Brig Posted October 7, 2010 Share #1 Posted October 7, 2010 looks like these were made from a set of jump wings. not sure if original period done, or someone destroyed a nice set of jump wings. Sold on eBay lately. Not a wing guy myself, but I saved the pics, figured it would cause some interesting discussion amongst you wing enthusiasts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaw Posted October 7, 2010 Share #2 Posted October 7, 2010 I see a lot of these at flea markets, antique malls, antique shows, and on ebay. During WW II, the entire U.S. Army had around 8,100 chaplains by the end of the war. Given the low number of airborne divisions, it's just not possible that there were that many chaplains wearing modified jump wings. I'm sure some of them are real but with the market flooded with so many of them, I can't help but think nearly all of them are fakes. I just saw two over the weekend at the same flea market. They were soldered onto authentic jump wings. One of them had been soldered onto an authentic Amico jump wing. It's not hard to find them for Jewish Rabbi either and those would have been even scarcer than Chaplain. Even if one finds an ironclad real one, I can't help but think the flood of fakes has ruined the market for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted October 7, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted October 7, 2010 I know the fake ones you refer to with the applied cross over the chute...but how about a cross carved out of the chute? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 7, 2010 Share #4 Posted October 7, 2010 I'm not a wings guy and never would presume to be. However, there is NO evidence that Airborne Chaplains ever had a wing that bore the image of a cross. Now, some Chaplains may have had this done privately but, I think the number would be very small since Army Chaplains were stretched to the limit in their ministries and didn't have time to go looking for a jeweler to make wings for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaw Posted October 8, 2010 Share #5 Posted October 8, 2010 I agree. I think the vast majority (if not all of them) of them are fantasy pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted October 8, 2010 Share #6 Posted October 8, 2010 I agree. I think the vast majority (if not all of them) of them are fantasy pieces. I vote for all fakes/fantasy pieces myself--short of the Chaplain unpinning it off his uniform and handing it to me. Just my opinion. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horsa Posted October 14, 2010 Share #7 Posted October 14, 2010 I vote for all fakes/fantasy pieces myself--short of the Chaplain unpinning it off his uniform and handing it to me. Just my opinion. Patrick It is amazing how many modified jump wings you see today versus years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy53 Posted March 29, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 29, 2015 Or could it have been some trooper customizing his own wings to show his faith -- as a non-uniform item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted March 29, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 29, 2015 Wow, old topic here but, since I commented on it in the past, I need to correct something. I spoke with a KW era chaplain who informed me that several chaplains he knew had their wings altered to look like this after they had completed the jump school portion of their training. So, I now stand corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted March 29, 2015 Share #10 Posted March 29, 2015 I missed it first time...I think the wing posted with the carved out cross is cool...I have seen a lot of the applied crosses on wings...but I never noticed a lot in this configuration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted March 29, 2015 Share #11 Posted March 29, 2015 I tend to agree these are all fakes. Has anyone ever seen a picture of them actually being worn? Me either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BROBS Posted March 29, 2015 Share #12 Posted March 29, 2015 I could see the original posted one just being a religious inspired carving done by anyone who bought these wings at a garage sale, flea market, etc.. and thought they would be a great start to a religious pin. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted April 7, 2015 Share #13 Posted April 7, 2015 My guess is someone made these wings to deceive collectors as here are two others that I believe were sold on eBay as I kept the photos for my reference. All three have the same raised STERLING hallmark in the same place and utilize the same rear fixings so it is probably not a one of a kind piece made by a very religious trooper as a keepsake . I don't have one in hand but it sort of looks like the cross has a higher relief than the adjacent chute lines which shouldn't be this way if you simply "carved" out the cross from the center chute. Unless of course you went to the trouble of carving the cross out and removed material from the sides thus eliminating the original chute lines and added them in afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted April 7, 2015 Share #14 Posted April 7, 2015 I have a supposed Chaplain paratrooper wing in my collection which I bought at the Great Western Gun Show in Pomona, California, around 1980 to 1981. They are pin back with the winged Robbins logo in a square on the reverse. They looked very convincing however I found out that they were made up by someone a few years later when I came across 4 to 5 of them on a table at a show and one was even gold plated. Very disappointing but you live and learn so I am very leery of buying anything that is attached to US paratrooper wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy53 Posted April 7, 2015 Share #15 Posted April 7, 2015 The fact that a chaplain altered his wings is kind of cool. Wonder what happened during inspections or in formations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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