A unicorn wing and bucket list member. Angus and Coote Technical Observer

[pfrost]

I remember seeing a picture of this badge in one of the Pinks and Greens books (and IIRC Russ Huff's book as well).  I was, frankly, love at first site.  Recently, this wing showed up on our favorite auction site and, while not cheap, I had to have it.

 

This is a very rare wing and I have only seen 2 or 3 examples of this-and I am not sure if there is some overlap--this may be one of those wings previously shown in the above mentioned books.  I don't know.

 

The TO rating was generally awarded to senior commissioned officers who held the rating of pilot, senior or command pilot, sand whose experience made them especially qualified to perform technical duty incident to the operation of aircraft in flight. Basically they were likely on the plan observing and trying to figure out the various combat or flight procedures rather than actually taking part in any specific combat flying roles or missions.  One would assume that the TO would observe various flight duties and then report to the the higher brass and participate in developing standard procedures for flying. During WWII most of the TO pilots were already rated for senior or command pilot wings and so the TO rating was not often seen or worn and likely unpopular, thus making it vary rare.

 

On  top of that, this wing maybe one of the rarest of the Angus & Coote wings (perhaps even more rare than the scarce as hen's teeth senior and command pilot wings). Mel (mtnman) posted some stellar threads on the various "tells" of A&C wings that is well worth checking out.

What I really love about this wing is it seems to have been modified from an aircrew or observer wing with the addition of the "TO" to the front.  The space between the T and O has also been painted black (or oxidized chemically, not sure what) to give the wing a more 3D perspective.

 

All in all, a beauty and one I am happy to add to the collection.

[ram957]

CONGRATS..Great way to start 2024 !!!

[268th C.A.]

Thats a beauty! Congratulations!

[pconrad02]

Saw that one- very nice! Glad you got it 👍

[LuftStalg1]

Congrats Patrick, that is awesome!  

[bschwartz]

That is a beauty and rare indeed.  Your wing, Tod's wing on my site and the one in the Silver wings book are the only ones I've ever seen.  All TO wings are rare but the foreign made ones are true unicorns.  Congrats on another beautiful wing added to your collection.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Glad you got it Patrick! Great addition.

[Kilroy56]

Superb indeed !

Congratulations !

[cwnorma]

Amazing badge!  I certainly know that amazing feeling of finding a unicorn.  Now you just need to figure out how to display it!

 

Chris

[Scott C.]

Wow.  Speachless.

[cwnorma]

Patrick,

 

Since I had never seen one of these, don't own one, and will likely never get a chance to examine of these (unless by pure chance), I thought I would take a long detailed look at your photos.  

 

I have a question.  It looks to me like the "field" (the interior of the O) might have been intentionally blackened?  Do yo think that is so or do you think its just sterling tarnished black and left that way?

 

Very interesting badge.

 

Chris

[cwnorma]

2 minutes ago, cwnorma said:

I have a question.  It looks to me like the "field" (the interior of the O) might have been intentionally blackened?  Do yo think that is so or do you think its just sterling tarnished black and left that way?

LOL ignore that part.  I got caught up looking at the pictures and didn't actually read the post! 

 

Anyway, you say you have seen others.  Is yours the only one with the blackened center?  Do you think this was manufactured this way?

 

Chris

[bschwartz]

@cwnorma Chris, it looks like Tod's wing on my site also has a darkened center like that.  https://www.ww2wings.com/wings/usaaf/technicalobserver/tracto.shtml

[pfrost]

It actually looks like the area between the T and the O in both wings have been given a finished chemical or heat-derived patina, rather than treated with paint or lacquer.  This dark areas gives an overall impression of "depth" as the disk itself isn't very thick.  I took Tod's image off another thread and made a composite of the two wings.  As I said, I recall a photo of an A&C TO wing from one of the Pinks and Green's book.  I sort of suspect that one of these two badges may be the actual badge shown.

 

A search of the internet, this forum and Bob's site don't produce any other examples of the TO wing made by Angus and Coote that I could discover. So my sense is that as far as I can tell, there may only be 3 - 4 or so existing samples. But there is always one or two that are probably lurking in some collection and others that just were never found.

 

 

 

[katieony]

Now that's a beauty...congrats!

[pfrost]

So last night I went through my reference books.  I found a picture of the A&C TO wing Russ Huff's book, but not the Pinks and Greens books (unless I missed it).  Sadly, the resolution on the picture in the Huff book wasn't good enough to tell if this was the same as the other two examples.

[mghcal]

Late to the party but beautiful wing Pat! These Angus and Coote being rhodium plated perhaps the circle in the center is the result of more of the finish gathering there? I know that these A&C wings can turn quite dark if they've never been polished.

[Insigina Hunter]

Beautiful! Hope to find one of these one day!

 

Where did you find this one?

[pfrost]

eBay...  A pal (sorry, I can't recall which one) gave me a hat tip to this wing.

[Insigina Hunter]

I came in 2nd on this one so if you ever wish to part with let me know !

[pfrost]

LOL  I hear you, but IIRC it was a buy it now auction (for crazy money).  So I bought it now... as they say.

 

My defense is that I had been lusting after one of these for a very VERY VEEERRRYYYY long time, so given the chance, I jumped on it.