CAA/WTS/CPT/Flight Schools - Reference Thread

[rustywings]

Back of the wing. Hallmarked AECO - Utica, N.Y. and STERLING.

[rustywings]

Image of the backs...

[pfrost]

Excellent stuff, as always.

 

P

[John Cooper]

Russ - thank you for posting so many beautiful wings and related items. This thread offers the reader a wonderful opportunity to educate themselves on a very important aspect of the war effort that that not only trained US pilots but those from many other countries from West to East. I also want to thanks the other posters that have been posting items from their collections to support this thread.

 

I hope that other collectors will come forward and share their wings or realted items to enhance this thread with photos, insignia, uniforms...

 

Thank you gentlemen!

John

[rustywings]

Hey John and Patrick, thank you for your contributions and support. My real collecting passion remains with US Navy and Army Air Corps flight badges...But I have to admit, these War Training Service insignia carry with them their own unique historical addiction. Considering the WTS was only around from 1939 to 1945, there's a wide variety of patches and badges to seek out and collect.

 

 

Here's a large early CAA cap badge with red and white enamel.

[rustywings]

Back of the CAA cap piece. Double screw-back. No hallmarks.

[rustywings]

I believe this CAA cap piece, with blue enamel, is "air" service related. And the previous cap piece with red enamel represents "ground" service. Please let me know if you have additional info on these types of Civil Aeronautics Administration badges.

[rustywings]

A comparison shot of both CAA cap badges.

[rustywings]

Civilian Instructor shoulder patch and Flight Instructor's wing - Boeing Flying Fortress School.

[rustywings]

Front of the Boeing Pilot Instructor's wing. The wings are approximately 3 3/8 inches wide.

[rustywings]

Back of the Boeing wings. Clutch-back and marked STERLING.

[rustywings]

Boeing Civilian Instructor patch. It has a couple of moth nips and some of the red stitching is missing from the word "Boeing", but still in pretty good shape. Any idea what the small red star represents?

[rustywings]

Back of the Boeing patch.

[rustywings]

AAF-TTC Civilian Instructor patch and enamel pin. (I believe AAF-TTC stands for Army Air Force-Technical Training Command).

[rustywings]

Back of the AAF-Technical Training Command shoulder patch and badge.

[rustywings]

WWII Texas A&M College ROTC flying cadet and flight instructor badges and insignia.

[Lee Ragan]

WWII Texas A&M College ROTC flying cadet and flight instructor badges and insignia.

 

The big hat badge is post war and is the one currently used. A WWII vintage cap badge would look like the US Army officers badge except the "glory" above the eagles head would be replaced by a scroll that said "A.M.C.".

Nice looking Aggie corps collection by the way! :thumbsup: I chase that stuff too.

[vintageproductions]

Russ-Here is the small size wing to go with your two full size ones.

 

[vintageproductions]

Russ-Well since you named me earlier I guess I should add some more CPT related patches.

 

[vintageproductions]

and a close-up of the Lodewick patch being worn.

 

[John Cooper]

So many new items to see :thumbsup: I wanted to say that I really like the custom WTS wings in post # 149 & 151.

 

Sweet!

 

John

[pfrost]

So many new items to see :thumbsup: I wanted to say that I really like the custom WTS wings in post # 149 & 151.

 

Sweet!

 

John

 

Here is an unknown wing that came from the grouping of a BFTS training school that instructed British cadets in US flight schools.

[pfrost]

The back.

 

It was made by Russell Uniform Supply company.

[pfrost]

Closeup of the hallmark

[rustywings]

Lee, thank you for the info on the Texas A&M cap piece. The WWII era matching cap piece is one more thing to add to my wish list.

 

Here's a couple of better images of the Texas A&M Flight Instructor's wings. Do you know why the pair of "AMC" collar insignia are curved? Is it to give them more of a 3-D look? The other pairs are flat.

 

Russ