WWI, U.S. AIR SERVICE, BOMBING MILITARY AVIATOR WING, BMA, STERLING, VINTAGE
Provenance: J. Duncan Campbell Collection.
Weight: 6g
This exact BMA Wing is featured within Duncan's Reference Book "Aviation Badges and Insignia of the United States Army, 1913-1946, Image #43, pages 19-21.
NOTE: This BMA Wing originally sold at Bonhams on 2 June 2009 with the sold final hammer price of $4387.00 and that was 15 years ago.
This Bombing Military Aviator Wing is a sterling silver metal badge, including two wings in a horizontal position with a falling bomb at their apex. The gilt metal letters "U.S." are horizontally soldered above the point of the bomb. Slender bomb with straight fins. The point of the bomb is gilt. The thin tapering wings are cut in detailed feathering. The wing is bulged outward giving it dimension. This is a jeweler made Sterling BMA wing. Pin back with functional catch.
In preparation for a never published book on US wings, collector and author Don Chalif put together a chapter on the Bombing Military Aviator badge of 1918-1919.
“Until the early 1960’s the Bombing Military Aviator badges worn during World War I were unknown to the most advanced collectors, as well as to the most prestigious military museums or the Air Force historical section. It was in the 1960’s, almost fifty years after they were worn that the author discovered the illustrated example. Col. Duncan Campbell a life-long collector of United States pilot and aircrew badges and friend was contacted concerning this unusual item, which displayed some obvious characteristics of having been manufactured during the Great War. Col. Campbell examined the badge and stated that over the years he had heard vague rumors that such a badge was worn. Subsequent investigation substantiated Bombing Military Aviators were infact trained specifically as bombing pilots with sizable units having been shipped to France during 1918. Further research during the intervening years by advanced U.S. collectors of the World War I period have located a number of surviving Bombing Military Aviators who have contributed their badges to those collectors”.
“Ample testimony from these former airmen confirms without shadow of a doubt that the Bombing Military Aviator existed and that the distinctive badge was commonly worn by those who held this distinctive classification. Photographic evidence further substantiates the record”.
Investigations have confirmed that the Bombardment Military Aviator badge was designed by 2nd Lt. Granville "Granny" Guttersen of St. Paul, Minnesota. He died on 4 December 1918 of influenza at Ellington, Field. It must be presumed that this was an unofficial badge, but acceptance by the Army as evidenced in photographs previously mentioned that it may be raised to the category of semi-official, due to usage. This is one of the more unusual and scarcer badges worn by Air Service Airmen during the war.
These Bombing Military Aviator wings were tolerated until May 15, 1918 when the Adjutant General declared in a memorandum that all specialties other than pilot would wear the Observer wing, no exceptions. This was made official in 1919. These are extremely rare as they were only worn by a select few and only for a very brief time.
“In the book, "Ellington Field 1918," there are photos of at least fifty officers wearing the Bombardment Military Aviator badge above the left breast pocket of the uniform.
Several examples: These images are not included.
Another photograph taken in October 1918 illustrates a group of 68 officers in New York city awaiting shipment overseas. Over 60 of the officers are wearing the Bombing Military Aviator badge.
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