Combat Aircrew History

When the Navy finally decided to enter aviation in December 1910, a new era dawned for thousands of officers and enlisted men. By December 1917, pilots were designated as Naval Aviators and wore distinctive wings of gold. Five years later, in September 1922, non-pilot officers, or Naval Aviation Observers, were recognized with their own breast insignia. However, the enlisted men who flew aboard rapidly evolving naval aircraft remained unrecognized. The Naval Appropriations Act of 1916 granted enlisted aircrewmen flight pay and other benefits, but it would take almost 30 years before the Navy created an insignia for these "Sailors in the sky

Many heroic aircrewmen have flown aboard naval aircraft and were an integral part of Naval Aviation. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson earned the Medal of Honor for his actions during a daylight bombing mission against a German-held railroad Junction in Belgium on 14 October 1918. Robinson and pilot 2nd Lieutenant Ralph Talbot were recognized for extra-ordinary heroism in engaging enemy aircraft at great odds. Figuratively, Robinson "earned his wings.

Enlisted personnel continued to gain prominence through the 1920s. On 1 July 1921, several basic aviation ratings were created from which the Navy drew its enlisted aircrewmen: aviation machinist's mate, aviation metalsmith, aviation carpenter's mate, aviation rigger and photographer. Aside from their rating badges, no one could tell that these men belonged to the aviation community.

Aircrewmen continued to take flight aboard biplanes, balloons and dirigibles, losing their lives in some cases. Over 70 Sailors, many enlisted aircrewmen, were killed on 4 April 1933 when the rigid airship Akron (ZRS 4) crashed off Barnegat Light, N.J.

During WW II, a new aviation breast insignia was designed in response to numerous requests from the fleet to recognize enlisted aircrewmen. The 19 February 1943 meeting of the Navy Department Uniform Board approved a recommendation from the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics (BUAER) for the creation of such an insignia. It was endorsed by the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, and the Chief of Naval Personnel was tasked to issue the appropriate instructions. The aircrew insignia was to be authorized "for flight crews of Navy planes who have been duly designated as members of aircrews. Commissioned and warrant officers who have been designated as Naval Aviators or Naval Observers, and enlisted ratings who have been designated as Naval Aviation Pilots, shall not be eligible to receive or wear the aircrew insignia."

In a letter dated 11 February 1943, BUAER Chief Rear Admiral John S. McCain had set forth the provisions of eligibility for wearing the new aircrew breast insignia as "having served, subsequent to 7 December 1941, for a total period of three months as a regularly assigned member of the aircrew of a combatant aircraft." The term "combatant aircraft" was expanded to include all operating aircraft of the fleet or frontier forces, except utility aircraft which were not designed for offensive or defensive purposes. "Regularly assigned member of the aircrew" was to be taken literally and must have been annotated as such on the respective unit's battle station bill. In addition, commanding officers could authorize personnel who had suffered injuries or other physical impairment while engaged in combatant operations to wear the aircrew wings.

The insignia featured a banner across the top on which eligible sailors could affix up to three stars signifying individual combat awards. Aircrews engaging enemy aircraft, singly or in formation; engaging armed enemy combatant vessels with bombs, torpedoes or machine guns; and engaging in bombing or offensive operations against fortified enemy positions were qualified to wear a combat star, with unit commander approval, on their aircrew breast insignia. Since Naval Aviator wings were adopted in 1917, many wing designs have been proposed, adopted and changed, with only the gold color remaining constant.

The design of the silver aircrew wings, however, has remained unchanged since its inception in 1943. Only the size has been altered to match that of other devices in use today. The qualifications, on the other hand, have been revised numerous times to reflect changes in technology and war-fighting strategies.