The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: alfsauve on December 20, 2011, 03:02:02 PM
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I wonder if any of you WWII affiandoes can help? I thought I check with this group before joining one of the military discussion boards.
Dad, only got as far a Hawaii, and didn't earn anything like a "Star" or even Purple Heart, but there are a couple of things I can't quite place.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d9CTwXPkKo0/TvDqveeJO2I/AAAAAAAAnKw/rsv0ylI4VuE/s400/DadsMedals.jpg)
First is what appears to be Aviation Cadet wings with a Sargent's Chevron below it. I know he learned how to fly a Piper Cub more or less on his own, and officially used that skill in his duties as air ops specialist, but he never went to "cadet school" I don't think. His discharge papers don't mention it and you would think that skill they would have listed. Maybe someone gave him those as a joke? (He also was an airborne radio operator and mechanic, but never flew any real missions. Again, that I know of.)
Second, is what appears to be some unit badge/button. Three lightning bolts coming out of a small circle. Could be connected with his being a radio op. Could be some play on the 5th Air Force insignia which uses 3 lighting bolts.
Any links would be appreciated. I found the WWII forums, just don't want to have to go through the exercise of signing up for another forum.
Thanks, Alf
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Alf, The brass may be outlining Corporals chevrons, I don't know if it is an official item but it acknowledges his status as a Flying NCO.
I believe the blue round badge is a Radio operator emblem.
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Well, things might have changed a little, but I don't think the chevrons are an outline, but the actual chevrons. This site shows them as E5.
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/sergeant-goldbrite-rank-p-1627.html (http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/sergeant-goldbrite-rank-p-1627.html)
I know he departed as an E5 but probably did his flying, mostly out of Savannah and Statesboro, GA as an E4. I don't think he did any flying at Hickam AAF, HI.
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The Wing & Prop Insignia indicates Army Air Force between 1920 and 1948 see below. I don't think he needed to be a NCO pilot to have that insignia.
http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/chevrons.html
The other pin/badge is most likely his individual unit pin. I'm sure you Air Force guys had them too, I know my rate in the Navy had a boatload of them.
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In every instance I have seen, Army Air Corps insignia had the wings in the chevrons as shown in the site Tim posted. I have never seen the chevrons hanging from them. The closest thing I found so far is a "sweetheart pin" with SGT chevrons on it instead of a bar.
http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/usaaf/usaafmiscellaneous.shtml (http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/usaaf/usaafmiscellaneous.shtml)
http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/homefront/homefrontsweetheart.shtml (http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/homefront/homefrontsweetheart.shtml)
Do you have any data on the units he was assigned to?