{"id":27274675,"date":"2026-10-08T14:59:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T12:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/pilot-wings-badge-history-military-aviator-insignia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T15:01:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T13:01:42","slug":"pilot-wings-badge-history-military-aviator-insignia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/es\/pilot-wings-badge-history-military-aviator-insignia\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilot Wings: The History of the Military Aviator Badge"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background 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Years of flight training come down to that. In April 2026, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Christopher Mahoney, handed out the \"Wings of Gold\" at one of these ceremonies himself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Almost every air force and navy in the world marks the same moment with the same symbol: a pair of wings. The badge goes by many names, aviator badge, pilot's badge, brevet or simply wings, but its purpose has not changed in more than a century. It tells everyone who sees it that the wearer has been trained and qualified to fly a military aircraft.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6fa;border:1px solid #e2e7ee;padding:18px 22px;margin:24px 0\">\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-weight:700;font-size:17px;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p>\r\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px;line-height:1.7\">\r\n<li><strong>Early military pilot badges:<\/strong> the US Military Aviator badge (from 1912), Austria-Hungary and Germany (both 1913)<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>US Navy \"Wings of Gold\":<\/strong> first issued 13 November 1917, design credited to John H. Towers<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Naval aviators winged 1910 to 1995:<\/strong> more than 153,000<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>USAF pilot badge:<\/strong> three degrees, Pilot, Senior Pilot and Command Pilot<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>RAF badge:<\/strong> a winged crown and wreath with the letters \"RAF\", in use since the Second World War<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Half wing:<\/strong> worn by non-pilot aircrew in several air forces, including the RAF<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Why Pilots Needed a Badge at All<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>When armies began training pilots before the First World War, they needed a way to show who had qualified. The aviator badge was created to recognise that training and, as Wikipedia's history of the badge puts it, to set military pilots apart from the \"foot soldiers\" of the ground forces.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In Europe, the first badges appeared in 1913. Austro-Hungarian aviation troops began wearing gilded silver and enamelled badges that year. In Germany, Emperor Wilhelm II created the Military Pilot Badge on 27 January 1913, for officers, NCOs and crews who had passed the two required pilot tests and earned their military pilot's certificate. Bavaria followed with its own badge about a week later. Badges for naval seaplane pilots, observers and, in 1918, air gunners came next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The United States had a Military Aviator badge from 1912 until 1917, when it was replaced by the first true American \"wings\".<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The American Wings: One Wing, Two Wings, a Star<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The US Army Air Service issued its first aviator badges during the First World War, in three degrees. An observer wore a \"US\" shield with a single wing on the left side. A junior aviator wore the shield between two wings. A senior aviator had the same badge with a star above the shield. The idea of a single wing for non-pilot aircrew is still used by several air forces today, as the \"half wing\".<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The design that every US Air Force pilot wears today arrived during the Second World War, with the US Army Air Forces. It came in three degrees: Pilot, Senior Pilot and Command Pilot. When the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-states-air-force\/\">US Air Force<\/a> became an independent service in 1947, it kept the same badge. The main change since then is the material: from the mid-1990s, the wings have been made of chrome or sterling silver instead of the dull alloy used before.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/usaf-senior-pilot-badge.jpg\" alt=\"US Air Force Senior Pilot badge with star above the shield\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">The US Air Force Senior Pilot badge. The basic design dates from the US Army Air Forces in the Second World War (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The higher degrees are earned with time and flying hours. According to Wikipedia's summary of the USAF rules, a Senior Pilot needs seven years as a rated pilot plus 2,000 total flying hours, or 1,300 hours of primary and instructor flying. The US Army, which kept its own aviation after 1947, created a modified version of the Air Force badge for its aviators in 1950, with a Master Aviator grade added in 1957.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Wings of Gold<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The US Navy took a different route. Its aviator badge was first issued on 13 November 1917 and has barely changed since. The design, credited to John H. Towers, one of the Navy's first aviators, shows a single fouled anchor under a shield with 13 stripes, set on a pair of wings. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pilots all earn the same badge when they finish advanced flight training, and it is always gold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/us-naval-aviator-wings-of-gold-insignia.jpg\" alt=\"US Naval Aviator insignia, the Wings of Gold, with fouled anchor and shield\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">The Naval Aviator Insignia, the \"Wings of Gold\" worn by US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pilots (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Unlike the Air Force and the Army, the naval services have no senior or master grades. A naval aviator wears the same wings on the first day and the last. Between 1910 and 1995, more than 153,000 naval aviators earned them, and up to about 1,000 more are designated every year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In November 2019, Lt. j.g. Robert Woods became the 35,000th helicopter pilot to be winged at Whiting Field. Twenty-two other students earned their wings with him that day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #8a6d00;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><em>&ldquo;We all work extremely hard to earn our Wings of Gold and this milestone is a reminder of all who have gone before us.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Lt. j.g. Robert Woods<\/strong> &mdash; 35,000th helicopter pilot winged at NAS Whiting Field (2019)<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Crowns, Wreaths and Half Wings<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Outside the United States, the badge usually carries national symbols. The <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-kingdom-royal-air-force\/\">Royal Air Force<\/a> pilot's badge, in use since the Second World War, is a winged crown and wreath with the letters \"RAF\" beneath. The crown changes with the monarch: wings issued in wartime carry the King's crown, while those issued during Queen Elizabeth II's reign carried hers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/raf-pilot-wings-eagle-squadron-ww2.jpg\" alt=\"Cloth Royal Air Force pilot wings with the King's crown from the Second World War\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">Cloth RAF pilot wings with the King's crown, issued to an unknown Eagle Squadron pilot during the Second World War (San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The RAF also uses a half wing, a single wing, for Weapon Systems Officers, Weapon Systems Operators and other airborne roles. Other air forces use their own emblems. The Belgian Air Force badge carries the Belgian lion and the royal crown, and the Royal Danish Air Force badge is based on the Danish coat of arms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Still Worth Earning<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Wings are no longer limited to the military. Airlines issue them to their pilots, the FAA awards badges to pilots who complete stages of its WINGS proficiency programme, and flight schools and youth programmes have their own versions. But the military badge remains the one that means the most to the people who wear it, because of what it takes to get one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, who commanded the Navy's education and training command, spoke at the 2019 Whiting Field ceremony.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1f3a5f;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><em>&ldquo;It's always inspiring to stand witness to the next generation of naval aviators.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad<\/strong> &mdash; Commander, Naval Education and Training Command (2019)<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In the video below, retired USAF Colonel Norm Potter explains the differences between the US Air Force's rated officer wings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IhqnMuEmqig\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777\"><em>Sources: Wikipedia (Aviator badge; United States Aviator Badge; Naval aviator insignia); US Navy news release on the 35,000th helicopter pilot winged at NAS Whiting Field (November 2019); Joint Chiefs of Staff photo caption, Training Air Wing 5 winging ceremony (April 2026); San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What are pilot wings?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Pilot wings, officially an aviator badge, are a uniform insignia worn by military pilots to show that they have been trained and qualified in military aviation. Almost every air force and navy uses a winged design, usually combined with national symbols such as a crown, a shield or a coat of arms.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>When were pilot wings first used?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Some of the earliest military pilot badges date from 1912 and 1913. The United States had a Military Aviator badge from 1912 to 1917, Austro-Hungarian aviation troops began wearing gilded silver badges in 1913, and Germany's Emperor Wilhelm II created the Military Pilot Badge on 27 January 1913. The United States had a Military Aviator badge from 1912 to 1917.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What are the US Navy Wings of Gold?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Wings of Gold are the Naval Aviator Insignia, worn by US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pilots. First issued on 13 November 1917 and credited to John H. Towers, the badge shows a fouled anchor under a 13-striped shield on a pair of gold wings. It has no senior or master grades.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What are the three USAF pilot badge levels?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The US Air Force pilot badge comes in three degrees: Pilot, Senior Pilot and Command Pilot. The higher degrees depend on years as a rated pilot and flying hours. A Senior Pilot, for example, needs seven years as a rated pilot and 2,000 total hours, or 1,300 hours of primary and instructor flying.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What does the RAF pilot badge look like?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Royal Air Force pilot badge, in use since the Second World War, is a winged crown and wreath with the letters RAF beneath. The RAF also issues a half wing, a single wing, to Weapon Systems Officers, Weapon Systems Operators and other airborne roles such as Airborne Technicians.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What is a half wing?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A half wing is a badge with a single wing, worn by aircrew who are not pilots. The RAF uses it for Weapon Systems Officers and other airborne roles. The idea goes back to the First World War, when US Army observers wore a shield with a single left-side wing while pilots wore two wings.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are pilot wings?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Pilot wings, officially an aviator badge, are a uniform insignia worn by military pilots to show that they have been trained and qualified in military aviation. Almost every air force and navy uses a winged design, usually combined with national symbols such as a crown, a shield or a coat of arms.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When were pilot wings first used?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Some of the earliest military pilot badges date from 1912 and 1913. 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The idea goes back to the First World War, when US Army observers wore a shield with a single left-side wing while pilots wore two wings.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\">\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/why-pilots-say-niner-phonetic-alphabet-radio\/\">Why Pilots Say \u201cNiner\u201d: The Story of the Aviation Alphabet<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/touch-and-go-landing-traffic-pattern-explained\/\">Touch-and-Go Landings and the Traffic Pattern, Explained<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/military-aviation-history-zeppelin-to-sixth-generation\/\">Wings of War: From Zeppelin to Sixth Generation<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the 1913 German Military Pilot Badge to the US Navy&#8217;s Wings of Gold: how a pair of wings became the mark of a qualified military pilot.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":27274366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[666,664],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27274675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-legends","category-military-aviation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - 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