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WW ll wings. Quite rare!The engraving, “318th” and “W5” on a WW II Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) badge refers to Class 43-W-5 trained by the318th Army Air Force’s Training Detachment.
What the markings mean:-318th: The 318th Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment (AAFFTD) based at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas ( and earlier locations). Classes 3 through 7 of the early WASP training groups were assigned to the 318th.
W5 ( Class 43-W-5): The fifth women’s pilot training class of 1943 (graduating later that year).
The Badge Design: Early 1943 WASP graduation wings featured a shield-shaped center engraved with the training detachment and class/squadron number before the official Army Air Force’s lozenge badge was introduced in 1944.
