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World War One Weekly Wing #51 - unknown Bombing Military Aviator


cwnorma
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World War One

Weekly Wing #51

Unknown American Maker

 

WWOWW51.jpg.b6f94146e4fd5823b4f812062ff5e2c1.jpg

 

Description

 

Bombing Military Aviator

 

The Bombing Military Aviator is a little known and not well understood rating that reflects the dynamic nature of US Army Air Service doctrine in the waning months of 1918.  The name of the rating itself is somewhat contradictory.  The Army Air Service counted Bombing Military Aviators among Observers but also included "military aviator" in the rating name.  Correspondingly, Bombing Military Aviator wing badges have two wings which was contrary to the (then) prevailing notion that observers, with only a single wing, could not fly alone.  Additionally, there is evidence Bombing Military Aviators who earned their ratings in Europe wore standard observer half-wings overseas.  

 

As the war progressed, influenced by the Royal Flying Corps advancing the idea of "Strategical Bombing" under General Hugh Trenchard, the US Army Air Service also began to develop its own independent strategic bombing capacity for use in planned 1919 offensives.  The Bombing Military Aviator rating and badge thus can be seen as a reflection of evolving Air Service doctrine in the latter stages of the war.   

 

Were World War One era Bombing Military Aviators fully fledged pilots with additional specialty training in strategic bombing, or should they be considered technically advanced, specialty observers?  A similar question could be asked about "Fighting Observers" (that is a discussion for another day). By WW2, the Army Air Forces had settled the question and functional differences between Pilots and Bombardiers were more clear.  Ultimately, more research into this fascinating subject needs to be done.

 

Construction

 

The badge consists of two wings with artfully exaggerated whiplash curves generally configured in a so-called "mustache" design with upturned wing tips.  The wings are cut from sheets of sterling silver, with feathers bright cut into the surface.  Individual feathers consist of an external outline of two crescent shaped, mirror image onglet cuts and a central "rachis" also similarly bright cut.  Additional texture within the feather's vane is added apparently using a zig-zag engraving tool.  Tips of the outer-most row of feathers have two, more extreme, bright cuts to create facets and provide additional dramatic sparkle.  Close examination reveals the machine engraved texturing was applied in a manufacturing step prior to the bright cutting.  Dimensionality of each wing is achieved through repousse'.  The left and right wings are silver soldered to the central bomb.  The bomb itself is cast and consists of the main body and left and right fins.  A third, matching central fin is cut from thin sterling sheet and silver soldered in place.  Each fin is then bright cut along its edge to add sparkle.  10 karat gold, superimposed U and S are silver soldered to the front of the bomb.  The tip of the bomb is finished in gold.  

 

Mountings

 

Long, thick pin with 80 degree cam stop and safety catch of the "jeweler replacement" type.

 

Notes

 

This badge is one of a series apparently crafted by an undetermined but fairly prolific maker.  In general, this craftsman's work can be identified by its hand cut sterling silver sheet construction and distinctively carved and engraved feathers.  Badges by this maker typically also demonstrate a certain amount of Art Nouveau asymmetry and "whiplash curve" design elements.  

 

Apparently trying to market bespoke badges for a broad audience, badges by this maker range from relatively conservative to almost fantastical in countenance.  The Bombing Military Aviator above with its exaggerated whiplash curved wings is closer to the more extreme end of the spectrum.

 

Some have speculated the maker of these badges to have been Eisenstadt Manufacturing Co of St Louis Missouri.  Indeed, Eisenstadt did make similar, hand crafted badges, but in general products examined that actually bear the Eisenstadt hallmark are qualitatively ever-so-slightly more refined--likely pointing to a different source for this particular series of badges.  With respect to Bombing Military Aviators, most took their advanced training at fields in Texas and not the Midwest.  Possibly pointing to an origin in that region.  On the other hand, JJ Sweeney, of Houston, and Eisenstadt are known to have had a trade relationship.  Ultimately, Eisenstadt may well prove to have been the maker of these well-made and handsome badges but for now, and until more definitive information comes to light, the jury is still out.

 

WWOWW51a.png.5ef743696f9a46bac9bf0b8d99584cf8.png

Several examples of badges apparently by the same maker.  Especially note the distinctive feathering.

(Images from the internet fair use claimed for educational purposes under US title 17, S 107)

 

This is the penultimate WWOWW post and I have a great wing planned for next weekend.  Tune in then!  As this series comes to an end, I hope in general you have found the postings to be moderately informative, and if nothing else you have enjoyed them.  As always, if you have any thoughts you would like to share or World War One era wings that further this or any discussion (either through comparison or contrast); I would love to see them!

 

Very respectfully

 

Chris

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rathbonemuseum.com

Wow Chris. Here you are at 51! One more to go for a full year. Thanks for your dedication to this project and bringing all this information to the surface of the hobby! Great work.

 

Tod

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Chris this has been one of the best and most informative series on this site. Thanks to you and the other wing collector community members for sharing this wealth of  knowledge on the subject. 

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Chris, if you have the book "Granville", it implies that the "Bombers" were not pilots as Granville "Granny" Gutterson said he was "not training for a pilot but will get practical bombing practice", and he was also hoping to become a RMA if given the chance.  The book lists the following as courses he had to pass during ground school at Austin, Texas:

  • Military Law
  • Military Subjects
  • Infantry Drill
  • Army Regulations
  • Hygiene
  • Airplanes
  • Rigging of Airplanes
  • Repair of Airplanes
  • Silhouettes of Airplanes
  • Nomenclature of Airplanes
  • Care of Airplanes
  • Engines
  • Map Drawing
  • Map Reading
  • Meteorology
  • Artillery Observation
  • Aerial Observation
  • Aids to Flight
  • Trap Shooting
  • Range Shooting
  • Bombing
  • Automatic Sight
  • Machine Guns
  • Contact Patrol
  • Night Flying
  • Cross-Country Flying
  • Reconnaissance
  • Instruments
  • Miniature Range
  • Pin Point Location
  • Wireless
  • Radio Outfits
  • Conventional Signs

After completing his initial training he went to Ellington for Aerial Gunnery training.

 

This is the book that shows the Bombing Military Aviator badge on the cover and the inner title page, which says the badge was "Designed by "Granny" and worn by all U.S. Bombers."  

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