United States of America: Second World War issue United States Army Air Force Aerial Gunner Badge, silver, ‘Sterling’ marked on reverse, complete with horizontal pin fitting to reverse with revolving catch.
Condition: slightly polished on highlights with evidence of having been worn, overall Good Very Fine.
The Aerial Gunner Badge is a military qualification badge of the United States Air Force which was first created during the Second World War.
The badge was first created and authorised on April 29, 1943 to recognise both the training and hazardous duty of aerial gunners, who manned defensive machine guns on board such aircraft as the B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26 and B-29 bombers. The Aerial Gunner Badge appeared as a standard observer badge, upon which was centred a winged bullet. It was primarily awarded to USAAF enlisted aircrew-men, but a small number of commissioned officers also qualified and were awarded this insignia, to include film actor Clark Gable.
The Aerial Gunner Badge was issued until 1953, in the newly created United States Air Force (1947). The Aerial Gunner Badge was declared obsolete and phased out in favour of the Aircrew Badge. Those having received the Aerial Gunner Badge were permitted to wear the original badge until 1955, at which time the badge was no longer authorised for display on an Air Force uniform.
