WW1 French and US Unofficial Pilot's Badge by Oria

A World War One "Oria"  breast eagle of the type adopted by French Pilots along with US Volunteer Pilots in French service during WWI (for example "La Fayette" Squadron) and sold in competition to the better known “Fix” badges.

With a wingspan of approximately 67mm and a weight of 5.18grams, the eagle retains its original sales label and is constructed in gilded brass.

Overall condition is very good, the pin set up is without damage.

 It was adopted by French pilots as an entirely unofficial wing prior to the creation of the wreathed wing which still serves as the French pilot wing to this day. Originally, French pilots were distinguished only by their collar badges, a winged star you will see on nearly all pictures of French pilots. This was not viewed as very distinctive in an Army in which all French officers and many other ranks had an insignia of one sort or another on their collar tabs. While French pilots also wore large wing and prop armbands, those were shared with all aircrew, and the pilots were apparently a bit envious of the British wings and the German pilots' badge, each of which were much more readily noticeable and distinctive than were the French collar tabs.

Sold in Paris as costume jewellery and noticed by pilots on leave who adopted them as the wing badge they didn't have and there are many pictures of French pilots wearing them on or above their tunic pockets as did the US Pilots.

Their popularity, in turn, lead to a variety of copies and variations and also probably contributed to the development of an authorized French pilots' badge.