Military Wings Pin - Coastal Artillery Officer? Comparable or ID Help

Discussion in 'Militaria' started by gimbler-dave, Dec 18, 2015.

  1. gimbler-dave

    gimbler-dave Well-Known Member

    This piece just came in and I am having problems finding any comparable. Our customer described it as "Baptist Army Wings" for a soldier named Vaiano that served in China and Burma. The middle section on the pin (the crossed cannons part) appears to be associated with Coastal Artillery Officers. But I haven't been able to find any example mated with the wings as shown here. The back is kind of odd with the two rectangular cartouche/cutouts near the center, but maybe those are mounting spots for the piece on the front.

    The piece is about 3-1/4 inches across and 3/4 inch high, weighing 19.5 grams.

    Does anyone know what this pin is? Thanks! ... Dave (p.s. the customer owes me more information, so I expect to find out the full name, years of service, etc some time soon).

    db_wings_1.JPG
    db_wings_2.JPG
    db_wings_3.JPG
     
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  2. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

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  3. gimbler-dave

    gimbler-dave Well-Known Member

    Very interesting. I'll see if I can connect my name to the 843rd. Your comp has the same rectangular areas on the back. Thank you, a great lead!
     
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  4. gimbler-dave

    gimbler-dave Well-Known Member

  5. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    What material is yours made from?
     
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  6. gimbler-dave

    gimbler-dave Well-Known Member

    I'm not positive. My silver acid is old and I am not confident that it is still working properly (probably 4 to 5 years old now). The pinback is weakly attracted to a magnet - if I let it pivot loosely from the pin on the back, I can move it with a magnet, although the attraction is not strongly felt. Maybe some lower grade silver?

    It looks like the repros are done in full sterling, per your link.
     
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  7. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    The three stamped marks on the item in your last link look like they were actually stamped using steel character stamps. Your example I think has marks cast in using a mold made from another set of wings, so the top mark is badly distorted and the other two are better but very shallow with illegible characters. Yours may be a copy of a copy, but I think since the marks weren't made with steel stamps, the chances of it being something made in China ca. Ww2 are nil.
     
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  8. KingofThings

    KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

    I've not seen this before though I like the design.
     
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