Template:Short description An aviator badge is an insignia used in most of the world's militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation. Also known as a pilot's badge, or pilot wings, the aviator badge was first conceived to recognize the training that military aviators receive, as well as provide a means to outwardly differentiate between military pilots and the “foot soldiers” of the regular ground forces.
Austria-HungaryEdit
Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops started wearing gilded silver and enameled badges in 1913. The badges style changed after the death of Franz Joseph I of Austria. In 1917 a new badge was created.
- Voorschrift voor het Feldpilotenabzeichen Oostenrijk-Hongarije 1913.gif
Official publication of the Austrian Government in the K. und K. Normalverordnungsblatt Number 2/1913
- Veldpilotenonderscheiding van 1913 en van 1917 Oostenrijk-Hongarije in het Verordnungsblatt für das k. und k. Heer.gif
Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops Badge, 1913 and 1917
- AU zrakoplovstvo.jpg
Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops Observers Badge, 1917
BelgiumEdit
The current aviator badge of the Belgian Air Force depicting the Leo Belgicus and surmounted the Royal Crown of Belgium.
BangladeshEdit
_Aviator_Badge.png){kind=link}
Aviator badge of the Bangladesh Air Force<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Aviator Badge of Bangladesh Air Force closely resembles the pilots flying badge of The Royal Air Force. Though the badge has a touch of its own characteristics.
CanadaEdit
The Pilot Flying Badge of the Royal Canadian Air Force is:
ChinaEdit
The emblem of the People's Liberation Army Air Force is:
DenmarkEdit
The aviator badge of the Royal Danish Air Force is based on the national coat of arms of Denmark.
IranEdit
The Pilot Flying Badge of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force is:
FranceEdit
The aviator badges of the French Air Force/Armée de l'air française and French Navy/Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale are:
- Badge pilote 12279.JPG
Pilot's Badge
- Badge observateur 12282.JPG
Observer's Badge
- Navigateur-Air-qualif.jpg
Navigator's Badge
- Méanicien-air-qualif.jpg
Flight Doctor's Badge
- Brevet ICVAA.png
Air Force Flight Nurse
- Brevet-de-convoyeuse.jpg
Air Force Patient Pilot
- Para-armée-air-qualif.jpg
- Commando-air-béret.jpg
- Pilote-aéronavale-qualif.jpg
Naval Pilot's Badge
GermanyEdit
1913-1920Edit
Several badges were donated to German aircrew prior, during or after the First World War. The most notable were:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Marineflugzeugführerabzeichen von Seeflugzeugen II.jpg
badge for navy pilots from seaplanes 1913
- Militär Beobachterabzeichen 1914.jpg
badge for observation officers from airplanes 1914
The Military Pilot Badge was donated on January 27, 1913 by Emperor Wilhelm II. It could be awarded to officers, NCOs and crews who, after completing the two required tests for pilots and after completing their training at a military air base, acquired the certificate as a military pilot issued by the military air and land transportation inspection (Inspektion des Militär-Luft- und Kraft-Fahrtwesens). A similar badge for military pilots was donated on 4 February 1913 by Prince Ludwig from Bavaria.
The badge for navy pilots on seaplanes (Abzeichen für Marine Flugzeugführer auf Seeflugzeugen) was donated on 31 May 1913 by King and Emperor Wilhelm II, for all officers and soldiers, who successfully completed the training on a naval aircraft station and thus received a certificate of qualification as a naval pilot.
The badge for navy pilots on land planes (Abzeichen für Marine Flugzeugführer auf Landflugzeugen) was donated on 23 February 1915 by emperor Wilhelm II for pilots of the Navy, who completed their service in the war on land planes.
The badge for observation officers from airplanes (Abzeichen für Beobachtungsoffiziere aus Flugzeugen) was donated on January 27, 1914 by emperor Wilhelm II. Prerequisites for the award were: 1. a distance traveled of at least 1000 km in an aircraft, 2. a successfully completed technical assistance examination on an aircraft, 3. pass of at least one retake, 4. accomplished exploration missions, and 5. a certification as an observation officer. A similar badge was donated by King Ludwig III. on 3 March 1914 for the Bavarian army.
The airgunner badge (Abzeichen Flugzeug-Fliegerschützen) was founded on January 27, 1918 by emperor Wilhelm II. The soldiers had to demonstrate in-depth knowledge in engine construction and operation, in flight training, in map reading, in the tactics of aerial combat, in theory of bombing, and skills in the operation of machine guns on the ground and in aerial combat.
The commemorative badge for airship crews (Erinnerungsabzeichen für Besatzungen der Luftschiffe) was donated in 1920 by Reichswehr Minister Otto Gessler. There were two versions for Army and Navy airships. Upon request, it was awarded to officers, deck officers, NCOs and crews of former airship crews, who during the war had at least one year of activity on front aircraft.
1935-1945Edit
The Pilotenabzeichen (Pilot's Badge) of the former Luftwaffe had been instituted by Hermann Göring on 12 August 1935. It came in distinct types; nickel silver (changed to zinc during the war) and a variant made of gold.Template:Sfn It depicts a silver eagle perched atop a swastika, wings open in a landing pose, and surrounded by a wreath with laurel on the right side and oak branches on the left side, respectively.Template:Sfn It was worn in the center of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, underneath the Iron Cross 1st Class if awarded.Template:Sfn The badge was awarded after one completed flight training and the flying licence and citation were received.Template:Sfn
After 1955Edit
In the Bundeswehr the aviation badge (Tätigkeitsabzeichen Militärluftfahrzeugführer) comes in three grades: bronze (Standard Pilot), silver (Senior Pilot) after 1200 flight hours and gold (Command Pilot) after 1800 flight hours. It depicts the Bundesadler surrounded by an oak leaf wreath between two wings. It is worn above the right breast pocket. A total of two Tätigkeitsabzeichen may be worn, one of which can be foreign in which case the foreign one would be worn below the German one.<ref>ZDv 37/10 Anzugordnung für die Bundeswehr</ref>
HungaryEdit
1938-1945Edit
Pilots and navigators of the Royal Hungarian Air Force wore their aviator rating badge sewn on their uniforms right breast above the pocketflap. The Observers Badge was the same, except without the Holy Crown of Hungary. A smaller version of the pilot's badge which was worn on the lower left sleeve of the overcoat - observers also worn a small insignia without the crown on their sleeve.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During World War II a gilded bronze pilot and observer badge was also introduced.
File:Royal Hungarian Air Force Pilots Badge drawing.png Royal Hungarian Air Force Pilots Badge sewn version |
File:Magyar Királyi Légierő Pilótajelvény.jpg Royal Hungarian Air Force Pilots Badge metal version |
File:Magyar Királyi Légierő Megfigyelőjelvény.jpg Royal Hungarian Air Force Observers Badge metal version |
After 1990Edit
After the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Hungary a new Hungarian Air Force was created. It took on the traditions of the Royal Hungarian Air Force. There are 4 classes of pilots badges. Gold laurel 1st class aviator; 1st class aviator, 2nd class aviator, and 3rd class aviator.
File:REPÜLŐGÉPVEZETŐ MELLKAS OSZTÁYJELZÉS ,TISZTI ,I.OSZTÁLY,FÉM.png 1st class aviator badge |
File:REPÜLŐGÉPVEZETŐ MELLKAS OSZTÁYJELZÉS ,TISZTI ,II.OSZTÁLY,FÉM.jpg 2nd class aviator badge |
File:REPÜLŐGÉPVEZETŐ MELLKAS OSZTÁYJELZÉS ,TISZTI ,III.OSZTÁLY,FÉM.png 3rd class aviator badge |
IsraelEdit
The current aviator badges ("wings") in the Israel Air Force is:
- IAF Silver pilot wings - silver shield.png
Current badge "wings" of an Israeli Air Force pilot, weapon systems officer, navigator and flight engineer
- Aircrew-mechanic metal wings 7cmBigCenter IAF.png
Air Crew chief's Badge
- Loadmaster7cmBigCenter IAF.png
Loadmaster's Badge
- Wings 7cm flight-medic IAF.png
Flight Doctor's and Flight Combat medic's Badge (two versions)
- Early-Warning-Control Operator from 2005.png
AEW&C Operator's Badge
- Twin wings metal IAF Flight test engineer.png
Flight test engineer's Badge
- Elect-warfare operator 7cmBigCenter IAF.png
EW operator's Badge
- Twin wings metal IAF Air Signaller.png
Air Signaller's Badge
- Air observer Common IntelligenceCorps IAF.png
Air observer's Badge
NamibiaEdit
The aviator badge of the Namibian Air Force is ...
The NetherlandsEdit
The aviator badge of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Navy is
PakistanEdit
The Aviator Badge of the Pakistan Air Force is:
PolandEdit
Template:Transcluded section {{#section-h:Polish Air Force|Qualification badges}}
RomaniaEdit
1912–1931Edit
The first military aviator badge of Romania was approved by the Ministry of War in 1912, following the establishment of the first pilot school in Cotroceni. It featured a silver miniature of a Blériot XI worn by pilots and observers on the collar of their tunics.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1915, after the formation of the Romanian Air Corps, new pilot and observer badges were introduced. The pilot badges featured a silver plated royal eagle holding a bomb in its claws and the royal cypher of King Ferdinand I on its chest. Officers wore the metal badges on the left side of the chest while non-commissioned officers wore a silk badge sewn on the left sleeve. From 1919, NCOs were allowed to wear the same badges as the officers. After the death of King Ferdinand, the badge used the cypher of King Michael I until 1931, when King Carol II introduced new badges.Template:Sfn
- Romanian military aviator badge 1912.png
Model 1912 aviator badge
- Romanian WW1 Pilot badge.png
Model 1915 Romanian pilot badge
1941–presentEdit
At the initiative of General Iosif Iacobici and Air squadron general Gheorghe Jienescu, the military pilot badges, named "war pilot badges", returned to the World War I aspect in 1941 with the difference being the replacement of the royal cypher with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Romania. After the abdication of King Michael in 1947, the aviator badges were replaced following the Soviet model.Template:Sfn During the communist regime, training levels achieved by the pilots were introduced. These levels, classes 1–3, were displayed on the badges in Arabic numerals. In 1977, an initiative launched by some aviators, with support received from Nicu Ceaușescu, youngest child of Nicolae Ceaușescu, brought back the old-style pilot badges. The new badges copied the model 1941 ones, with the coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Romania shown instead. After 1989, the decision was taken to issue new badges with the center coat of arms replaced by the Romanian cockade due to the lack of a new heraldic emblem. The present Romanian Air Force pilot badges were adopted in 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Better source needed
- Air Force Marshal Badge - King Michael I of Romania.jpg
Model 1941 pilot badge
- Romanian Air Force pilot badge.svg
Current pilot badge, 1st class
South AfricaEdit
The current aviator badge of the South African Air Force has been in use since 2002, when South Africa adopted a new coat of arms. Like the RAF, the SAAF also has a half-wing version of the badge, in this case for navigators. The aviator and navigator badges comes in three grades: bronze, silver and gold. Reserve force aviator badges have a light blue inlay around the coat of arms as appose to the dark blue of permanent air force aviators.
SpainEdit
Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image
TurkeyEdit
United KingdomEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The current aviator badge of the Royal Air Force has been in use since the Second World War. The badge consists of a winged crown and wreath, beneath which are the letters "RAF". The Royal Air Force also uses a "half wing" version to denote Weapon System Officers (WSOs) and Weapon System Operators (WSOps) as well as various airborne roles such as Airborne Technician.
.jpg){kind=link}
United StatesEdit
A Military Aviator badge existed from 1912-17 before being replaced by the predecessor of the "wings" badge. Template:Excerpt
See alsoEdit
NotesEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Reflist