Dad's medals

[alfsauve]

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.




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

[tombogan03884]

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.

[alfsauve]

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

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.

[Timothy]

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.

[jnevis]

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/homefront/homefrontsweetheart.shtml

Do you have any data on the units he was assigned to?

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