I thought it might have been the Quaker Oats promotion from around 1960 that was a tie in with the Biggles TV series but on researching it, that was a tatty piece of printed plastic, this looks much better.
Aviator goggles and a surrouding garland of pistons, reminiscent of a radial engine. The slightly mystifying element is the devil like horns or donkey ears! Google lens couldn't match it and ot's poor little AI drained a lake to come up with this.. "Key Features of the Insignia Design: A metal wing-and-bust pin featuring a central face or helmeted head surrounded by circular detailing and large, spread feathered wings. • Style: Resembles vintage pinback or brooch styles from the World War II era (such as military aircrew, pilot, or auxiliary sweetheart badges), though the specific central face motif is non-standard for official modern service issue and may be a novelty, theatrical, or stylized patriotic piece"
The design is very similar to a vintage United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Flight Engineer Badge featuring a winged insignia with a central radial engine and propeller motif only the propeller has been replaced with a pilot head. Based on the lack of crisp detailing, odd wings and the oddness of having a head in the center, this is not a USAAF badge. It could be toy related or a fan club giveaway for some flying based movie/radio series...
All very intriguing. Oddly enough this was posted just as I was reading about the latest attempt to find aviator Amua Eckhart's plane. I thought of her when I saw the badge.
I thought it might have been the Quaker Oats promotion from around 1960 that was a tie in with the Biggles TV series but on researching it, that was a tatty piece of printed plastic, this looks much better.
ReplyDeleteThose look like aviator goggles on the face.
ReplyDeleteAviator goggles and a surrouding garland of pistons, reminiscent of a radial engine.
ReplyDeleteThe slightly mystifying element is the devil like horns or donkey ears!
Google lens couldn't match it and ot's poor little AI drained a lake to come up with this..
"Key Features of the Insignia Design: A metal wing-and-bust pin featuring a central face or helmeted head surrounded by circular detailing and large, spread feathered wings.
• Style: Resembles vintage pinback or brooch styles from the World War II era (such as military aircrew, pilot, or auxiliary sweetheart badges), though the specific central face motif is non-standard for official modern service issue and may be a novelty, theatrical, or stylized patriotic piece"
The devil like horns are the crescent shape at the back of the badge that went through a button hole on the lapel of a jacket.
DeleteDefinitely aviator goggles and leather flying cap. It also has the nine cylinders surrounding the head.
ReplyDeleteThe design is very similar to a vintage United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Flight Engineer Badge featuring a winged insignia with a central radial engine and propeller motif only the propeller has been replaced with a pilot head. Based on the lack of crisp detailing, odd wings and the oddness of having a head in the center, this is not a USAAF badge. It could be toy related or a fan club giveaway for some flying based movie/radio series...
ReplyDeleteAll very intriguing. Oddly enough this was posted just as I was reading about the latest attempt to find aviator Amua Eckhart's plane. I thought of her when I saw the badge.
ReplyDeleteI meant Amelia Earhart. Doh!
ReplyDelete