rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Share #1 Posted February 15, 2015 Here's a full size British-made WWII era U.S.A.A.F. Glider Pilot wing on blue backing which might be of interest to some of you. Finding period bullion examples in good condition really stimulates my collecting interests! Please feel free to share images of your bullion Glider Pilot badges on this thread as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted February 15, 2015 Close up of the bullion craftsmanship and the letter "G"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted February 15, 2015 The wing is moderately padded and has a typical British-style black cloth backing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted February 15, 2015 Close up of the material on the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted February 15, 2015 Here's a bullion Glider Pilot example which I believe to be from the CBI theater...and more specifically, from India. It's heavily tarnished, but uniquely made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted February 15, 2015 Closer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted February 15, 2015 The back displaying India-style craftsmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted February 15, 2015 Here's another example which may have been made by the same hands in wartime India: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted February 15, 2015 Closer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted February 15, 2015 The reverse is slightly different, with dark blue material covering the stitching. This material may have been black originally, but faded with time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted February 15, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 15, 2015 Something you may not know, but England and Indian textiles are closely intertwined. I believe that much of Indian textiles (including bullion work) was made and traded via the East India Company. Factories in India produced vast quantities of textiles that were sent to England and then beyond, starting during the industrial revolution, but reaching its peak during the post WWI-pre WWII time period. That is why much of the CBI bullion work is of such high quality. Most of these items were probably mass produced on large looms (they probably have a technical name) huge factories. I suspect that It is even possible that some of the "English-made" bullion items that we see were actually imports from India. Great wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted February 15, 2015 Share #12 Posted February 15, 2015 Something you may not know, but England and Indian textiles are closely intertwined. I believe that much of Indian textiles (including bullion work) was made and traded via the East India Company. Factories in India produced vast quantities of textiles that were sent to England and then beyond, starting during the industrial revolution, but reaching its peak during the post WWI-pre WWII time period. That is why much of the CBI bullion work is of such high quality. Most of these items were probably mass produced on large looms (they probably have a technical name) huge factories. I suspect that It is even possible that some of the "English-made" bullion items that we see were actually imports from India. Great wings. Good point."Paki" made insignia is now viewed by many Militaria collectors with derision,and yet they were once part of India until the "partition". I suspect that more than a few of the great insignia that came out of that part of the world "back in the day" were made by these skilled artisans. I've also read about English and German Insignia sellers "farming out" some of the bullion work to the Indians. Nice Wings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted February 19, 2015 Thank you Patrick and Patchcollector for your shared insight. I appreciate your involvement in this topic. Here's a bullion Glider Pilot wing on gabardine which is American-made and sewn to a uniform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted February 19, 2015 A closer view shows silver bullion wings with a gold bullion letter "G" sewn to the shield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted February 19, 2015 Another view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted March 22, 2015 Any other bullion Glider Pilot badge examples out there? Please feel free to share your images here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBMflyer Posted April 1, 2015 Share #17 Posted April 1, 2015 Here are 2 attributed English-made bullion on blue's, the first is on the uniform of a GP who flew Normandy, Holland and Varsity with the 438th TCG. The second is from a vet who flew Normandy as well with the 437th TCG. Hope you like, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted April 1, 2015 Share #18 Posted April 1, 2015 Here is one to add from my collection, sadly no ID. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted April 1, 2015 Here are 2 attributed English-made bullion on blue's, the first is on the uniform of a GP who flew Normandy, Holland and Varsity with the 438th TCG. The second is from a vet who flew Normandy as well with the 437th TCG. Hope you like, Mark MVC-062S.JPG MVC-064S.JPG Thank you Mark...and thank you John. Those are three very nice Glider Pilot examples! Has anyone every seen a two-inch shirt size bullion Glider Pilot badge? I have a two-inch CBI made bullion Service Pilot badge, but I've never run across a smaller Glider or Liaison Pilot in bullion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Sgt CES Posted April 13, 2015 Share #20 Posted April 13, 2015 There are some great Bullion Wings here !!!!! Blue Skies Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share #21 Posted April 25, 2015 My favorite bullion Glider Pilot example... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1SG_1st_Cav Posted April 25, 2015 Share #22 Posted April 25, 2015 Very nice bullion wings! Thanks ~ Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V42 Posted June 26, 2015 Share #23 Posted June 26, 2015 English made bullion wings or any insignia they made during WW2 is of high quality and well worth getting for your collection. They are very well made and just have that super look to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted August 16, 2020 Share #24 Posted August 16, 2020 Here is a set of GP bullion wings on a tunic. Unfortunately, I cannot find anything on the original owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share #25 Posted February 3, 2021 Very, very similar in design to Mark's two terrific British-made examples posted earlier in this thread, this example on combat-blue background is heavily padded in the center which accentuates a bit more of a three dimensional look... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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