Monthly Archives: February 2025

Command Pilot wings were adopted in 1941. Strict new rules for a military pilot required 12 years and 2000 flying hours, which restricted the amount of pilots who would rate the new badges. Command and Senior pilot wings issued to flyers in World War II would have likely earned their pilot wings in the 1920’s-1930’s. Pilots trained during World War II wouldn’t have qualified for Senior wings until after the war ended, and they wouldn’t have been eligible for Command Pilot wings until the Korean War. ORIGINAL UNITED STATES WORLD WAR II VETERAN’S KOREAN WAR AIR FORCE COMMAND PILOT WINGS BADGE INSIGNIA, 3 INCH SIZE, PIN-BACK. During World War II, with the rise of the Army Air Forces, a second series of aviator badges were issued to include a design that has survived to the modern day. The Pilot Badge was issued in three degrees, including Pilot, Senior Pilot, and Command Pilot. A polished silver colored version of these badges is currently used as the United States Air Force Pilot Badges. From August 1941 to November 1942, the Enlisted Aviator program was restarted. Candidates had to be at least 18, possess a high school diploma, and have graduated at the top of their high school class. Graduates were rated as Flight Staff Sergeants or Flight Technical Sergeants and wore the same pilot’s wings as officers. They were usually assigned to pilots of transport and auxiliary aircraft to free officer pilots to pilot the more prestigious fighters and bombers. Auxiliary pilots received their own special wings to indicate their status and specialty. In November 1942 all enlisted pilots were promoted to Flight Officer rank and enlisted cadets were graded as Flight Officers or Second Lieutenants depending on merit. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you!