French pilot's badge

[ccj]

Can someone tell me how many pilots badges were issued during WWI? I kn ow they are all serial numbered so I am curious of the cutoff number for badges issued during the war.

Also, Can someone exlpain the rank insignia of the French army? I am confused on enlisted and NCO ranks. are enlistred ranks in color stripes and NCO in silver or gold bullion?

Hello ccj,
in French Army, the ranks are :
1/ soldat de 1ère classe ne stripe (blue or red, it depends) = lance corporal or private 1st class
2/ caporal ou brigadier : deux stripes (blue or red, it depends) = corporal
3/ caporal-chef : three stripes (2 blue or red and one yellow) = chief corporal (it didn't exit during WW1)
4/ brigadier-chef : three stripes (2 blue or red and one white) = chief brigadier (brigadier = corporal) (ir didn't exist during WW1)
5/ sergent : one single yellow stripe = sergeant (young NCO)
6/ sergent : one yellow stripe with another fine yellow stripe = sergeant (old NCO)
7/ maréchal des logis : one single silver stripe = sergeant (young NCO)
8/ maréchal des logis : one silver stripe with another fine silver stripe = sergeant (old NCO)
9/ sergent-chef : three yellow stripes = warrant officer class 3 or flight sergeant or staff sergeant
10/ maréchal des logis-chef : three silver stripes = WO3 or flight sergeant or staff sergeant
-------------------------------------------
In cavalry, Artillery and Gendarmerie, a sergeant is named maréchal des logis and a corporal is named brigadier (silver stripes instead yellow stripes). It's the same function.
Ludo

[ccj]

Thank you,

I have a Horizon Blue tunic to the 3rd Dragoons. It has one diagonal silver stripe on each sleeve. Does this mean the rank is maréchal des logis : one single silver stripe = sergeant (young NCO)

I also have many questions about color insignia. I see that most pilots have a winged or flaming grenade insignia. Why would a soldier wear this and not his unit number on the collar? I see many men wearing unit numbers on their cap and collars and then some wearing that wing device.

[ccj]

French NCO??

Yes, this blue horizon tunic was worn by a french maréchal des logis.
Concerning the units niumbers on collars, generally, it means that the pilot came from an infantry regiment (or cavalry, articllery etc...).
French air force was created in 1933. Before this date, it belonged to french army.
Ludo

[Billy9]

If you are referring to Military Pilot Brevets issued, fromm the first one back in 1911 there were a total of 17,034 issued by 11 November 1918.

Bill

[gregoire]

Ludovic you are forgoting the adjudant and adjudant chef rank inthose case it is a silver or a gold straight (not oblic) line (with a red line in the midle) the color or the rank insigna do not depend of the unit
a point on the brevet the number on the insigna do not match the one on the the brevet and it is difficult to find a pilot by having an insigna (I am talking WW1) a macaron (insigna) could be re issued

Yes Gregoire, you are right for Adjudant and Ajudant-Chef but CCJ askef for stripes and not for straight.
And it's complicated to explain it to a non-frenchman.
But I'm sure that the color depends on the unit you belong. I'm sure because I'm a french military policeman (Gendarme).
Silver stripes means that soldier belongs Artillery, Cavalry, Gendarmerie or ALAT.
Gold stripes means that soldier belongs other army corps.
A plus Grégoire
Content de voir que tu es toujours sur ce forum.
Ludo

[ccj]

Hi,

Thanks everyone. I am learning much here. I am getting a much better understanding.
Also, I was unaware that a rank for Junior NCOs and Senoir NCOs existed(time in grade or service)
I would appreciate more info though.

As for pilot badges. I have this one. 13776

[ccj]

Here is the front