CAA/WTS/CPT/Flight Schools - Reference Thread

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Major Moseley presented personalized leather wallets containing inscribed brass graduation certificates to those flying cadets completing Primary Flight School.

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Inside one of the wallets.

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Another presentation wallet from Cal-Aero Flight Academy.

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A Merit Award is included in this wallet. Given to the cadet for safely completing the school without crashing.

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Close up of one of these heavy brass business card size certificates. Note C.C. Moseley's signature in the lower right.

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Close up of a brass certificate from Mira Loma Flight Academy.

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Not that I can do much more than be a post-script in Russ' great collection of instructor wings, I can add a few gems.

 

Here is a link on my webpage to some goodies

 

http://pfrost.bol.ucla.edu/Instructorwings.html

 

And some highlights.

 

These are a family of instructor wings. The bottom two are likely generic instructor wings, the top is to Darr Aero-tech. All were more than likely made by LGB.

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Every so often, one gets lucky, like a blind squirrel finding an acorn.

 

These are two very nice wings, the top is Helena Aerotech flight instructor wing, one of my favorite wings. I had to put it away because I handled it so much, I feared I would rub all the gilt off of it with the fondling.

 

The other is a rare variation of the Hanger VI flight instructor wing. I also have the cap badge, which is the same wing, but with a screw post base rather than pin back.

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This just goes to show that not all the wings are metal. This is another one of my favorites. A very rare Wilson and Bonfils flight school instructor wing in cloth.

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Patrick, that's a terrific wing! Like the Army Air Corps Observer's wing, it was probably worn by a Cal Aero Instructor who no longer qualified for flight status and was relegated to instruct ground school. Who knows, maybe the original owner of those wings was an older WWI pilot and flew with his boss and buddy, Major C.C. Moseley?

 

I think you are 100% correct as this Cal Aero ground instructor wing came with the grouping. A few years ago, the patch, wing and Cal Aero cap badge all showed up at a flea market. A buddy of mine grabbed all 3, and then started selling them piecemeal on ebay. I had to seriously threaten him with a good beating, but eventually he sold me the patch and the wing. The cap badge got away from me on ebay.

 

Here is snap shot of Bob Cummings who during the War was a CAL Aero flight instructor, member of the CAP and Hollywood actor. You can clearly see him wearing the CAL Aero cap badge and berating a German shepherd. "Bad schweinhud! Bad!"

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Terrific postings Patrick! Your revitalized website looks great too! That image of Hollywood actor Bob Cummings wearing Cal Aero Flight Instructor attire is classic. I wonder if he's wearing gilt pilot wings on his shirt, under the jacket? Do any of you remember Bob Cummings staring in the old TV show "Love That Bob"?

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I found a neat photograph in the 1945 edition of "Two Hundred Thousand Flyers" by Willard Wiener. The photo depicts ex-Flying Tigers pilot Major Charles Sawyer sitting with two Cal Aero Flight Instructors. It appears the two civilian instructors are wearing gilt pilot wings like the ones presented by Major Moseley.

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A set of flight instructor wings, cap piece and matching lapel insignia.

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Back of the wing. This example is not marked.

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C.A.A. War Training Service wings, cap badge and lapel insignia.

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Back of the CAA/WTS badges.

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I believe this CAA/WTS Flight Instructor's wing, with Wright Flyer profile, predates the wings with the Indian head profile. Any input you might have would be appreciated

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Comparing the two CAA/WTS patterns. They are identical in size and wing pattern.

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Close-up of the center design. (I think they are both uniquely beautiful).

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Here's a jeweler-made variant of the CAA/WTS Indian head design.

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Back of the wing with "P.J. Friedel, Phila., Sterling" hallmark.

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"P.J. Friedel, Phila. Sterling" hallmark.

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Comparing the two CAA/WTS Indian profile wings.

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An Amcraft pattern CAA/WTS Flight Instructor's wing. I believe this wing was coated with lacquer many years ago to prevent tarnish. The lacquer has since petrified and turned the wing almost gold in color.

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Back of the Amcraft style CAA/WTS wing. Marked sterling, but no hallmark.