Air America Wings  

The Wings

These are most difficult to categorize.  In our experience look for the following qualities:

• Sterling silver metal wings with clutch back - marked Silver (if made in Japan) or with the "Chinese" marking for "Pure Silver" if made on Taiwan
• Posts for clutch backs have been seen with sharpened ends and post-ends (flat)
• Beware of wings marked "Sterling," "Ster," "800" or with another numeric level of silver content. NOTE: There are US-made Class A wings marked Sterling. Those are hollow-back and are quite rare. Consider them to be the exception to this rule.
• Beware of wings with any blue enamel or cloisonné inserts (We've even seen these aged to perfection!) These were created for the movie "Air America" and are the predominant copies
• Beware of wings without a raised edge around the shield (see below for a comparison)
• These are usually found with either the cheap brass clutches or sometimes the Asian plastic clutches on the back.  We have seen one pair with the original silver clutches -- these are a sight to behold.

First Pattern/Prototype PIC Wing Probably dating from late 1958 or early 1959. This is made from a previously unknown pattern CAT wing. Note: The AAM Shield is cut and soldered over a CAT Shield. The STERLING mark which indicates US-manufacture (probably by Balfour ). I believe this to be one of the first Air America Wings. Thank you to the anonymous contributer.
Early CAT Wing for Comparision
Chief Pilot	Chief Pilot
	Courtesy Kirwan Collection
Captain or Pilot in Command (PIC) (Note solid space under star)	Captain/PIC (Note open space under star) (Chop-Marked Back)
First Officer	Alternative First Officer (Chop-Mark)
Captain/PIC (Note open space under star) ("Silver" marked back)	Reproduction First Officer (note flat face)
Silver Mark on Captain/PIC Wing (open space under star)
Alternative Captain/PIC (Note solid space under star, shield face and star detail)	Alternative Captain/PIC (Purchased in Vietnam)
Alternative Captain/PIC (Vietnamese Sandcast)	Alternative Captain/PIC (Vietnamese Sandcast)
Alternative Captain/PIC (Vietnamese Sandcast)	Alternative Captain/PIC (Vietnamese Sandcast)
Alternative Captain/PIC (3 1/4 Inches in Size!) from collection of Thomas G. Dragges President of Bay Area Airline Historical Society	Class A First Officer/Pilot and Shirt Size (Larger Wing is 3 1/4 Inches in Size!)
	Left Set Courtesy JW Cook Right Set Courtesy Schott Collection
Class A Pilot in Command and Shirt Size (Larger Wing is 3 1/4 Inches in Size!)	Silver Mark from Class A PIC Wing
Class A PIC -  3 1/4" (US-Made: Note shield face detail)	Pair of Air America Captain/PIC Wings
Class A PIC -  3 1/4" (US-Made: Note shield face detail and Sterling mark)	Class A PIC -  3 1/4" (US-Made: Note shield face detail and Sterling mark)
Courtesy Brenz Collection	Courtesy Brenz Collection
AAM Shirt-Size PIC Wing in Original Box
Silver Mark on Captain/PIC Wing (solid space under star)	Alternative Silver Marks (Chop-Mark)
Original Silver Clasp on First Officer Wing (tarnished in place!)	Air America Stewardess Wing Side
Senior Captain Wing (Very Unusual and Early -- Note Star and Shallow Casting)	Senior Captain Wing (Very Unusual and Early -- Note Long Bar and Clasp)
Captain/PIC Wing (Very Unusual and Early -- Note Star and Shallow Casting)	Captain/PIC Wing (Very Unusual and Early -- Note Long Bar and Clasp)
Air America Senior Flight Attendant Wing and Junior F/A Wing	Air America Crew Wing (much smaller)
Air America Senior F/A Wing -- Back	Air America Crew Wing -- Back
Air America F/A Wing Silver Mark	Air America Crew Wing Silver Mark
Air America Crew Wing (small) in Box
Did You Know?	Air America Crew/Kicker Wing Box
The Crew/Kicker wing is the same size as the First Officer wing (with half the wing cut off) while the Stewardess wings are much larger!
White/Blue Embroidered Air America Wings from Laos	White/Blue Embroidered Air America Wings from Laos!
Courtesy Brenz Collection	Courtesy Brenz Collection
White/Blue Embroidered Air America Wings from Laos on Cap	White/Blue Embroidered Air America Wings from Laos on OD Jungle Jacket
Courtesy Ashenfelter  Collection	Courtesy Ashenfelter  Collection
Blue/White Embroidered Air America Wings from Laos on a Locally-made Cap	Original Blue/White Embroidered Wing on Top - Copy Wing on Bottom
Courtesy Brenz Collection
CASI and Air Vietnam Pilot Wings
See Reproduction Wings for More Information!

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