CAA/WTS/CPT/Flight Schools - Reference Thread

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Closer...

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

 

 

Bob, Those are terrific CAA/WTS patches! Thank you for posting them. I look forward to viewing them up close and personal on May 7th and 8th, 2010, at the "West Coast Historical Militaria Collectors Show" in Pomona, California. (Shameless plug, but so worth your time if you are a fellow collector of this wonder historic stuff!)

 

Russ

[rustywings]

During WWII, both the Boeing Company and United Air Lines offered comprehensive training to many Army Air Corps ground and air crew personnel. These lapel size prop & wing pins were given to those completing the Boeing "ACTS" (Air Corps Technical School)....or the United Air Lines "AAFTD" (Army Air Corps Training Detachment). Note the Boeing pins have the class number and the year inscribed on the front center scroll.

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Close up of a Boeing Company issed pin.

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Close up of a United Air Lines issued pin.

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Here's a modest sampling of Flight Instructor wings which were worn on the lower right sleeve of the uniform jacket. Most are from the WWII era...but there are a few that date back to the 1920's and 30's. Most of these wings were worn by Army Air Corps personnel...but a few have been seen on Contract Flight Instructor uniforms as well. The four inch wide leather patch belonged to a Civilian Contract Flight Instructor.

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Close up view of three WWII era Flight Instructor's sleeve badges. The wing in the upper right is padded and nicely sewn to a piece of leather containing clutch studs. The wing was fastened to the right lower sleeve with three clutches.

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Back of the three wings. Note the one with three clutches.

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I believe these two Flight Instructor sleeve wings are from the 1930's. Your opinions are welcome.

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Back of the two wings. The wing on the bottom has some scrap-book paper remaining.

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I believe the wing illustrated at the top may be from the 1920's.

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Back of the wings.

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This NOS bullion 2 1/4 inch wide Flight Instructor wing is still in the original cellophane wrapper with a $2.95 price tag stapled to the front and a "Gemsco-Gold Bullion" sticker on the back. Rather expensive in terms of WWII era prices!

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Back of the bullion NOS Flight Instructor wing.

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Comparision shot of Flight Instructor sleeve wings.

[John Cooper]

Great set of examples - I love the leather backing material shown in photo #186 talk about attention to detail!

 

Thanks for posting.

John

[John Cooper]

Here is my one wing that belongs here. It looks good to me from a construction standpoint but since this is the only one I have I will let the experts decide.

 

[rustywings]

Great set of examples - I love the leather backing material shown in photo #186 talk about attention to detail!

 

Thanks for posting.

John

 

Thanks for your comments John. Regarding your CAA/WTS Flight Instructors wings listed above, I'm no expert, but if you want the opinion of a serious novice, it sure looks like a good wing to me! Your wing has received a fair amount of wear...which I think really adds to its authenticity.

 

Russ

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Here's a nicely feathered and detailed wing from the Mississippi Institute Of Aeronautics. This WWII U.S. Army Contract Flight School was located near Jackson, Mississippi. I'll include a printed excerpt about the Primary Flight School below.

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Back of the Mississippi Institute Of Aeronautics winged badge. It is hallmarked "Johnson National, N.Y."

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Here's some additional information about the Mississippi Institute Of Aeronautics copied from the book "Two Hundred Thousand Flyers", by Willard Wiener. This U.S. Army Primary Flight School trained both American and Dutch flying cadets.

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During WWII, this large silver plated plaque was hung and displayed at some prominent location at the 63rd Flight Training Detachment, in Douglas, Georgia. The 63rd F.T.D. was a Contract Flight School run by the Raymond-Richardson Aviation Company. This plaque lists the top flying cadet from each graduating class during 1943-1944. Notice how the honor cadet's inscribed names get smaller as they progress down the scroll. (The Flight Instructor's shoulder patch for this school is depicted in post #90 of this thread).

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Another view.

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Close-up.

[John Cooper]

Russ - you have some truly amazing stuff!

John