WWI US Air Service Junior/ Reserve Pilot Wing Sterling
During the First World War no real standard wings existed for the US Army Signal Corp Air Service. The wings shown here are for a Reserve or Junior Pilot and later for Observers. This was not a pilot held in Reserve, but one who came from the reserves and the junior pilot was new to the service. In Europe a 1/2 wing was awarded to someone who was carried on an aircraft and was not a pilot. The US 1/2 wings did not last long as the pilots were made fun off by their English and French counterparts. Making these 1/2 wings rather rare. They are one of the few 1/2 wings used in the US Military. Based on this design this wing could also have been one of the series of wings made for reunions. This wing is rather large measuring 2 1/16 wide and 13/16 high. This museum quality reproduction is made of Sterling Silver with the letters US gold plated.