Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 17, 2015 I have a weakness for beret's in general so I decided to go for this little grouping to WASP pilot Ru/th Hag/em/ann (Wh/eeler). She was part of the 43-5 class I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted April 17, 2015 She passed away in 2008 (in Texas) and these items came from her estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted April 17, 2015 Looks like she was planning to turn the wings into a bracelet but never did. At least it looks like a chain was never added. The wings are (to me) exactly what you would want to see. Prong back, made by Josten, very sharp edges, the five little feathers on either side of the diamond are crisp and sharp. Clearly die struck and not cast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted April 17, 2015 I have found WASP beret's (especially attributed ones with the correct eagle device [with straight pin]) to be quite hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted April 17, 2015 Her leather patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted April 17, 2015 And lastly her knit cap with name tag (unfortunately it is not the blue version of the cap......) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted April 17, 2015 Share #7 Posted April 17, 2015 Very nice grouping! Looks like she flew C-47, AT-6, PT-19, and UC-78 planes http://www.twu.edu/library/wasp/wasppdf/WheelerR.pdf ..Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted April 17, 2015 Thanks Kat. I posted it mainly to show the beret. I don't think one has been on the forum before unless I missed it. Here are some pics (Goggle) of the beret in wear. Please anyone feel free to post your beret's to this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted April 17, 2015 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted April 17, 2015 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted April 17, 2015 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted April 17, 2015 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted April 17, 2015 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted April 17, 2015 Share #14 Posted April 17, 2015 It is fairly common to see pictures of them in the beret when they are wearing the Santiago blue uniform. Most of the graduation pictures when they are wearing the Santiago blue uniform show them wearing the beret. ...Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted April 17, 2015 Indeed. You can find a number of scans of period portrait/graduation photos of the beret in wear on the internet. At least in my experience, finding an actual original beret or original portrait of it being worn is a whole different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted April 17, 2015 Share #16 Posted April 17, 2015 Nice group Eric...Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted April 18, 2015 Share #17 Posted April 18, 2015 A very interesting group of rare WASP items! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 18, 2015 Share #18 Posted April 18, 2015 That's a sweet little group.Great photos of the ladies too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovmilinsig Posted April 18, 2015 Share #19 Posted April 18, 2015 Quite a nice grouping of WASP material. Congrats on a great job. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted April 20, 2015 Share #20 Posted April 20, 2015 It looks like she gave an oral history interview to the Texas Women's University in 2004. I wonder how we can hear the interview. This would be too cool to hear. http://twudigital.cdmhost.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/p214coll2/id/3838/rec/4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted April 20, 2015 Share #21 Posted April 20, 2015 Here is a photo of the WASP Beret in my collection. This belonged to Patricia Kenworthy Nuckols, class of 44-W-5. The beret is manufactured by Knox, which was the manufacturer, not only for the berets but also the Blue WASP Utility caps. I believe that Knox was also the manufacturer for many of the Woman's services caps and hats of WWII. I also have her Santiago Blue uniform. Included in the uniform lot are her jacket, skirt and tie. The shirt shown is a modern woman's shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted April 20, 2015 Share #22 Posted April 20, 2015 Here is a photo of the WASP Beret in my collection. This belonged to Patricia Kenworthy Nuckols, class of 44-W-5. Very nice. Looks like she was stationed at Blytheville Army Air Field. She flew the B-25 and AT-10 http://www.twu.edu/library/wasp/wasppdf/Nuckols.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hirsca Posted April 20, 2015 Share #23 Posted April 20, 2015 5 Those do not look like WASP wings. Great grouping Eric. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted April 20, 2015 Share #24 Posted April 20, 2015 Thanks Eric, I was very fortunate to acquire this grouping. The wing is actually a WASP Lozenge soldered over an Observer wing. She must have had it made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wartimecollectables.com Posted April 24, 2015 Share #25 Posted April 24, 2015 Could you post a good front and back picture of the beret badge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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