Rare 1920's Department of Commerce Pilot Wing/Hat Badge.

[pfrost]

Sadly, I wasn't able to go to the SOS like the other cool kids.  But I did find this lovely wing lurking about.

 

Some quick history, right after WWI ended, the US Army tried an ill-fated attempt to fly airmail routes in the US. There were multiple crashes and fatalities, so the US Government stepped in to fly the mail.   The US Post Office (which had its Aerial Mail wing badges) eventually contracted out with 5 or 6 of the civilian airlines to transport the mail (which had THEIR own wings badges) due to the Air Mail Act of 1925.

 

During the immediate post-war period, American aviation entered into an unregulated, wild west-atmosphere, with all sorts of dubious shenanigans, (think drunken barnstormers flying about-- all Waldo Pepper, like). Increasing accidents, fatalities, and the recognition that someone (US Government) needed to establish some control if American aviation was to reach its best potential

 

The US Department of Commerce's role in aviation began with the Air Commerce Act of 1926 and included pilot licensing, aircraft certification, and air traffic control. The Department of Commerce's aviation activities eventually led to the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  These were the first wings that were worn (likely as cap badges).  This same pattern also came with a red enamel background that was likely for ground personnel.  Heath has the original dies and has posted them on another thread.

 

Sometime around the late 1930's and into the early 1940's, with war in Europe looming The CAA was established. There was some increased Government interest in preparing civilian aviation for military roles (something that the US Military had resisted).  Around this time, it appears that new CAA wing patterns were made, the ones with the Wright flyer in the center, and the CAA-WTS civilian pilot wings with the common "indian head" motif (rather common to find those versions). 

 

These particular wings are very rare and date from the 1926-mid1930s or so. I have only seen another one, although Heath has the dies that he suggests were purchased by a well-known faker, and used to make reproductions.  They are srew back and I have only seen one picture of someone wearing them as a hat badge.

 

 

 

This is a ID card from about 1927 (not my images, from the internet)

 

 

 

You can "sort of see" the badge worn on the cap. Because they weren't military pilots, but rather civilian pilots, there was likely a pretty lax enforcement of uniforms and insignia.

 

[Scott C.]

Wow, what an awesome group!

[pfrost]

Just the wings, the rest of the stuff if for illustrative purposes.  But thanks.

[Marshallj]

Pretty cool stuff. But at the end of the day, not military, just historical.

[Allen0820]

great relics!