Rare Mid-Late 1930s US Navy Observer & UNOFFICIAL Enlisted Pilot Wing in Sterling

ARTIFACT: This is a rare mid- to late 1930s United States Navy observer and unofficial enlisted pilot wing in sterling silver. Between January 1927 and October 1929 a new design for Naval Aviation Observer (NAO) was approved which was the same design as for Naval Aviator Pilot wings except they were in silver rather than gold. After October 1929 and until 1968, Naval Aviation Observers were authorized to wear the more familiar gold wing with a silver ringed disk at center with a silver anchor on the disk, with one exception: All Naval Aviation Observers who had qualified for the rating before November 1929 were permitted to continue wearing their original silver pilot-style wings like the one seen above for as long as they remained on active duty. Including if they were still on active duty throughout WWII and beyond.

I have seen personally more than one USN Enlisted Pilot grouping from the just-prior-to-WWII through WWII era which included one or more SILVER Pilot wings, so I have come to the conclusion that it is quite possible that on occasion, these enlisted pilots UNOFFICIALLY wore a SILVER Pilot Wing instead of a Gold, to differentiate themselves from Officer Pilots, just as Enlisted Chiefs in the Submarine Service unofficially wore Silver Submariner badges during the late 1930s and WWII before they were officially issued.

VINTAGE: Circa mid-late 1930s.

SIZE: About 2-13/16" in width by 15/16" in height.

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Sterling.

ATTACHMENT: Horizontal pin with a "come under" locking catch.

MARKINGS: STERLING.

ITEM NOTES: This is from a large collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MBJJL07 LHEJX SBJJX1/11

CONDITION: 9- (Excellent+): Little to no wear.