Gunner Badge: Difference between revisions
imported>TrottieTrue m Added short description |
imported>Gavbadger adding aircraft manufacturer |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
[[File:USAAF Aerial Gunner Badge.png|thumb|260px|U.S. Army Air Force's Aerial Gunner Badge]] | [[File:USAAF Aerial Gunner Badge.png|thumb|260px|U.S. Army Air Force's Aerial Gunner Badge]] | ||
The '''Aerial Gunner Badge''' was a military aeronautical badge of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] and was issued during the [[Second World War]]. The badge was first created and authorized on April 29, 1943<ref>[https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/badge-aerial-gunner-united-states-army-air-forces-1 Badge, Aerial Gunner, United States Army Air Forces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106011626/https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/badge-aerial-gunner-united-states-army-air-forces-1 |date=2017-01-06 }}, [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Air and Space Museum]], Inventory # A19610137000, last accessed 5 January 2017</ref> to recognize both the training and hazardous duty of [[Air gunner|aerial gunners]], who manned defensive machineguns on board such aircraft as the [[B-17 Flying Fortress | The '''Aerial Gunner Badge''' was a military aeronautical badge of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] and was issued during the [[Second World War]]. The badge was first created and authorized on April 29, 1943<ref>[https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/badge-aerial-gunner-united-states-army-air-forces-1 Badge, Aerial Gunner, United States Army Air Forces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106011626/https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/badge-aerial-gunner-united-states-army-air-forces-1 |date=2017-01-06 }}, [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Air and Space Museum]], Inventory # A19610137000, last accessed 5 January 2017</ref> to recognize both the training and hazardous duty of [[Air gunner|aerial gunners]], who manned defensive machineguns on board such aircraft as the [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]], [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]], [[North American B-25 Mitchell]], [[Martin B-26 Marauder]] and [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] bombers. The Aerial Gunner Badge appeared as a standard [[Observer Badge|observer badge]], upon which was centered a winged [[bullet]]. It was primarily awarded to USAAF enlisted aircrewmen, but a small number of commissioned officers also qualified and were awarded this insignia, to include film actor [[Clark Gable]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/clark-gable-served-in-uniform-flew-combat-missions-in-world-war-ii/|title=Actor Clark Gable Served in Uniform, Flew Combat Missions in World War II}}</ref> | ||
The Aerial Gunner Badge was issued until 1953, in the newly created [[United States Air Force]] (1947). The Aerial Gunner Badge was declared obsolete and phased out in favor of the [[Aircrew Badge]]. | The Aerial Gunner Badge was issued until 1953, in the newly created [[United States Air Force]] (1947). The Aerial Gunner Badge was declared obsolete and phased out in favor of the [[Aircrew Badge]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 22:30, 24 December 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
The Aerial Gunner Badge was a military aeronautical badge of the United States Army Air Forces and was issued during the Second World War. The badge was first created and authorized on April 29, 1943[1] to recognize both the training and hazardous duty of aerial gunners, who manned defensive machineguns on board such aircraft as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, North American B-25 Mitchell, Martin B-26 Marauder and Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers. The Aerial Gunner Badge appeared as a standard observer badge, upon which was centered a winged bullet. It was primarily awarded to USAAF enlisted aircrewmen, but a small number of commissioned officers also qualified and were awarded this insignia, to include film actor Clark Gable.[2]
The Aerial Gunner Badge was issued until 1953, in the newly created United States Air Force (1947). The Aerial Gunner Badge was declared obsolete and phased out in favor of the Aircrew Badge.
Those having received the Aerial Gunner Badge were permitted to wear the original badge until 1955, at which time the badge was no longer authorized for display on an Air Force uniform.
Prior to the establishment of the Aerial Gunner Badge, these airman could compete in an aerial gunnery competition to earn the Distinguished Aerial Gunner Badge. This lasted from 1926–1932.[3] Beyond this, there was no badge displayed on the uniform to denote one as an aerial gunner.
See also
References
- ↑ Badge, Aerial Gunner, United States Army Air Forces Script error: No such module "webarchive"., Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, Inventory # A19610137000, last accessed 5 January 2017
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Distinguished Bomber and Aerial Gunner Badges Script error: No such module "webarchive"., U. S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 29 December 2014