CBI – 1944 Engineer Theater Made Wing — Exquisite and UNIQUE Each One

When I think of the Flight Engineer and the other member’s of the crew who are not the pilot, I think of a body, just as Paul did here in Romans. These verses describe the NECESSITY of EACH MEMBER of the Body of men endeavoring in concert to accomplish ANY goal. Remember these words Brothers and those seeking wisdom, for each has his place and the strongest link is often the one least showered with acclaim. Also, to bless one’s enemy is NOT to encourage or condone their evil intent/heart BUT TO SHOW YOUR GOOD HEART IN CHRIST, in Loving thought, word and action toward others. God Bless you all.

Romans 12:3-21 (ASV) ³ For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. ⁴ For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. ⁶ And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; ⁸ or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. ⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰ In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; ¹¹ in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer; ¹³ communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. ¹⁵ Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷ Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. ²⁰ But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. ²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The wings below were primarily manufactured in India from what has been gathered in anecdotal info and Uniforms from the period in the CBI. The Flight Engineer became more and more an essential member of the Flight Crew in WWII as Systems became increasingly complex in the Aircraft in combat and otherwise during WWII. I will quote J Peters who was an Engineer in the USAAF during WWII in his contribution to a thread on Flight Engineers from the USAF Forum to give an idea of the Training they underwent to qualify as Engineers in Flight and as you will see, 6 months intensive training in Engineering and additional Training Period in Flexible Gunnery is NOT something simple to be sure…..THEY EARNED THESE WINGS!

“As a B-17 flight engineer, I had a 6 months course in Aircraft and Powerplant,
and then on to Flexible Gunnery School, with no additional training.This same
proceedure applied to all aircraft EXCEPT the B-29, and I assume the B-32…the
B-29 required a special school for the flight engineer, due to the complexity of
it’s systems.”

It seems this was a very unique time in the history of the US Army Air Force and later the Air Force in late 1947 , regarding the extent to which the in-flight technology advanced in application and complexity and the resulting knowledge gap which ensued for those pilots already flying. A group of much needed pilots could not be pulled from the front line of Air Operations and sent to a 2-week school on the operation and effective application of a new technology absorbed into the functional capacity of his aircaraft. The Flight Engineer filled this gap it seems, for a relatively abbreviated period of time from WWII through to around 1962 when the badges were discontinued. The Flight Engineer’s use on aircraft became less and less an operational need as aircraft technology began to be manufactured with the pilot’s most efficient and effective learning and use of that technology as a paramount consideration. WWII was a catapult for society’s use of the bigger and bigger, faster and faster, more and more versatile….”Calculating Machines” (early computers).

As we came up that side of the mountain of innovation which saw the BIGGER the BETTER, those calculating machines were very cumbersom. The new technologies were developed by scientists too, instead of having the product adapted to the needs and capacities of the Airmen. This was a new way of interacting with machines which was for the first time NON-mechanical, but electrical. Technology advanced rapidly through the wartime innovations which are so prevalent in the aftermath of conflict’s initiation and protraction. As humanity became familiar enough with the new way of interacting with electrically generated machine interaction, their expectations moved with the times. Results from interacting with the machines was no longer necessarily found in the manipulation of mass and material like a backhoe or a die stamp, which made the wings we enjoy collecting, but in the manipulation of data to arrive at an answer or decision. The integration of circuitry was beginning its long road to smaller machines and greater processing power BUT ALSO easier interactions with the men using those machines because the nations population was adjusting as a whole and the Flight Engineer was replaced by Specialists who function in a specific capacity like a RIO or a weapons Sepcialist on the Gunships.

The Engineer Wings below are said to be from late 1944 in the CBI Theater as the need for Engineers in Combat Flight grew and they stood out from the standard Air and Ground Crew who were maintenance and testing etc. They were seen as deserving of a badge as the Gunners and the Bombardiers were for the increasingly essential job they did.  Thus on 19 Jun 1945 the Engineer Badge was approved for the USAAF. Prior to this official badge, Engineers had wings already made to set them apart in their function in the CBI theater. These badges are very rare but they reveal that the idea for the radial piston driven propeller engine was considered Engineer specific in the CBI at least. Enjoy these very Unique and Treasured wings from the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations…WWII and another example of an engineer wing, STANDARD US make from a Rare Maker ….Orber 3″ and 2″ Wings …..These are all here for your Enjoyment and to learn what is their design. If you need more pictures please email me at eph2@morrisbb.net