First Naval Aviator wing pattern

[CliffP]

Focusing back on the topic of WW1 Naval Aviator wings:

 

Pictured below is one of the first Naval Aviator pilot badges called the "Type 1" summitted in September 1917 to the U.S. Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) for approval.  Made of Sterling Silver rather than gold or bronze, they had gold 'U.S.' letters on the center shield. These were designed by Lt. Henry Reuterdahl USNRF while assisting Lt. Commander John H. Towers (Naval Aviator No. 3) in collaboration with Bailey, Banks and Biddle on what would eventually be the first "official" Naval Aviator badge.  The letters "U.S" on the center shield had been approved by the Secretary of the Navy on 7 September 1917 in Change 12 to Naval Uniform Regulations of 1913; however, the letters 'U.S" would soon be omitted on 12 October 1917 in Change 14 to Uniform Regulations.

 

The first "official" Naval Aviator badge was approved by BuNav in November 1917. Purchased from Bailey, Banks and Biddle, they were made of 14k-gold with non-pierced anchor flukes and delivered to BuNav in December 1917.  The first 282 badges were then engraved with the Aviator's number, his name and branch of service (Navy or Marine Corps) and released to the pilots on 19 January 1918. 

 

The engraving of each individual’s name, Naval Aviator number, and branch of service was also discontinued sometime during World War I, yet gold wings crafted by Bailey, Banks and Biddle would be presented to every new Naval Aviator until April of 1924 when Curtis D. Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy ordered their issue stopped. At that time, slightly over three thousand had been issued.

 

 

 

 

[5thwingmarty]

Cliff, were the letters on this wing stamped as part of the wing or applied separately?  It looks like full bases behind the letters rather than voids typically seen behind the letters on Air Service wings.

Marty

[CliffP]

Marty,

 

I fail to see what you do but can assure you that the center shield itself does not have any imprints or "bases" behind the letters. 

The letters "U.S." were applied separately and they are gold.

 

Cliff

[bschwartz]

Marty,

 

I see what you're seeing but I think it's a trick of the camera and the lighting.  Cliff was kind enough to share some photos of this wing for my site.  They're from a slightly different angle and in the pictures on my site you can see that the full US are not imprinted into the wings and then the top piece applied.  I believe that's just solder under the US but that's just judging from the two different pictures.  Here's the image from my site:

 

Bob

 

[5thwingmarty]

Cliff,

 

In the photo, where the letters touch the shield, there appears to be a solid line around the base of the letters in many areas.  It shows best along the upper edges of the S.  It is probably due to the soldier used to attach the letters.

 

While large, beautifully clear images like this can show incredible detail, they can also exaggerate any imperfections like tiny bits of soldier that would never be seen with the naked eye.  I have to remind myself sometimes that what I can see in a wing that is almost 20" wide on my computer screen would be invisible on an actual 2.75" wide wing.

 

It is very interesting that this wing from 1917 has the small shoulder feathers/berries.  On Bob's website, your WWI wing from Dan S. Dunham also has small shoulder feathers while ones from BB&B do not.  Is anyone aware of any BB&B wings (or non-hallmarked wings) like Cliff's without the attached U.S.?

 

Marty

[CliffP]

On 1/22/2021 at 2:47 PM, 5thwingmarty said:

Since the BB&B (non-hallmarked) badge from 1917 has small shoulder feathers/berries, why don't later examples made by BB&B not have any feather/berries in the shoulder? 

 

A little history on how Naval Aviator wings went through their early developed before any "official" wings were finally approved and purchased by the Navy in 1917 might hold the answer:

 

On 19 July 1917, Lieutenant Commander John H. Towers, Assistant Director, Chief of Naval Operations (Aviation Section) sent a request to the Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) seeking approval for a special device (wings) to be worn by Naval Aviators on their uniform to indicate they were pilots. BuNav agreed. Towers then asked nautical artist Lt. Henry Reuterdahl to help him with the design. Reuterdahl presented several diagrams to Towers who selected what he considered the best. He then sent copies to Bailey, Banks & Biddle and other makers for comment or modification with the possibility of getting a contract from the Navy.

 

Using Reuterdahl's designs, BB&B offered to summit a silver sample with 'U.S.' letters in gold on the shield. A representative delivered it on 28 August 1917.  

 

Note: It should be mentioned here that contrary to any earlier belief, BuNav first considered all silver wings for Naval Aviators similar to those worn by Army pilots but silver was later rejected because it did not blend well when worn with Navy dress whites. Next to be considered were bronze wings followed by gold.  A final decision was made by BuNav in favor of 14k-gold "official" Naval Aviator wings because gold would be a better match with the rest of the gold braid on all Naval uniforms. 

 

So why do later examples made by BB&B not have small shoulder feathers/berries in the shoulder? In addition to that, why were the letters 'U.S.' later omitted? First of all, in August 1917 an "official" design was still in its earliest stage of developed. The following may help to explain in better detail why certain changes were made.

 

On 7 September 1917 Naval Aviator wings were finally authorized by the Secretary of the Navy with Change 12 to Naval Uniform Regulations dated 1913. The wings were described as: "a Naval Aviators device, with winged non-pierced foul anchor two and three-quarter inches wide with letters 'U.S.' is hereby adopted to be worn by qualified Naval Aviators. This device will be issued by the Bureau of Navigation to officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who qualify as Naval Aviators and will be worn on the left breast."

 

In a letter dated 26 September 1917, from Reuterdahl to BB&B he suggested they make minor changes including a row of stars on the shield; however, BB&B voiced an objection because it would be contrary to the laws of heraldry.

 

In a letter dated 28 September 1917 from Reuterdahl to BB&B he agreed with their objection about adding a row of stars on the shield.  He also recommended that BB&B simplify the wings by boldly chasing (engraving) and reducing the number of feathers in each wing, noting that, "most naval ornaments are too fine and not broad enough in character.”

 

Note: By Reuterdahl suggesting that BB&B boldly chase and reduce the number of feathers in each wing. . . and that the wings were not broad enough in character answer the question why later examples of BB&B wings do not have shoulder berries/feathers? I suspect it might.

 

In a letter dated 5 October 1917, Reuterdahl recommended that BB&B make a change to the basic design by adding a slight curve to the body and feathers. He summarized his remarks by saying, “My idea has been to reduce all corners so that there will be no points which might catch in the clothing.” 

 

On 12 October 1917 the proposed design for Naval Aviator wings was modified by Change 14 to Navy Uniform Regulations of 1913 which reads, "The device for Naval Aviators will be a winged foul anchor, but the letters 'U.S.' given in Change 12 to Uniform Regulations dated 7 September 1917 have been omitted.

 

— 

 

26 December 1917: Several more design changes were made during October and November before the final design for the first "official" wings were approved and purchased from Bailey, Banks and Biddle by the Navy. They were made of 14k-gold and the order was confirmed by a telegram the company sent to BuNav on this date indicating the insignia were being shipped.  

 

Here is an example of the first "official" 14k-gold Naval Aviator wings made by BB&B under Navy contract courtesy of Russ Wilson.

 

[5thwingmarty]

Cliff,

 

Thank you for all of that information.  Here is a scanned page from the BB&B design archives.  I don't know what date this was done, and two of the three Naval wings are extremely faint on the drawing.

 

[5thwingmarty]

I don't have any actual BB&B wings to add to this thread, but thought I would post the couple of WWI pattern Naval wings I have.  The top is a Noble pattern and the bottom is a Link-pattern Amcraft, stamped FILLED.  I had hoped to add a full-sized, hallmarked Noble to the collection this week, but alas my pockets were not deep enough for that one.

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Here is a pair from a Naval Aviator who earned his wings in early 1919. Early Robbins wings.