06-02-2003, 08:20 AM
Up until the end of WWII there were a huge number of different wings, as Chris said they were for different schools, services, etc.
After the war the became more standardized.
There were basically three types of wings - pilot, navigator and engineer. There were of course many wings when you take into account the different models/dates and the fact that some came in up to 5 classes of specialty (Master/Sniper, 1, 2, 3, and 0).
These wings were only for qualified flight personnel. This meant officer in almost all cases. So standard mechanics and even aircrew like gunners on the old 1950s-60s bombers did not get wings. A ground based engineer could have wings if he was qualified to operate as in-flight engineer.
Navigators were actually navigator/payload specialists - hence the original bomb shape for their wings.
Interestingly, there was no seperate naval infantry wings from the end of WWII until 1991. Naval pilots wore regular wings during this period. It was the development of actual carriers that prompted the navy to make its own badge. It is not clear if it was to be issued to all Soviet naval pilots or if shore based pilots would still use the standard wings.
Chris, your navigator's wings look odd. They appear to be M1950, the only type which had just the bomb (not the bomb on a shield) with numbers. However, the M1950 should have red enamel numbers set into the bomb, not a meal number affixed to the bomb. Also, the bomb should be very cuved (convex) and not flat.
Shawn
After the war the became more standardized.
There were basically three types of wings - pilot, navigator and engineer. There were of course many wings when you take into account the different models/dates and the fact that some came in up to 5 classes of specialty (Master/Sniper, 1, 2, 3, and 0).
These wings were only for qualified flight personnel. This meant officer in almost all cases. So standard mechanics and even aircrew like gunners on the old 1950s-60s bombers did not get wings. A ground based engineer could have wings if he was qualified to operate as in-flight engineer.
Navigators were actually navigator/payload specialists - hence the original bomb shape for their wings.
Interestingly, there was no seperate naval infantry wings from the end of WWII until 1991. Naval pilots wore regular wings during this period. It was the development of actual carriers that prompted the navy to make its own badge. It is not clear if it was to be issued to all Soviet naval pilots or if shore based pilots would still use the standard wings.
Chris, your navigator's wings look odd. They appear to be M1950, the only type which had just the bomb (not the bomb on a shield) with numbers. However, the M1950 should have red enamel numbers set into the bomb, not a meal number affixed to the bomb. Also, the bomb should be very cuved (convex) and not flat.
Shawn
