings appear to be legitimate; the stars are crudely attached, and appear to have been there for a long time. Question: was there any circumstances where the added stars might have served a legitimate function? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham Posted January 2, 2011 Share #52 Posted January 2, 2011 Here are a couple of odd ducks. Both underlying wings appear to be legitimate; the stars are crudely attached, and appear to have been there for a long time. Question: was there any circumstances where the added stars might have served a legitimate function? The 'new' wings created for the USAF after 1947 included a senior Flight Surgeon with a star above the shield. A Flight Surgeon needed 7 years service and 350 flying hours. I would think it possible someone who qualified durring ww2 and served post war prefered to add a star to his ww2 wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted January 2, 2011 Share #53 Posted January 2, 2011 I agree with Graham's statement completely. It makes sense that stars would have been added to silver WWII era Flight Surgeon badges well into the 1950's. Would the same be true for gilt-colored Flight Surgeon badges? Here's a two-inch gilt Flight Surgeon wing made by Meyer's. The gilt one-piece star-on-stilts attachment is classic Meyer's hardware. This piece sure appears to be a factory production...not a later add-on. Your opinions and ideas are most welcome. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted January 2, 2011 Share #54 Posted January 2, 2011 One piece star-and-stilts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted January 2, 2011 Share #55 Posted January 2, 2011 Better focus on the hallmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted January 2, 2011 Share #56 Posted January 2, 2011 Top view of this three piece shirt wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted January 2, 2011 Share #57 Posted January 2, 2011 Very interesting comments and illustrations. Would you agree that the GEMSCO mark shown above is post-WWII? The AECo. wing shows some slight signs that it may have started out life as a gold wing. There are some gold surfaces in the recesses of the reverse, and the copper-looking highlights on the front may also be left over from an old gold wash. I've often wondered how a pin worn on a coat could become so shop-worn unless it had been sitting in a hardware can for decades. Or, perhaps in this case there was a deliberate effort to polish away the gold after the regulation changed in 1944. As you know, Meyer made the WWII design Flight Surgeon wings marked 9M, taking the active production of the WWII wings up to about 1965. There may be some others I haven't seen. Russ, your gold one is a curious little piece. Beautiful. PS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaw Posted January 2, 2011 Share #58 Posted January 2, 2011 Very interesting comments and illustrations. Would you agree that the GEMSCO mark shown above is post-WWII? The AECo. wing shows some slight signs that it may have started out life as a gold wing. There are some gold surfaces in the recesses of the reverse, and the copper-looking highlights on the front may also be left over from an old gold wash. I've often wondered how a pin worn on a coat could become so shop-worn unless it had been sitting in a hardware can for decades. Or, perhaps in this case there was a deliberate effort to polish away the gold after the regulation changed in 1944. As you know, Meyer made the WWII design Flight Surgeon wings marked 9M, taking the active production of the WWII wings up to about 1965. There may be some others I haven't seen. Russ, your gold one is a curious little piece. Beautiful. PS Paul, I have a Gemsco Flight Surgeon in the same pattern as your's with that exact hallmark except mine is gold. It is clutchback with smooth clutches. There is no doubt that the gold finish is original to the piece. If it is a post-war mark, did companies like Gemsco continue to make gold FS wings after the war even though the regulation changed in Sept. 1944? They could very well have started making this wing during the war as a gold wing, switched to silver after the regulation change and made it into the post-war years as a silver wing. As you point out, companies just didn't throw their stock away when WWII ended. I'm sure many of the wings we think of as WWII were issued in the post-war era. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share #59 Posted January 3, 2011 Those are some interesting additions to say the least. I think the addition of the star to a WW2 set is plausible although the set posted by Russ does have me scratching my head since the regs did change but then again if this is in the early post war years maybe bending the rules under a generous wear out period made this ok?? I have to say the one you posted Russ looks to be factory applied. As for the Gemsco mark I always considered that a later mark although how much later is unknown to me the fact that mark has a gold FS with the same mark is intriguing maybe you we will see a photo please Now here is a GEMSCRAFT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaw Posted January 3, 2011 Share #60 Posted January 3, 2011 Here is a link to my posting of it on the forum back in April, John. I'm interested in your opinion! Mark http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...+Flight+Surgeon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share #61 Posted January 3, 2011 Mark that is a beauty for sure. I am interested in finding out when Gemsco used that specific mark. Additionally how long after the regs changed did they and other produce gold FS wings? It maybe a case of just using up stock already produced which may also explain why they were still available after the change? I guess another thing to consider would be the post types and how they are attached. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted January 3, 2011 Share #62 Posted January 3, 2011 Mark, I believe your gilt Gemsco hallmarked Flight Surgeon wing is vintage WWII. I also believe the Gemsco hallmark you have illustrated has been around for a long time. Gemsco started producing wings in the early 1920's. I have an unpierced (solid-anchor) 1920's full size USN Aviator's wing with the identical wreath-style Gemsco hallmark. Like your Flight Surgeon example, my Naval Aviator badge has no other marking other than the name "GEMSCO" centered inside the wreath design. Great medical wings guys! Please keep posting those variations. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share #63 Posted January 3, 2011 As you wish Russ! Here is an AMICO which I think is a bit different from the other posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share #64 Posted January 3, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaw Posted January 3, 2011 Share #65 Posted January 3, 2011 Mark,I believe your gilt Gemsco hallmarked Flight Surgeon wing is vintage WWII. I also believe the Gemsco hallmark you have illustrated has been around for a long time. Gemsco started producing wings in the early 1920's. I have an unpierced (solid-anchor) 1920's full size USN Aviator's wing with the identical wreath-style Gemsco hallmark. Like your Flight Surgeon example, my Naval Aviator badge has no other marking other than the name "GEMSCO" centered inside the wreath design. Great medical wings guys! Please keep posting those variations. Russ Thanks Russ and John! I've always believed they are WW II because they are gilt. In any case, I bought them cheaply at a flea market from a junk dealer so either way, I'm OK with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted January 3, 2011 Share #66 Posted January 3, 2011 Nice set of AMICO Flight Surgeon wings John! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bschwartz Posted January 3, 2011 Share #67 Posted January 3, 2011 Yet another Gemsco hallmark variation in Gold. Larger pictures can be found on my site by clicking here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingcommander Posted January 4, 2011 Share #68 Posted January 4, 2011 That's a dynamite Gemsco Bob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share #69 Posted January 4, 2011 That's a dynamite Gemsco Bob! I agree what a great example it would be very hard to upgrade. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armillary_journey Posted January 6, 2011 Share #70 Posted January 6, 2011 Orber Flight Surgeon Here is the back to these 3" Orber Flight Surgeons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeK Posted January 6, 2011 Share #71 Posted January 6, 2011 My small collection - obverse... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeK Posted January 6, 2011 Share #72 Posted January 6, 2011 Reverse.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share #73 Posted January 6, 2011 Nice addition Mike I love the Assman wing! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted January 6, 2011 Share #74 Posted January 6, 2011 Wow!! Very nice wings fellows!! :thumbsup: I don't have one … :crying: Ricardo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share #75 Posted January 21, 2011 Ok time for an update - here is one that did not seem to me to attract much attention :think: I think this is a Meyer wing based on some others I have and an old catalog. BTW so for the washed out look the photo does not reflect the richer gold tone... not as dark as an AE&Co but very nice. 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