Japanese Pilot Badge History

Army Airplane Piloting Mastery Badge /陸軍飛行機操縦術修得徽章/ was established on June 23, 1913 (regulation was published on June 24, 1913).

Original line drawings and description.

Original Army Ordinance No. 5 /軍令陸第五號/ published in Official Gazette on June 24, 1913.

Between 1913 and 1940 badge had two versions: badge for the officers (silvered wings and gilded propeller) and badge for NCOs (bronze wings and silvered propeller).

Official description of two color schemas.

Badge was worn on the right chest below the uniform pocket somewhere between third and forth uniform button. In original regulation the way of wearing a badge was described as "below the nipple of the right chest/ノ右胸部乳下ニ佩用スルモノトス".​

 

Officer's Pilot Badge /将校用操縦徽章/

Non-commissioned Officer's Pilot Badge /下士官操縦徽章/

 

Officer’s variation of the pilot badge was cancelled on September 13, 1940 by Army Ordinance No. 25 /軍令陸第二十五號/ that was published in Official Gazette on September 15, 1940 (on the same day it came into effect). Officers were no longer allowed to wear their badges. On October 10, 1940 warrant officers (after have been assigned to the officers) also were no longer allowed to wear their NCO badges.

Original text of Army Ordinance No. 25.

From September 15, 1940 only NCO version of the badge was issued to privates /陸軍軍人/ and non-comissioned officers /下士官兵/ after completion of flight training. After May 9, 1944 gliders and autogyros training have been equated to aircraft training.

 

After May 14, 1945 according to the Army Notification No. 30 /陸達第三十號/ badge started to be issued (by the commander of the training unit) to those who finished the basic training course for air service personnel.

Original text of Army Notification No. 30.

 

Five variants of Japanese pilot badge case inscription are known for today.

Army Aircraft Pilot Badge /陸軍飛行機操縦徽章/

Piloting Skills Mastery Badge /操縦術修得徽章/

Officer's Pilot Badge /将校用操縦徽章/

Non-commissioned Officer's Pilot Badge /下士官操縦徽章/

Pilot Badge /操縦徽章/