United States of America: Second World War issue United States Army Air Force Navigator Badge, silver, ‘Sterling’ marked on reverse, complete with horizontal pin fitting to reverse with revolving catch.
Condition: the pin slightly buckled from use, slightly polished on highlights with evidence of having been worn, overall Good Very Fine.
The Navigator Badge is a military qualification badge of the United States Air Force which was first created during the Second World War.
The badge recognises the Aeronautical Rating of Navigator, now Combat Systems Officer. The original Navigator badge was a successor to the Observer Badge, which was issued to military aviation navigators in the 1920s and 1930s. With an increase in aircraft technology, however, the Navigator, Bombardier, Engineer, and Gunner badges were created to recognize the advanced training and qualifications required of various aircrew members.
The original Navigator badge was issued by the U.S. Army Air Force and consisted of an armillary sphere centred between two wings. The badge was similar to the Aviator Badge and the Aircrew Badge. On July 26, 1947, the U.S. Air Force became a separate Branch of Service in the U.S. armed forces. and in late 1951 the Aircraft Observer, Navigator, and Bombardier badges were replaced with a single design, with the Air Force shield centred between two wings. At the same time, the aeronautical ratings of Navigator and Bombardier were merged into a single rating. The Aircraft Observer rating continued for Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs), but eventually EWOs were awarded the Navigator-Bombardier aeronautical rating.
