Update 08/05/25: Welcome to FLYING TIGER ANTIQUES!!
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Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
We look forward to serving your collecting needs! Happy Summer, Ron & Kanae.
ARTIFACT:
This badge, circa summer 1941 was initially made up for a Civilian Squadron of Pilots of then-called General Purpose Aircraft (think Flying Jeep!) for the Tennessee and Texas Army ManeuversÉ The Grasshopper was a light 800 lb. aircraft and had a small wingspan of only 37 feet, which made it quick and needed little room for takeoff and landing, it was able to land safely on a narrow road. According to an article in Popular Science (1942), a trained pilot would need less than a few hours to learn how to fly the craft. The Grasshopper was used for message carrying, running errands, traffic direction, taxi, and worked alongside the troops behind the line. The insignia is a grasshopper wearing a silk top hat, and was made by Johnson National Insignia Company Inc. of New York City. The pin comes on its original card which has pen handwriting that reads: "GRASSHOPPER INSIGNIA OF COW PASTURE PILOT". The insignia is a green grasshopper wearing a top hat, and was made by Johnson National Insignia Company Inc. of New York City. The pin comes on its original card.
This article is from January 1942, so what it did not know was that the aircraft were pretty much used for Liaison Service once the war got fully underway, and a similar Grasshopper became the insignia of the Liaison School where pilots of these small aircraft were trained. But this was the very first insignia, and it is very rare.
https://books.google.ca/books?id=DCcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63&dq=popular+science+january+1942+grasshopper&hl=en&sa=X&ei=C0EEUe-yLsXe0gGFnoDwBw#v=onepage&q=popular%20science%20january%201942%20grasshopper&f=false
VINTAGE:
Circa early WWII
SIZE:
Pin: approximately 9/16" in height and 7/8" in width; card: approximately 1-5/16" by 1-7/8".
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Gilt brass, enamel; oaktag card.
ATTACHMENT:
Horizontal pin with drop-in locking swivel catch.
MARKINGS:
JOHNSON NATIONAL N.Y. on reverse of pin; JOHNSON NATIONAL INSIGNIA CO. INC. 314 WEST 14TH STREET NEW YORK CITY on card; handwriting on front of card.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a USAAF insignia collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. VBJX12 LX12/12 SLFGEX6/15 SFJJX9/15
CONDITION:
7+ (Very Fine+): The pin has a few very light abrasions; the pin took a hit at the center and has some flaking to the enamel there, but no chunks missing. The tag has some light wear.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
