Favorites of 2024

[cwnorma]

Every year around this time I like to post a thread asking people to show their favorite acquisitions for the preceding year.  It doesn't have to be your most expensive wing.  It doesn't have to be your rarest wing.  For that matter, it doesn't even have to be a single wing.  The only thing is this:  It should be your favorite/s and please tell us why you think it made the list.

 

I'll start:

 

 

Beginning with the top left and moving clockwise:  That first wing is near mint.  It is just darn unusual to find a WW1 wing that retains so much sparkle and this one has it all--with only the slightest toning at the wing tips.  It must have been well kept these last 100 years--away from light and suffer-emitting compounds.  Moving to the top right, is a "small" size Bailey Banks and Biddle "Dallas" wing.  This is a hard to find wing that many collectors (including me!) were not even aware of about 10 years ago.  Evidently, this badge was an effort by BB&B late in the war to make a more "regulation-conforming" sized wing.  The middle right wing is a first type Robbins.  I have been searching for one of these with a large-size "US" for some time but my good friend @rustywings seems to have been hoarding them all...  Hey Russ, got one!  Immediately below that one is a near-clone of the Robbins wing made by an (as yet) unknown maker.  Forum friend @blind pew is (I believe) onto something when he notes that the "STERLING" mark on these bears striking similarity to the mark used by GW Haltom.  Additional forensic work is needed--which I intend to do in 2025.  We'll get to the bottom of this Tom!  Finally, the bottom left wing is just really neat.  Look closely and you can see that the bullion has been "tinted" with red, and blue.  The effect is subtle but completely evident.  The badge has a pin-back affixed--I don't know if it was worn on a uniform or by a sweetheart--but it sure is neat and I've never seen another like it!

 

So that's it; my favorites of 2024.  All in, it has been a great year for wing collecting!  So, what were your favorites of the year?

 

Warm regards!

 

Chris

[Threewood]

Considering I started wing collecting in 2024, there are quite a few that I consider my favorites. However, there are 3 that I really enjoy more than the others. Mainly due to price paid, heft and design. These would be my A.E.Co letter wings. These were all on the inexpensive side and are all hallmarked. They are all thick, heavy strikes and they feel impressive. I really like the design as well. Not too detailed but still aesthetically pleasing to my eye.

 

I'm hoping to get every A.E.Co rating in 2025. Still missing a few such as observer, flight surgeon. Not including senior wings. 

[B-17Guy]

I have picked up a few rare wings this year, but one of my favorites, was what will probably be my last acquisition this year.

Those of you that know me, know that I have a particular interest in engraved wings and biographical wings. Especially when you have part of a personal story with it.
As a working pilot for 35 years now, these hold a special meaning for me.
I just last week picked up this wing.

It was the graduation wing of Lt. Peter V. Corato.

Apparently, he was the pilot of a B-24 that suffered fuel starvation, for whatever reason and crashed near Chester Georgia. 
The crew bailed out while he stayed at the controls, till impact.

He was the sole causality.

Something to think about this holiday season.

John

[AmHistoryFan]

Where 2024 started and where 2024 finished. Like @Threewood this is the first year I have been collecting, studying, and learning about wings. My interest was sparked when I came across my first Luxenberg pilot wing. The fine detail struck me and so the collecting journey began. I had acquired wings before but after spending some time on this site and with input from members I learned that I had a few restrikes in the group. So more learning was in order. I have had a love of aviation since young and so I have enjoyed the reading and history right along with the militaria study and collecting. To round out this year I finished by acquiring a WW1 Robbin’s pattern handmade unmarked wing after consulting with several of you. So thank you all for your help, guidance, inspiration (with your collections) and cheers to an awesome year! 

[cwnorma]

3 hours ago, Threewood said:

Considering I started wing collecting in 2024...

Wonderful wings!  You are off to an amazing start.

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

[cwnorma]

3 hours ago, B-17Guy said:

It was the graduation wing of Lt. Peter V. Corato.

John,

 

Beautiful and poignant wing.  Thank you for sharing.

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

[cwnorma]

1 hour ago, AmHistoryFan said:

Where 2024 started and where 2024 finished. Like @Threewood this is the first year I have been collecting, studying, and learning about wings. My interest was sparked when I came across my first Luxenberg pilot wing. The fine detail struck me and so the collecting journey began. I had acquired wings before but after spending some time on this site and with input from members I learned that I had a few restrikes in the group. So more learning was in order. I have had a love of aviation since young and so I have enjoyed the reading and history right along with the militaria study and collecting. To round out this year I finished by acquiring a WW1 Robbin’s pattern handmade unmarked wing after consulting with several of you. So thank you all for your help, guidance, inspiration (with your collections) and cheers to an awesome year! 

 

Two top-notch wings!

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

[bschwartz]

My two big acquisitions this year. My first Dallas badge which I posted a thread about here when I first got it. Attributed to Lt. Theodore Munchof. And the William Link pilot that I just got a few weeks ago thanks to @mghcal I have been looking for one of these for almost 20 years. Mike sold me the best Christmas present I've gotten in many, many years. Cliff Presley pointed the Dallas badge out to me and I was able to acquire it. I don't really look for wings day in and day out like I used to so having friends looking out for me this year really paid off. I'm very grateful to both Mike and Cliff. Also to Chris for some outstanding advice on how to clean up the Dallas badge without causing damage. 
 

[Kropotkin]

For me, 2024 was sparse in terms of volume but high in quality, having snared both 1st and 2nd pattern Luxenberg pilot wings. But, it has to be the two attributed Navajo bombardier wings I bagged in June:

 

 

[cwnorma]

11 hours ago, bschwartz said:

My two big acquisitions this year. My first Dallas badge which I posted a thread about here when I first got it. Attributed to Lt. Theodore Munchof. And the William Link pilot that I just got a few weeks ago...

Bob,

 

A pair of amazing badges--both centerpieces!

 

Happy new year my friend and may you find many, many new wings in 2025!

 

Chris

 

[cwnorma]

2 hours ago, Kropotkin said:

...it has to be the two attributed Navajo bombardier wings I bagged in June:

 

Simply wonderful!

 

Hand-crafted badges are among the most amazing and precious of wings.  Each a silent testament to the phenomenal skill and creativity of the artisans who made them.

 

Thank you for sharing!

 

Chris

[cwnorma]

Some amazing examples so far!  What other beauties found their way out of the woodwork (and in to your collection) in 2024?

 

Chris

[rathbonemuseum.com]

My favorite of 2024 was working with @haw68 collection of dies and logs to sort out the maker of the ubiquitous “graduation pattern” wing.

 

 

 

[FlyNavy02]

Congrats to all on your wing acquisitions and thanks for posting them.

 

My favorite of 2024 was the unmarked, and unpierced, example by Mecklenborg & Gerhardt, Cincinnati jewelers. This wing features unique feather details and is very difficult to find.

 

The group shots show some other early wings found in the last year or so.

 

Top row:

Student Naval Aviator adopted in 1919, Blancard catch, marked “BRONZE”

Naval Aviator, Blancard catch, marked “B.B&B.” by catch, [BRO]NZE under hinge and “B.B&B./BRONZE”

 

Middle Row:

Naval Aviator, piercings cut with a jeweler saw, marked “BB&B./10K”

Naval Aviator, unmarked, worn by Ens. William Hugh Bard, NA 704

 

Bottom row:

Naval Aviator, unmarked William Link Co. pattern, broken catch, worn by LT j.g. Henry Bomgardner, NA 948

 

Happy New Year and good luck adding to your collections in 2025!

 

[cwnorma]

2 hours ago, rathbonemuseum.com said:

My favorite of 2024 was working with @haw68 collection of dies and logs to sort out the maker of the ubiquitous “graduation pattern” wing.

 

Tod,

 

What a wonderful contribution to the hobby's body of knowledge!  You and Heath are to be commended!

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

[cwnorma]

1 hour ago, FlyNavy02 said:

...

My favorite of 2024 was the unmarked, and unpierced, example by Mecklenborg & Gerhardt, Cincinnati jewelers. This wing features unique feather details and is very difficult to find...

 

Difficult to find is quite the understatement!  Thank you for sharing this and your other rare badges!

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

[jeff41st]

I also really like the biographical wings. Mine are not especially rare wings, but knowing some of the history of their owners makes them special to me.

 

The first one is an N.S. Meyer flight nurse wing that belonged to Ruth Cole. Ruth served in the Pacific Theater in WW2.

 

 

 

Next are a couple of pilot wings (Amcraft and Amico) that belonged to Robert Carlson. Robert was a B-17 pilot in the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 407th Bomb Squadron. On Sept. 6, 1943 Robert and his crew were on a mission to Stuttgart Germany. Their B-17 was severely damaged and Robert ditched the plane in the English Channel. The crew survived sustaining only minor injuries. Robert is front row, second from the left.

 

 

 

 

And last is a snowflake back Observer and snowflake back Technical Observer wings that belonged to Roger Clark. Rogers military career included service at the Mexican border, WWI France and WWII. 

 

[FlyNavy02]

Chris,

 

Appreciated your comments and thanks to all who posted.

 

Jay

[The Rooster]

Heres two I got at the same time.

I like em!

[cwnorma]

23 hours ago, jeff41st said:

I also really like the biographical wings. Mine are not especially rare wings, but knowing some of the history of their owners makes them special to me.

 

The first one is an N.S. Meyer flight nurse wing that belonged to Ruth Cole. Ruth served in the Pacific Theater in WW2.

 

Next are a couple of pilot wings (Amcraft and Amico) that belonged to Robert Carlson. Robert was a B-17 pilot in the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 407th Bomb Squadron. On Sept. 6, 1943 Robert and his crew were on a mission to Stuttgart Germany. Their B-17 was severely damaged and Robert ditched the plane in the English Channel. The crew survived sustaining only minor injuries. Robert is front row, second from the left.

 

And last is a snowflake back Observer and snowflake back Technical Observer wings that belonged to Roger Clark. Rogers military career included service at the Mexican border, WWI France and WWII. 

Some really great, historical wings.  I think we all really enjoy when we can keep the history associated with these wings alive!

 

Thanks for sharing and good luck in 2025!

 

Warm regards!

 

Chris

[cwnorma]

17 hours ago, The Rooster said:

Heres two I got at the same time.

I like em!

Me too!

 

I really like the esthetics of these "Tall Shield" wings.  They scream "Ooooh, lookit what I earned!"

 

Good luck in 2025!

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

[The Rooster]

37 minutes ago, cwnorma said:

Me too!

 

I really like the esthetics of these "Tall Shield" wings.  They scream "Ooooh, lookit what I earned!"

 

Good luck in 2025!

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris

Thank you Chris!

The tall shield on the one is pretty cool!

I'l have to get a recent pic of that one as I ran it through the hot water foil baking soda process and all the frosted

surface came back. Its a beauty!

Cheers!

Dave

[Bull Moose]

Here are my three rarest wings of 2024.

 

K.G. Luke Flight Surgeon 

Pre WW2 Panama pattern Pilot

Pre WW2 Hilborn & Hamburger OROID USN / USMC Aviator 

[Bull Moose]

But, this is my favorite wing of 2024, Theater made, over weight (33.3 grams) undersized (2 7/8”) USAAF Pilot. 
 

 

[cwnorma]

3 hours ago, Bull Moose said:

But, this is my favorite wing of 2024, Theater made, over weight (33.3 grams) undersized (2 7/8”) USAAF Pilot. 

I too am floored by hand-made wings.  Each one unique. Each a piece of art in their own way!

 

Thank you for sharing and good luck in 2025!

 

Warm regards.

 

Chris