WWI US Pilot Wing Sterling 2 1/4 inch

During the First World War no real standard wings existed for the US Army Signal Corp. Air Service. Many wings were cloth but many jewelers made metal wings during the war at the request of pilots. The real wings were based on Special Regulation #41 issued on 15 August 1917 and were to be made on cloth with embroidery. But right from the beginning Pilots had jewelers make the wings because the embroidered wings did not hold up when washed.  These are WWI Pilot Wing 2 1/4 inches wide, which would indicate a shirt or sweetheart wing. This museum quality reproduction is in sterling silver with the letters US 24k gold plated. It looks like this wing may have been originally made in Europe due to the little points on the top side. Whereas most US designs had a smooth top surface.