World War I French Pilot Wing?

[regular122]

Here is what appears to be a World War I era French Pilot Wing I picked up for very little a couple of weeks ago. The pin is the ball pin insert type. It is three piece bronze construction. The serial number is 17946. Would this still be in the WWI era? Any help is greatly appreciated. Steve

[regular122]

The back

[mgidhagen]

Yes, it is a WWI-issue French pilot badge! The "B" is the tell-tale (post-WWI badges do not have this maker mark), and the height of the digits in the number says whether it is the first (1.5 mm high) or second (2 mm high) series of badges issued during WWI.
Nice badge!
Brgrds,
Mikael

[regular122]

Well that is great news! I thought it was possible. It had the look and feel of that period. Is there any way to tell by the numbers who might have been issued this or when based on the serial number?

Thanks for the great info. Steve

[LeeM]

Great find Steve.

[gzegosh]

Il a été attribué le 8 mars 1919 au capitaine japonais Masami NISSA et a été homologué sur proposition de l'école d'Istres (décision N°57 524 du 27 mars 1919) et ce brevet lui a été remis à Istres le 2 juin 1919. Le numéro 17947 appartient au capitaine Oramu IMAMURA et le numéro 17947au lieutenant Morihiko MIKI. A priori il s'agit de pilotes de l'armée et non pas de la marine. il s'agit donc d'une pièce intéressante bien que n'étant pas attribuée durant la première guerre mondiale

i hope you can figure the french out\
are you interested in selling it?
should i ask him if he wants to buy it"?

g

[gzegosh]

see film FLYBOYS\
they are all waering this badge
g

[regular122]

G,

Thanks for the incredible information. A Japanese pilot earned this badge? That is an incredible story.

Here is the rough translation from a translator program for the rest of us.

17946 was allotted on March 8, 1919 to the Japanese Captain Masami NISSA and was approved on proposal of the school of Istres (decision N******176;57 524 of March 27, 1919) and this patent was given to him at Istres on June 2, 1919. Number 17947 belongs to Captain Oramu IMAMURA and the number 17947au to Lieutenant Morihiko MIKI. They are pilots of the army and not of the navy. It is thus about an interesting part well that not being allotted during the First World War

Thanks for this info!! I am quite happy to know that it is likely even more rare than what I could have hoped for as I am certain few Japanese pilots qualified for this badge. Steve