Bombing Military Aviator (BMA) badge of 1918-1919

[cwnorma]

8 hours ago, rathbonemuseum.com said:

Beautiful. Do you think that is an Eisenstadt made piece?

It is either Eisenstadt or Sweeney.  Only way to be certain would be to take off the back plate and examine the hallmark.  The pieces marked with Sweeney's "S within a shield" hallmark too were probably made for Sweeney under contract by Eisenstadt.  

 

Another (Sweeney marked) for comparison:

 

 

 

Some badges show slightly different workmanship and may have been part of the original bespoke order by BMAs at Ellington Field.  Those pieces are marked "SWEENEY":

 

 

 

Chris

 

 

[Tolzer]

I was able to carefully remove the padding back plate.

 

 

[5thwingmarty]

So its a beautiful Eisenstadt product.  Thank you for sharing and taking the time to reveal the back of the wing.

 

Marty

[jeff41st]

Beautiful wing. Thanks for sharing.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

In preparation for a never published book on US wings, collector and author Don Chalif put together a chapter on the Bombing Military Aviator badge of 1918-1919. This was a non-authorized wing with a winged bomb for qualified pilots who specialized in bombing planes, strategies and skills. This differs from the later crew member qualification of bombardier, who were not qualified pilots. This grew out of an expanding cadre of specialists in Texas, specifically Ellington Field demanding to be recognized. Don posited and says it was confirmed that the wing was designed by 2nd Lt. Granville "Granny" Guttersen. Jewelers like J.E. Caldwell and Sweeney, oufits catering to the Ellington pilots, made the wings. These wings were tolerated until May 15, 1918 when the Adjutant General declared in a memorandum that all specialties other than pilot would wear the Observer wing, no exception. This was made official in 1919. They are extremely rare as they were only worn by a select few and only for a very brief time. They are as well made as other WWI period jeweler designed and manufactured wings. So rare were these wings, that many collectors had not seen nor heard of them until the 1960s!

 

[Tolzer]

Thank you for sharing this! WoW

[rathbonemuseum.com]

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

[Tolzer]

“In the book, "Ellington Field 1918," there are photos of at least fifty officers wearing the Bombardment Military Aviator badge above the left breast pocket of the uniform.

 

Here are a few examples:

 

Page 260: Lieut. Harold W. Cavanaugh

Page 265: Lieut. Edwin G. Thiele

Page 289: Lieut. Olliffe Ewart Thomas

[Tolzer]

Ellington Field, 1918

 

[Tolzer]

This is a must have reference book!!

 

Luv those BMA wings for sure.

[rustywings]

Here’s a large original bubble-glass parlor photograph of a Bombing Military Aviator whom I’ve not yet been able to identify? 

[rustywings]

One more BMA photograph image. Any help with his identification would be greatly appreciated…

 

 

[kiaiokalewa]

I've been in the process of organizing a friend's collection that had spanned over six decades.   In one of the storage unit were these two aviator coats.  I doubt that they have any connections to one another but the one with the bomb within its wings seems to fit this topic.  I've included a snap shot of some ordnance that appear to be from the same era too.  I'm no expert in this field of collecting but without a doubt I do know the Interwar pilot coat is 100% correct.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Thanks for adding these. I feel good about both these post WWI uniforms. Just right on. I feel like the BMA guy must have gone through Ellington!