AboutJohn Vargas Expertise I can answer both specific and general questions about US Army Aviation from 1913 to 1946, and WWII US Airborne, to include key personalities, units, commands, and doctrines.
My specialty is badges, and insignia, both authorized and unauthorized, of the period. I have access to a vast library of text that is specific to this period of history.
Experience I have over 20 years experience in collecting and cataloging WWI, and WWI US Army Aviation, and US Airborne badges and insignia. I worked as assistant curator at the Gen. Wm. C. Lee Airborne Museum. I have been a consultant on many occasions to several museums (including the USAF), and I am regularly called upon to authenticate US Army Aviation badges and insignia for Fine Auctions Houses such as Bonham’s and Butterfields.
Education/Credentials I am perusing an advanced degree in history with a concentration in WWI, and WWII US Army Aviation. I spent several years on Active Duty in the US Army as a Paratrooper.
Expert: John Vargas Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: Badge Identification
Question Hi Mr. Vargas:
My wife presented me with a military badge believed to be from her father who served in the US Army Air Corp in WWII. She asked me to try and determined what it was for.
The badge is metal, about one inch in diameter, circular except for the top where there is two "feathery wings." The main part of the badge is circular with what appears to be four blades of a propeller. The center of the badge is yellow and the periphery is dark blue. There are 11 stars arranged around the bottom half of the badge in the blue periphery. Any ideas? thanks for your response.
Bob
Answer Hello Bob,
Not a problem, I would be more than happy to identify the wing,
The wing sounds like a civilian version of a mechanics wing, which was sold by Karl Ort during the late 1930’s and WWII.
If you can please send me photos (front and back), I would like to see them, so I can positively ID the badge.
