5thwingmarty Posted April 8, 2020 Share #1 Posted April 8, 2020 This one came in the other day. It is well made, definitely die struck but no hallmark or metal mark. Its only 1-1/2" wide so I am guessing sweetheart or an instructor cap piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted April 8, 2020 And here is the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rathbonemuseum.com Posted April 10, 2020 Share #3 Posted April 10, 2020 that is sweet, Marty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted April 11, 2020 Thanks for the comment. I should have noted that the little wing is actually gold finished. This is not just a case of my poor photography skills making a silver wing look gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffP Posted April 11, 2020 Share #5 Posted April 11, 2020 Your miniature 1919-1921 gold finished Balloon Pilot wing badge could be very special. Back in 1985 I was fortunate to receive a similar size gold finish Airship Pilot wing badge from Colonel Angier H. Foster (1896 - 1989). He was stationed at Fort Omaha, Nebraska between 1919 - 1921 and received free balloon pilot training there. In 1922 he attended the B & AS school at Langley Field, Virginia. Later that same year when the B & AS school was transferred to Scott Field, Illinois he was an Airship Pilot instructor and ground course director... until he transferring to heavier-than-air in 1925. Colonel Foster was not married during his light-than-air service with the USAAS between 1919 - 1925 but during our first conversation in 1985 could not remember why or how he happened to have a miniature gold finished Airship Pilot badge. However, during a later conversation he did say he may have worn it on his service cap while at Scott Field. Congratulations, you could very well have a 1919 - 1921 Balloon Pilot instructor wing badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted April 11, 2020 Wow, thanks Cliff. My wing had no useful history to validate it, it just had the look of something that wasn't a cereal box prize. Comparing with yours they look like they could have come from the same maker. I wish something interesting from Scott would show up around here but I haven't seen anything from there on the MO side of the river. A friend's daughter is stationed there so I need to see if she can find any historical archives there with any photos or interesting records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffP Posted April 12, 2020 Share #7 Posted April 12, 2020 Comparing with yours they look like they could have come from the same maker. . Marty, I haven't a clue who may have made the Balloon Pilot badge but could make a strong case that the Airship Pilot badge was made by Kinney & Company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted April 12, 2020 I have a couple of little Kinney Pilot wings to compare directly to. Here are a coup of side by side shots with a pilot wing of the same size. The overall feather details are very similar, but the details in the shoulder feathers differ. The catches are the same but the Pilot has a slightly heavier cammed pin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted April 12, 2020 And one more that might show the feather details better. Not close enough in the shoulders to definitely say its a Kinney, but in comparing to your Airship the shoulder feather pattern is also completely different than my 1.5" Kinney Pilot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBG Posted May 12, 2020 Share #10 Posted May 12, 2020 Here's a another small AIrship Pilot wing. It looks like the same one Cliff posted, but has the Kinney & Company hallmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted May 12, 2020 Thanks for adding photos of your hallmarked Airship. I think the only 1.5" Kinney wing not in this thread now is the Naval Aviator. Since Kinney made full-sized Pilot, Airship, Aeronaut and Naval Aviator wings, and also made hallmarked and non-hallmarked 1.5" Pilot, Airship and Naval Aviator wings, and also made the Pilot and Airship wings with both gold and silver finishes, I think it is reasonable to assume that Kinney also made my 1.5" Aeronaut wing. Marty 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