B-17Guy Posted September 30, 2010 Share #401 Posted September 30, 2010 Yes, which is why I didn't originally post the back, as it makes it easy to id the wing to the auction. I figured maybe some folks on the forum maybe bid on the wing. Since a pic of the back was requested by you and Russ, I figured what the heck. It actually went for far less then I thought it would. Ebay is very soft right now. I have picked up some great wings lately. As usual, there is some great stuff there, if you know what you are looking at. Seller said he got it at the Pomona Gun Show in 1996. Russ, you seem to know a lot about these wings. Is there any way to find out which of the three schools this gentleman taught at? Wondering if it was maybe Cal-Aero, given the fact that the seller bought the wing in Pomona? Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share #402 Posted October 1, 2010 Hello John (B-17 Guy), I located Flight Instructor F. L. Graf in several Polaris Flight Academy class books, including editions 44-D, 44-E, 44-F & 44G. He may very well have had a long tenure under Major C.C. Moseley since your wings are inscribed with the date 8-26-41. Polaris Flight Academy was quietly training British Flying Cadets in the high desert north of Los Angeles prior to Pearl Harbor. Who knows, maybe F.L. Graf was responsible for training British Pilots, before War Eagle Field focused on producing American Pilots. If you ever have access to some of the early RAF War Eagle Field class books, your Instructor might be listed? Another possibility is F.L. Graf was initially hired as a Contract Flight Instructor at Moseley's other school (Cal Aero Flight Academy) and he transferred to Polaris at a later date. When time permits, I'll pull out some of my old Cal Aero class books and take a look. John, your wing is a top-shelf gem! Thanks for sharing it with us. To put a face to a name, here's a few Flight Instructor group shots which include F.L. Graf. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share #403 Posted October 1, 2010 A closer image... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share #404 Posted October 1, 2010 From Polaris Flight Academy - War Eagle Field - Class 44-D - Squadron Twelve. (D.L. Graf is standing, second from the right). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted October 2, 2010 Share #405 Posted October 2, 2010 Great stuff Russ. Thanks so much for pulling the information on Graf and bringing the wing to life. I look forward to seeing any other informaion, as you get the time to look. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted October 2, 2010 Share #406 Posted October 2, 2010 Hawthorne Field, Northrop Contract Pilot School sterling wing. Here’s a neat one Ron has for sale at Flying Tiger Antiques. I have never seen this one before and Ron always posts great pictures on his sight! Has the unusually J.A. Meyers & Co, Los Angeles hallmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted October 2, 2010 Share #407 Posted October 2, 2010 Hawthorne Field wing, back side. Hawthorne Field, Northrop Contract Pilot School sterling wing.Here’s a neat one Ron has for sale at Flying Tiger Antiques. I have never seen this one before and Ron always posts great pictures on his sight! Has the unusually J.A. Meyers & Co, Los Angeles hallmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted October 2, 2010 Share #408 Posted October 2, 2010 Sweeney Aviation School Here is a little lapel pin wing I have from Sweeney Aviation School. It is hallmarked “Green” and “Sterling”. Anyone every heard of this place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #409 Posted October 3, 2010 Thunderbird Field in Arizona trained both American and Chinese Flying Cadets. Here's two Thunderbird Field shoulder patches worn by Civilian Flight Instructors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #410 Posted October 3, 2010 Back of Thunderbird Field shoulder patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #411 Posted October 3, 2010 American Flight Instructor with Chinese Flying Cadet. Thunderbird Field patch on Instructor's sleeve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #412 Posted October 3, 2010 Closer view of Thunderbird Field Instructor's shoulder patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #413 Posted October 3, 2010 Image copied from Thunderbird Field class book 44-D shows an American Flight Instructor wearing a large Thunderbird patch on his flight jacket while surrounded by his four assigned Chinese Flying Cadets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #414 Posted October 3, 2010 Contract Flight Instructor wing and Chinese Air Force Pilot wings. The Chinese wings are hallmarked "A.H. Dondero, Inc. - Washington D.C." and I suspect were made specifically for Cadets receiving their wings from schools here in the United States. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #415 Posted October 3, 2010 Same wings laying on another image of an American Flight Instructor and his Chinese Flying Cadets. Note the wings on the Instructor's chest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted October 3, 2010 Share #416 Posted October 3, 2010 Contract Flight Instructor wing and Chinese Air Force Pilot wings. The Chinese wings are hallmarked "A.H. Dondero, Inc. - Washington D.C." and I suspect were made specifically for Cadets receiving their wings from schools here in the United States. Wow, I never heard of one of these US made and marked Chinese wing before! :twothumbup: Can you show the back? :nerv0003: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #417 Posted October 3, 2010 Wow, I never heard of one of these US made and marked Chinese wing before! :twothumbup: Can you show the back? :nerv0003: During WWII, the A.H. Dondero Company made these Chinese Pilot wings in both pin-back and clutch-back. The pin-back is part of a Chinese Pilot grouping. I bought the clutch-back variation on ebay about seven or eight years ago. Here's a couple of images of both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #418 Posted October 3, 2010 And the backs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share #419 Posted October 3, 2010 Close up of the American hallmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted October 3, 2010 Share #420 Posted October 3, 2010 Close up of the American hallmark. Wow, nice! Thanks! :twothumbup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOKIEMAN Posted November 3, 2010 Share #421 Posted November 3, 2010 REFERENCE POST #412 Russ, to put a fine point on the "Thunderbird" shoulder sleeve insignia. The thunderbird insignia is actually the Corporate Logo for Southweat Airways. The mistake of calling it the Chinese Cadet patch or Thunderbird Field patch has been published and repeated in too many publications to enumerate. Southwest Airways was a multi-faceted operation during WW2. Besides operating three AAF Contact Pilot Training Schools, it also operated a CAA War Training Service Flying School, a Contract Air Transport route operating out of San Bernardion CA, and a depot overhaul facility. Now to share some of my SWA goodies: The attached picture depicts a SWA pilot wing. Besides being worn by SWA Instructor Pilots, it may have bee worn post war when SWA functioned for a short timeas an airline. Also attached is an unusual octanginal shaped SSI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOKIEMAN Posted November 3, 2010 Share #422 Posted November 3, 2010 REFERENCE POST #412 Two additional SWA insignia, but 5 inch flight jacket insignia. The first one is a flocked design on wool/felt. The second is chenille. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOKIEMAN Posted November 3, 2010 Share #423 Posted November 3, 2010 REFERENCE POST #420 CHINESE AVIATION CADET INSIGNIA Expanding on Chinese versus US made insignia, ahave had the attached in my collection for a long time. Top badge is a typical badge made in China. The lower badge is US made and marked NS Meyer, New York Second picture is of a U S made chinese Officer's Cap Insignia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOKIEMAN Posted November 3, 2010 Share #424 Posted November 3, 2010 OOPS, now attached Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted November 4, 2010 Share #425 Posted November 4, 2010 Gentleman - thanks for keeping this wingnuts education going! Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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