Ohio Jerry
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This cellarhole hasn't produced many interesting finds as far as coins go. I've found a few wheaties and a pretty nice marine uniform button a few months ago but it's been pretty dissappointing until yesterday. I was down on my knees poking around up under a huge multifloral rose bush and got a strong 90vdi at one inch deep and was certain it was a piece of junk,top of a pop can or something.
I said to myself yeah sure,I'll bite,even tho i didn't have much hope that it was a big silver coin. Well,it wasn't a big silver coin but it was a big piece of silver!!. The front of this badge is just how it came out of the ground. Its got a nice patina and i only rinsed the front with water. The back is pretty crusty and I've used some baking soda to try and bring out a makers name. So far "sterling" is all i can find.
Montana Jim identified it for me over on the "what is it" forum and it turns out to be a WWII US Army Air Force Command Pilot Badge that was only awarded to pilots who were rated for 15 years,had a permanent award of Senior Pilot and had at least 3000 hrs. This badge was a flat pinback originally but has had a curve put in it, most likely to have been worn as a bracelet.
As a private pilot myself with only 250 hrs in Piper Cherokees and Cessna 150's I can really appreciate how hard it was to earn these wings. I am in the process of researching the different property owners from the past 60-70 years to see if there's any chance of reuniting it with a descendant or even the slim possibility of the actual owner. Thanks for havin a look!
Jerry
I said to myself yeah sure,I'll bite,even tho i didn't have much hope that it was a big silver coin. Well,it wasn't a big silver coin but it was a big piece of silver!!. The front of this badge is just how it came out of the ground. Its got a nice patina and i only rinsed the front with water. The back is pretty crusty and I've used some baking soda to try and bring out a makers name. So far "sterling" is all i can find.
Montana Jim identified it for me over on the "what is it" forum and it turns out to be a WWII US Army Air Force Command Pilot Badge that was only awarded to pilots who were rated for 15 years,had a permanent award of Senior Pilot and had at least 3000 hrs. This badge was a flat pinback originally but has had a curve put in it, most likely to have been worn as a bracelet.
As a private pilot myself with only 250 hrs in Piper Cherokees and Cessna 150's I can really appreciate how hard it was to earn these wings. I am in the process of researching the different property owners from the past 60-70 years to see if there's any chance of reuniting it with a descendant or even the slim possibility of the actual owner. Thanks for havin a look!
Jerry
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