GREETINGS from The FLYING TIGER Antiques & Vintage Historical Artifacts!!!
As of today, Thursday, 23 March, Kanae is IN THE OFFICE,
I will be joining her shortly, by Monday 27 March.
What does that mean? Well, there MAY be a delay in shipping,
especially of Military Artifacts, and some Police & Fire Badges
As many of those pieces on the site were with me on the trip to Louisville & Baltimore!
So, hang tight for a few more days, as there may be a delay until 3/27 to get your order shipped if the ordered artifact is with me on the road!!
Meanwhile, Kanae will be LISTING NEW ARTIFACTS DAILY,
And shipping what she can, through the foreseeable future!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here to add to your collection!!
If funding your order from a Bank that offers ZELLE, ASK ABOUT OUR ZELLE DISCOUNT! Also applies to check and money order payments!
Happy Collecting, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
This wing has a unique, massive construction. It conforms loosely to the November 19th, 1920 US Army Air Service Regulations as that of an Observer, Qualified as a Pilot. But, it is also a bit of an anomaly. It definitely has design characteristics that go back to WWI, especially the beveled-corner "O" at center, and in Duncan Campbell's Revised Edition of Aviation Badges and Insignia of the United States Army 1913-1946, Duncan mentions a photo from 1918 where it is hard to discern, but the wing being worn appears to be this wing.
The collector whom I acquired this wing from, regarding wings perhaps the most knowledgeable in the country, has researched this wing and he feels that this extraordinary United States Army Air Service (USAAS) duel-wing Balloon Observer badge is close to being one of a kind. His research shows that only a small number of officers who received training as Balloon Observers at Langley Field, Virginia and Scott Field, Illinois in 1921 were able to get them before it was realized that the letters "US" in the center shield did not conform to Army regulations according to the rules of heraldry as defined by the Commission of Fine Arts on 14 November 1918, amended by the War Department on 11 October 1920 and 30 July 1921.
This wing is biographical, and the name of the original owner will be given to potential buyers.
VINTAGE:
Circa 1920.
SIZE:
Approximately 11/16" in height by 3-1/16" in width.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Sterling silver.
ATTACHMENT:
Horizontal pin with drop-in locking swivel catch.
MARKINGS:
STERLING.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a United States Army Air Forces collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. VBFFJX12 LDBEJX6/12
CONDITION:
8+ (Excellent): The wing has only some very light wear.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
