Original Item. Only One Available. This is a nice original U.S. WWII Airborne Parachutist Badge manufactured in sterling silver and fitted with a now-bent pin back fastener. Commonly known as “Jump Wings,” the badge retains a crisp design, a now-bent pin assembly, and an untouched silver patina.

The face depicts an open parachute centered above a pair of stylized wings, the distinctive design adopted for qualified U.S. Army parachutists during WWII.

The reverse is marked STERLING next to SB in a box, denoting manufacture by SIlverman Brothers. As mentioned, the pin is now bent, and the catch for the pin does not fully open all the way, so the pin cannot be closed. It could possibly be fixed with some work.

The U.S. Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Captain William P. Yarborough, who later attained the rank of Lieutenant General. Yarborough developed the design while serving with the Provisional Parachute Group, and the badge received formal War Department approval on March 10th, 1941.

The metal badge replaced the earlier cloth parachutist insignia worn on the side of the garrison cap. It became the recognized qualification badge for soldiers who completed the prescribed airborne training or otherwise met the wartime requirements for qualification as military parachutists.

During WWII, Jump Wings were worn by members of the rapidly expanding American airborne forces, including personnel of the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions, as well as independent parachute infantry and specialized airborne units. The badge became one of the most recognizable symbols of American airborne service.

The STERLING SB marking, sharply defined design, and naturally aged silver surface make this a strong representative example of the WWII Parachutist Badge. The bent pinback assembly is an important condition issue, but its uncleaned patina preserves the qualities valued in original airborne insignia, making it appropriate for a collection of U.S. WWII qualification badges, sterling silver insignia, or American airborne material.