Paul S Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share #76 Posted April 9, 2010 Here is one I forgot about having. There must be millions of Ruptured Ducks around...I think most of them were thrown in the misc. stuff box and forgotten. Since I think they were only authorized for wear 30-days following a soldier's discharge, it's somewhat surprising to find some of them in 14 K, others in sterling, and then there is this beauty...it's like new. Must have been a real celebration on someone's part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted April 17, 2010 Share #77 Posted April 17, 2010 the pins could be worn forever...they were meant for the lapel of civilian suits to show service during WWII. the patches were 30 days, on the uniform Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted April 22, 2010 Share #78 Posted April 22, 2010 bracelet of Gemsco wings named to a John M Knight, with a service or social number. unfortunately missing the clasp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted April 22, 2010 Share #79 Posted April 22, 2010 rear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted April 29, 2010 Share #80 Posted April 29, 2010 what a common practice it seems...this sold last night for 102... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted May 3, 2010 Share #81 Posted May 3, 2010 brought 55 at eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted July 28, 2010 Author Share #82 Posted July 28, 2010 Here is a recent pick up. Thanks John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted July 28, 2010 Share #83 Posted July 28, 2010 I am very glad you got it Paul! It is a beautiful wing and hard to find in my opinion. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted July 30, 2010 Share #84 Posted July 30, 2010 Here are a couple... Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted July 30, 2010 Share #85 Posted July 30, 2010 And an Aircrew... Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted August 3, 2010 Share #86 Posted August 3, 2010 I have around 15 Navy pilot bracelet with wings in my collection.Here is the latest one:Unusual because it has the full length Navy wings soldered onto it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted August 7, 2010 Share #87 Posted August 7, 2010 A few of my Navy wings on bracelets:1. 2. 3. 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted August 26, 2010 Share #88 Posted August 26, 2010 Here is a new one for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 26, 2010 Author Share #89 Posted August 26, 2010 Here is a new one for me... Nice bracelet, John. Have you noticed that most of the WWII orders are signed by a ranking officer who used the letters, "AC" after his signature, after the organization name had been changed to the Army Air Force? IIRC, the Air Corps name was changed to Army Air Force in the early WWII years. Those signatures show an inertia resisting the change as most of the signing officers almost certainly started their careers as members of the AC. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted August 26, 2010 Share #90 Posted August 26, 2010 Nice bracelet, John. Have you noticed that most of the WWII orders are signed by a ranking officer who used the letters, "AC" after his signature, after the organization name had been changed to the Army Air Force? IIRC, the Air Corps name was changed to Army Air Force in the early WWII years. Those signatures show an inertia resisting the change as most of the signing officers almost certainly started their careers as members of the AC. Paul Thanks Paul I knew you would like it. Call it inertia or just tradition... there is a steet in S.F that used to be called Army Street. Many long time San Franciscans still call it Army Street. In my mind it is the same sort of thing. As for the change from AC to AAF I think that was 1941 (off the top of my head) John EDIT - I had to look some info up. The U.S. Army Air Corps act of 1926 created the AC from the AS (see this link) The AAF came into being on 6.20.1941 (see this link) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share #91 Posted December 15, 2010 Here is a recent pick that has me up a bit. Navigator wings on bracelets are somewhat harder to find than are pilots and air crew. And I'm partial to the cuff type bracelets for no other reason than they, to my mind, suggest a more personal connection to life on a WWII air base...I'm pretty sure they were made in the base sheet metal shops from aluminum scrap, perhaps left over from patching up damaged aircraft. Anyway, this one speaks to me because the wing on it is exactly the same simple GI style wing that my father wore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted December 16, 2010 Share #92 Posted December 16, 2010 NIce addition Paul you will have to do a group shot one day As for the info on the fabrication I am in agreement with you. You may recall I was lucky enough to find a Balfour L pilot with which came with dogtags and a desk type name with the pilots name and rank. It has an aluminum base with a simple section of aluminum tube which may have been part of the airframe or..? Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share #93 Posted December 16, 2010 John, Have you posted your Balfour L? I think most of those guys were enlisted pilots...was your guy? My flocks change as upgrades come available so I don't have a large mass of these bracelets at any one time to photograph. However, I do take pictures of various flocks now and then as I'm about to let some of them fly away. Here are a couple... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztoddman1 Posted December 16, 2010 Share #94 Posted December 16, 2010 I found a "project" wing/bracelet in an estate I accquired. Would be curious to know what went in the middle. The wings were cut and rolled under like a watch band. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztoddman1 Posted December 16, 2010 Share #95 Posted December 16, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share #96 Posted December 16, 2010 That one was made to hold a watch. I've seen a number of Navajo silversmiths make their watch bands/bracelets in a similar manner. PS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztoddman1 Posted December 16, 2010 Share #97 Posted December 16, 2010 duhh!!! For some reason, I was stuck on the way the wings were and the look of wings in that direction and didn't put 2 and 2 together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinmaster Posted December 17, 2010 Share #98 Posted December 17, 2010 I have two winged bracelets.... but the wings seem larger than the other wings that I have in my collection (AE, Robbins etc) One bracelet was my grandfathers. It has 507 PRCHT on the front and his name/info on the back. The other has the same type of wings on the front and the info for C. R. Gilbert 541st PIR on the rear. IMAG0157.jpg by rmw1971, on Flickr My Grandfathers IMAG0155 by rmw1971, on Flickr The rear of the 541st C.R. Gilbert IMAG0156 by rmw1971, on Flickr IMAG0153 by rmw1971, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share #99 Posted December 17, 2010 Boy, those are wonderful heirlooms. I think the paratrooper and glider troop badges on bracelets are less frequently seen than the Air Corps (core, not corpse !) wings. Have you got a picture of him in uniform to post along with the bracelets? PS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted December 17, 2010 Share #100 Posted December 17, 2010 Hey Paul S... Your skill with the camera is impressive! I really like the high resolution and artistic detail in your image of the winged bracelets. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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