B-17Guy Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Blackinton pattern Instructor's wing badge. Wing appears to be gilted brass, with the pin replaced at some point. John ...and on the eighth day, God created the radial engine... Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Hudson Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 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. Someone I know recently got a pair of the Chinese wings with the Dondero hallmark. They came with a pair of wings made in China by NDC: these though are stewardess wings for the Chinese airlines CATC - Central Air Transport Corporation. I know that even through Vietnsm War there were "civilian" airlines that fronted for military operations and CNAC did that in China, but did CATC do that? Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 Bob, thanks for posting the two interesting wings. It's my understanding the Chinese wings by Dondero were made for presentation to Chinese Flying Cadets upon graduation from one of several Contract Flight Schools here in the United States. Regarding the CATC badge: In February 1931, "Eurasia Airlines" was established as a joint venture between the Chinese National Government and Germany's Lufthansa Airlines. After the start of WWII, Germany forfeited its share of Eurasia Airlines. In March 1943, Eurasia Airlines was reorganized as CATC (Central Aviation Transport Corporation) and the Chinese National Government actively recruited AVG, AAF and ATC Pilots to fill their need for trained flight personnel as they had with CNAC (Chinese National Aviation Corporation). Many American Pilots continued to fly for CATC and CNAC well after the end of the war. However, on November 9, 1949, during the Communist Revolt, the general managers of both CATC and CNAC threw their support behind Communist ideals which effectively ended US Pilot involvement in both organizations. Here's a full size WWII era CATC Pilot wing and cap badge made by the "Russell Uniform Company, New York, N.Y." Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 Hallmarked CATC Pilot wing. Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 WWII era CATC (Central Aviation Transport Corporation) and CNAC (Chinese National Aviation Corporation) Pilot badges worn by recruited American Pilots. Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Hudson Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Another one from CAL- AERO with a certificate: Link to post Share on other sites
Red Devil Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Here is my humble contribution to an amazing and very educational thread: a small group to a Civilian Instructor at Helena Aero Tech, stationed at Thompson-Robbins Airfield. The program was operated 1941-1944. Link to post Share on other sites
gap Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Pretty sure this is a WTS/CPT school. Got it with a group of WW2 insignia/patches. Thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites
MikeCoke Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 REF POST 284: Polaris Flight Academy, War Eagle Field, Squadron 14, 5" Flight Jacket Insignia Here is my Dads Class Photo that your Patch goes to. It is hard to see but the Photo says "Squadron 14 Class 44-G Polaris Flight Academy War Eagle Field Lancaster, California." I do not know when the photo was taken or when my Dad was there. I never had the chance to talk to him about his time in the Service. Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 Hello Mike and welcome to the Forum. I have a near-complete set of class books from Polaris Flight Academy, including Class 44-G, Squadron 14. I don't see the last name "Coke" listed in the book, but I do see some of the others identified in your photo. If you'd forward your Father's name, I'd be happy to post an image of his individual flying cadet photo. Russ Link to post Share on other sites
MikeCoke Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Hello Mike and welcome to the Forum. I have a near-complete set of class books from Polaris Flight Academy, including Class 44-G, Squadron 14. I don't see the last name "Coke" listed in the book, but I do see some of the others identified in your photo. If you'd forward your Father's name, I'd be happy to post an image of his individual flying cadet photo. Russ My Dad's name is Edgar J Lawrence. Thx that would be great My Mom and Dad divorced when I was almost 6 and I had very little contact with him. When I was 6 weeks old Mom and I went to Japan to where he was stationed and lived there almost 2 years. Then Selfridge AFB Michigan, then Mitchell AFB Long Island New York and that is when Mom Left him. Here is the Plane he flew at Selfridge with the 49th Air Rescue Squadron and their Patch. Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 My Dad's name is Edgar J Lawrence. Thx that would be great My Mom and Dad divorced when I was almost 6 and I had very little contact with him. When I was 6 weeks old Mom and I went to Japan to where he was stationed and lived there almost 2 years. Then Selfridge AFB Michigan, then Mitchell AFB Long Island New York and that is when Mom Left him. Here is the Plane he flew at Selfridge with the 49th Air Rescue Squadron and their Patch. Hello Mike, For your own reference, here's what your Father's class book looks like. I've run across a number of these same books in the recent past...and I see them listed on ebay now and then. I might be able to help you locate one for your own use. Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Flying Cadet Edgar J. Lawrence: Link to post Share on other sites
pfrost Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 How cool is that! Link to post Share on other sites
MikeCoke Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Flying Cadet Edgar J. Lawrence: Thank very much I had never seen a pic of my Dad from that time period. Does the Book have a date when the class started and finished? Mike Lawrence Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Thank very much I had never seen a pic of my Dad from that time period. Does the Book have a date when the class started and finished? Mike Lawrence Mike, Unfortunately, there are no dates listed in the class book...not even a print date. The book does mention that a new class starts training at Polaris Flight Academy once every 4 1/2 weeks. Since your Father was assigned to class 44-G, he would have likely arrived at this school in early July,1944. If you find out your Father attended "Primary" Flight School in the Southern California area, I have several class books for Cal Aero, Mira Loma, Twenty-nine Palms, Ryan and Rankin. Who knows, maybe we can locate an even earlier photo? Russ Link to post Share on other sites
B-17Guy Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Picked up this interesting Danecraft WTS wing at last weekend's Baltimore Show. It is defiantly not a modified CPT wing and I don't believe I have seen one before. John ...and on the eighth day, God created the radial engine... Link to post Share on other sites
B-17Guy Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Better pic of the back of the wing. ...and on the eighth day, God created the radial engine... Link to post Share on other sites
ocsfollowme Posted June 24, 2016 Share Posted June 24, 2016 Hawthorne Primary Pilot Training -Steve OEF 11-12 veteran Selling off my 15 year private collection specializing in Home Front, AAF Schools, Aircraft Manufacturers, PX patches at www.ocsfollowme.com http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/usmfribbons/donation2014.gifhttp://www.usmilitariaforum.com/usmfribbons/donation2015.gifhttp://www.usmilitariaforum.com/usmfribbons/donation2016.gifhttp://www.usmilitariaforum.com/usmfribbons/donation2018.gif Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 I'd like to re-address an old post in this thread with some freshly discovered information. Back in October 2010, images of a wing were shared in post #409 & #410 which many of us (myself included) identified as representing "Hawthorne Field" near Los Angeles. Beautifully made and hallmarked by J.A. Meyers & Co. of Los Angeles, this full-size wing was thought to be worn by Civilian Contract Flight Instructors at that school overseen by the Northrop Company. Coincidentally, I believe the uniform posted above by ocsfollowme represents the "Hawthorne School of Aeronautics" in South Carolina and has no direct association with Hawthorne Field in California or the "HF" wing illustrated back on post #409. Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 I recently purchased a 1943 dated soft-cover publication entitled "Hancock College of Aeronautics - America's Air Academy." The publication offers a brief history about the establishment of the flight school in October 1928 near Santa Maria, California (about 100 miles north of L.A.). When Captain Allan Hancock first established this school in the late 1920's, he initially named it the "Hancock Foundation College of Aeronautics." (Hence the initials "HF" correlation). The publication also included a May 1930 dated graduation photo of a small class of aviation cadets, as well as an example of their graduation certificate. Check out the wing design printed on the certificate... Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 What's also revealing in this early class photograph is every graduate appears to be wearing that same "HF" wing... and a large "Hancock College" cap piece similar in design to the school logo seen on this WWII era certificate. (Also included is a wallet size solo card.) Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 I think we need to keep in mind that in 1930, even though these early flight schools were heavily influenced by both the US Army and Navy, they weren't under the same stringent control seen later in 1940 when they were under supervision of the military and the CAA War Training Service. Copied from the same publication, here's a picture of USAAF Flying Training Command General Barton Yount with seven of the original eight Contract Flight School owners: Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 Closer image of General Barton Yount and flight school owners Captain Allan Hancock and Major C.C. Moseley (Cal Aero Flight Academy, Mira Loma Flight Academy & Polaris Flight Academy). Link to post Share on other sites
rustywings Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 Another image from the same 1943 publication depicts a war period CAA/WTS wing and cap piece being worn by Captain Allan Hancock: Link to post Share on other sites
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