Image used with the permission of Acmedepot.com
        
U.S. Army Air Force - Instructor

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2"



Jay Graybeal Collection

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2"



John Vargas Collection

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2 1/4"



A. L. Collection
12/07/2002
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3.75"
.75"
Sterling
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John Vargas Collection

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2.25"
2.25"
Sterling
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John Vargas Collection

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2.5"
.5"
Danecraft Co., Sterling
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John Cook Collection
This program was started in early 1940 by the Civil Aeronautics Administration to increase interest in civil aviation. Privately owned Flying Schools, especially near college towns and larger communities, served as pilot training centers for interested and qualified participants.

On December 12, 1941, President Roosevelt formally militarized the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Various civilian flight schools were given Army and Navy contracts to conduct elementary ground and flight training to student pilots, the majority of whom were serving in a Reserve status. Graduates were transferred to military operated flight training schools, as openings occurred, leading to qualification as an Army or Naval Aviator. It is not known how many CPT Flight Instructors and Students wore these Danecraft Enlisted Reserve CPT wing badges but in an Official Capacity they were only applicable between December 12, 1941 and December 7, 1942, when the title of the program was officially changed to War Training Service (WTS). Whether any of the badges would have continued to be used into 1943 is unknown.

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2.5"
.5"
Danecraft Co., Sterling
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The CPT that is normally seen on this wing is missing. This wing was struck without the CPT. Apparently this wing was worn by students.
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3"

Sterling, Pat. Pend.
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John Vargas Collection

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1.5"
1.25"

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John Vargas Collection

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2"





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3"

Pat Pend, Sterling
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John Vargas Collection

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1 9/32"
5/16"
Pat Pend, Sterling
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R. & J. Quetel Collection

These are collar insigna for civilian contract flight instructors.
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2 21/32"
1/2"
Hickok USA
Tie Bar Clasp
R. & J. Quetel Collection

These are Hunter Flying Service Instructor Wings, Operators of the 313th AAFFTD, Victory Field, Vernon Texas - from More Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens by Jon A. Maguire, page 324

Note the three dots and the bar above the "V". This is morse code for "V". It was often used in cartoons and was sounded as the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

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John Vargas Collection
8/31/2001
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15/16"
1/4"

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R. & J. Quetel Collection
11/30/2001
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3 3/16"

Sterling
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David Hoagey Collection
12/19/2002
This wing is from Jean (Pete) Lawler, a WW2 civilian instructor at Darr-Aero-Tech, Albany GA
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4"
2 3/4"


David Hoagey Collection
12/19/2002
This patch is from Jean (Pete) Lawler, a WW2 civilian instructor at Darr-Aero-Tech, Albany GA
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Cliff Presley Collection
10/7/2010
Flight Instructor badge for Flying Dutchman Air Service, a Government Approved Primary Flying School located at Somerton Airport, Philadelphia, PA.
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Cliff Presley Collection
10/7/2010
Although this wing is not maker marked it was made by Balfour.
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Charles Stansell Collection
12/12/2010
This badge is from Cimarron Field.
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Snowflake pattern
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John Ferguson Collection
11/03/2019
The snowflake pattern was used by the American Metal Craft Company (Amcraft).
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J.A. Myers & CO, Los Angeles
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John Ferguson Collection
10/24/2020
This is a wing for the Hancock Foundation in Santa Maria CA.
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3 3/4"
3/4"

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Cliff Presley Collection
05/01/2022
This Georgia Air Service (AGS) flight instructor wing badge was only used for about two years. . . from 1940 until 1942. In 1942 the company changed its name to Southeastern Air Service, possibly because they only operated two flight schools as Air Corps Training Detachments. One was located in Bennettsville, SC, and the other in Jackson, TN.

The school in Bennettsville, SC operated from October 1941 to November 1944. Civilian flight instructors there led U. S. Army Air Corps cadets through a 9-week course flying PT-17 Stearman biplanes. 6410 students received training there, and 4769, or 73%, graduated.

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Beverlycraft, Sterling
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Tod Rathbone Collection
05/22/2022
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Tod Rathbone Collection
05/22/2022
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Tod Rathbone Collection
05/22/2022
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Tod Rathbone Collection
05/22/2022
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A.E. Co. Utica, N.Y.
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Tod Rathbone Collection
05/22/2022
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Noble, Sterling
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Tod Rathbone Collection
05/22/2022
Noble wing with Desert Aero enamel shield. Desert Aero was a private contract air field located in the Mojave Desert near Inyokern.
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3"
13/16"
Beverycraft
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Cliff Presley Collection
08/16/2022
WW2 Link Trainer Instrument Flying Instructor wing badge - Used as a step preceding actual flight training, during WW2 over 10,000 Link Trainers were made to improve safety and training time for over 500,000 pilots.
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Aviation Wings and Badges of the World Wars