World War One Weekly Wing #49 - RFC-type Observer

[cwnorma]

World War One

Weekly Wing #49

RFC-type Observer

 

 

Description 

 

Second type Observer

 

Unusual, British-made example.

 

Design wise, this badge is essentially a silver bullion representation of a Royal Flying Corps Observer's badge.  The badge is significantly oversized.  It would have made a dramatic statement!

 

The wing consists of a first row of fourteen bullion "feathers" with each feather separated by fine black thread. Next is a partial row of six bullion feathers again separated by black thread.  Above are six feathers constructed with rachis of thick bullion and vanes of finer bullion.  The topmost shoulder is executed in straight smooth bullion roughly configured in an "S" shape and is separated from the rest of the wing by a fine silver coil.  A bullion coil is spans the inner and outer circumference of the oval-shaped "O," which is itself constructed of fine silver bullion coils.

 

The stiffening material on the rear is coarsely woven, cream colored muslin.  A final protective layer of faded black muslin is glued to the back of the badge.

 

Mounting

 

Sew on

 

Background

 

Two officers in this 24th Aero Sq photo wear RFC-style Observer badges -- Gorrell

 

Two 99th Aero Squadron Officers wear French badges -- Gorrell

 

During the war, the American second-type Observer badge was much maligned.  The badge quickly gained the inappropriate appellation "flying a__hole" among airmen.  Reciprocally, observation pilots chafed at their own nom de guerre, "bus driver."  Correspondingly, photographic evidence shows many American airmen chose to wear the first type Observer badge (half wing with shield) in lieu of the regulation badge.  If they had trained with British or French organizations, some officers chose to wear those nation's Aviation badges.  Still others may have simply found the RFC badges to be a more stylish variant that was "close enough" to the US regulation badge and purchased them from local tailors.  Whatever the reason, there is ample photographic evidence some American Air Service Observers chose to wear other nation's aviation badges. 

 

Chris