Auxiliary Pilot Badge
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The Auxiliary Pilot Badge was a decoration of the United States military which was issued during the years of the Second World War. The Auxiliary Pilot Badge was presented to members of the United States Army Air Forces and was authorized in three designs. The badge appeared as the standard Aviator Badge with one of three letters centered on the badges’ shield, or escutcheon. The nomenclature of the badge depended on which letter was displayed.
The Glider Pilot Badge was issued to those personnel who completed training as pilots of military gliders. The badge was issued only during the Second World War, and Glider Pilots often said that the "G" on the shield stood for "Guts". The USAAF trained approximately 6,600 Glider Pilots during the war. This badge should not be confused with the Glider Badge which was created in 1944 to recognize glider infantrymen, artillerymen, and engineers of U.S. Airborne Divisions.
The Service Pilot Badge was authorized for military aviators assigned as pilots to civilian and other commercial craft. The badge was also awarded to non-military personnel who performed military-related duties such as aircraft courier missions and reconnaissance.
The Liaison Pilot Badge was the last of the three Auxiliary Pilot Badges and was considered the rarest. The Liaison Pilot Badge was presented to military aviators assigned as permanent liaisons to the Air Forces of allied countries, such as the Royal Air Force and French Air Force. The Liaison Pilot Badge was also presented to foreign military personnel who were performing the same duties within the United States.
Following the close of the Second World War, the Auxiliary Pilot Badges fell into disuse and there were no further issuances. With the creation of the United States Air Force, the three Auxiliary Pilot Badges were declared obsolete.
