The Dirigible Pilot Badge is a military decoration of the United States Navy that was issued to those service members who received training and qualification as dirigible pilots. The badge was first created in the 1930s, during which time the Navy was experimenting with lighter-than-air craft, as opposed to conventional, fixed-wing aircraft.
The Dirigible Pilot Badge was issued well into the 1970s, with occasional awards, on a case-by-case basis, to the end of the 20th century. In the modern Navy, however, the Dirigible Pilot Badge is considered obsolete, but still may be found on various insignia and badge charts promulgated through U.S. Navy instructions and publications.
The Dirigible Pilot Badge appears as a “half-wing” version of the Naval Aviator Badge. Its design was based on early versions of the Observer Badge, used in the United States Army Air Corps.
Famous quotes containing the words pilot and/or badge:
“With two sons born eighteen months apart, I operated mainly on automatic pilot through the ceaseless activity of their early childhood. I remember opening the refrigerator late one night and finding a roll of aluminum foil next to a pair of small red tennies. Certain that I was responsible for the refrigerated shoes, I quickly closed the door and ran upstairs to make sure I had put the babies in their cribs instead of the linen closet.”
—Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)
“Just across the Green from the post office is the county jail, seldom occupied except by some backwoodsman who has been intemperate; the courthouse is under the same roof. The dog warden usually basks in the sunlight near the harness store or the post office, his golden badge polished bright.”
—Administration for the State of Con, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)