Anaviator badge is an insignia used in most of the world's militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification inmilitary aviation. Also known as apilot's badge, orpilot 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.
Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops started wearing gilded silver and enameled badges in 1913. The badges style changed after the death ofFranz Joseph I of Austria. In 1917 a new badge was created.
The current aviator badge of theBelgian Air Force depicting theLeo Belgicus and surmounted the Royal Crown of Belgium.
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Aviator badge of theBangladesh Air Force[1]
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.
The Pilot Flying Badge of theRoyal Canadian Air Force is:
The emblem of thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force is:
The aviator badge of theRoyal Danish Air Force is based on the nationalcoat of arms of Denmark.
The Pilot Flying Badge of theIslamic Republic of Iran Air Force is:
The aviator badges of theFrench Air Force/Armée de l'air française andFrench Navy/Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale are:
Several badges were donated to German aircrew prior, during or after theFirst World War. The most notable were:[2][3]
TheMilitary 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.
ThePilotenabzeichen (Pilot's Badge) of the formerLuftwaffe had been instituted byHermann Göring on 12 August 1935. It came in distinct types;nickel silver (changed to zinc during the war) and a variant made of gold.[4] It depicts a silver eagle perched atop aswastika, 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.[5] It was worn in the center of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, underneath theIron Cross 1st Class if awarded.[6] The badge was awarded after one completed flight training and the flying licence and citation were received.[5]
In theBundeswehr 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 theBundesadler surrounded by an oak leaf wreath between two wings. It is worn above the right breast pocket. A total of twoTätigkeitsabzeichen may be worn, one of which can be foreign in which case the foreign one would be worn below the German one.[7]
Pilots and navigators of theRoyal 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 theHoly 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.[8]DuringWorld War II a gilded bronze pilot and observer badge was also introduced.
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After the withdrawal of Soviet forces fromHungary a new Hungarian Air Force was created. It took on the traditions of theRoyal 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.
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The current aviator badges ("wings") in theIsrael Air Force is:
The aviator badge of theNamibian Air Force is ...
The aviator badge of theRoyal Netherlands Air Force and theRoyal Netherlands Navy is
The Aviator Badge of thePakistan Air Force is:
The current aviator badge of the Polish Air Force has been in use since the 1920s. The badge is calledgapa and represents silvereagle in flight with gold laurel wreath in the bill. Navigator/Observer badge (below) represents the same eagle, but in gold with added lightning bolts. The gapa is worn in the usual place on the upper left breast above the pocket, but unlike other air forces it is suspended on a chain. It adorned the uniform of Polish Air Force officers in the RAF during World War II along with their RAF wings. In the combat version (for at least 7 flights in combat conditions) the badge has a green laurel wreath.
| Badge | Pilot | Observer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Air Forces |  |  | |||||
| Pilot | Observer | ||||||
| Abbreviation | pil. | obs. | |||||
The first military aviator badge of Romania was approved by theMinistry of War in 1912, following the establishment of thefirst pilot school inCotroceni. It featured a silver miniature of aBlériot XI worn by pilots and observers on the collar of their tunics.[9] In 1915, after the formation of theRomanian Air Corps, new pilot and observer badges were introduced. The pilot badges featured asilver plated royal eagle holding a bomb in its claws and theroyal cypher ofKing Ferdinand I on its chest. Officers wore the metal badges on the left side of the chest whilenon-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 ofKing Michael I until 1931, whenKing Carol II introduced new badges.[10]
At the initiative of GeneralIosif Iacobici andAir squadron generalGheorghe 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 thecoat of arms of theKingdom of Romania. After the abdication of King Michael in 1947, the aviator badges were replaced following the Soviet model.[11] During thecommunist regime, training levels achieved by the pilots were introduced. These levels, classes 1–3, were displayed on the badges inArabic numerals. In 1977, an initiative launched by some aviators, with support received fromNicu Ceaușescu, youngest child ofNicolae 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 Romaniancockade due to the lack of a new heraldic emblem. The presentRomanian Air Force pilot badges were adopted in 1996.[12][better source needed]
The current aviator badge of theSouth 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.
The current aviator badge of theRoyal Air Force has been in use since theSecond 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.
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AMilitary Aviator badge existed from 1912-17 before being replaced by the predecessor of the "wings" badge.
AUnited States Aviator Badge refers to three types ofaviation badges issued by theUnited States Armed Forces, those being forAir Force,Army, andNaval (to include Marine and Coast Guard) aviation.
Air Force Pilot and Army Aviator Badges are issued in three ratings: Basic, Senior, and Command (Air Force)/Master (Army). The higher degrees are denoted by a star or star with wreath above the badge.Air Force regulations state that the basic rating denotes completion of specified training and that the advanced ratings denote experience levels. The Naval Aviator Badge is issued to pilots upon designation as a Naval Aviator for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators who successfully complete flight training. There is a single badge design regardless of an individual’s further qualifications.
