After you're selected for AF pilot position!
12-02-2008, 12:28 PM
#21
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
Even in the video of my SOFT winging - the CO chastises my roommate for hitting me in the chest and he says "ha, ha, ha - just don't do that when you get the real wings" (kill joy)In any case - for those that didn't have their wings broken - it likely came from the extinction of the act when HAZING became such a big deal in the military quite a few years ago and no form of HAZING in allowed - this includes the pounding of the wings onto your chest by your fellow aviators - or in the case of airborne or others who gain airborne qualification, the infamous 'Bloodwinging" of Marine Recon from a few years back in time.
Heck - even the hosing down with water and fire extinguishers after your last flight makes the radar screen sometimes. It shouldn't be a big deal - but some have made it a big deal and others have taken a time honored tradition and abused it and taken it too far and now you have to look over your shoulder every time and hope that someone important isn't going to take offense.
USMCFLYR
12-02-2008, 04:31 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A-300 F/O
Posts: 281
Air Force Tradition of Breaking Wings comes from the Air Corps
Breaking of Wings Ceremony
Since man started flying, he has taken to the air with a certain amount of risk. To counter that risk, a tradition was established years ago when the Army Air Corps first started issuing pilot wings to their young aviators. This tradition is called “Breaking of Wings.” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.
Since man started flying, he has taken to the air with a certain amount of risk. To counter that risk, a tradition was established years ago when the Army Air Corps first started issuing pilot wings to their young aviators. This tradition is called “Breaking of Wings.” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.
12-02-2008, 04:58 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
Breaking of Wings Ceremony
Since man started flying, he has taken to the air with a certain amount of risk. To counter that risk, a tradition was established years ago when the Army Air Corps first started issuing pilot wings to their young aviators. This tradition is called “Breaking of Wings.” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.
Since man started flying, he has taken to the air with a certain amount of risk. To counter that risk, a tradition was established years ago when the Army Air Corps first started issuing pilot wings to their young aviators. This tradition is called “Breaking of Wings.” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.
USMCFLYR
12-02-2008, 11:28 PM
#24
Hire me
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 406
12-03-2008, 04:46 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: Body at sea level; heart at 70,000+
Posts: 1,349
Breaking of Wings Ceremony
” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.
” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.
12-03-2008, 12:19 PM
#27
Thx Age 65
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Position: MD11CAP
Posts: 1,041
I think the breaking wings was UPT base dependent. Reese in 96 didn't do it. Vance in 00-03 did it.
The Navy /USMC pounding wings in the chest still went on for aircrewmen in 96-00. Although the officers usually left the room and let the senior enlisted handle it. And the prongs weren't exposed.
Yeah, and don't admit to anything on your medical history. Esp atshma or allergies. any allergies.
The Navy /USMC pounding wings in the chest still went on for aircrewmen in 96-00. Although the officers usually left the room and let the senior enlisted handle it. And the prongs weren't exposed.
Yeah, and don't admit to anything on your medical history. Esp atshma or allergies. any allergies.
12-03-2008, 01:01 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: 88B - Loud Pipes Save Lives
Posts: 1,597
The idea of having your wings pounded into your chest is a long tradition. I know it is a play on words - but I'll bring it up in any case. You guys keep saying "YOU broke them" I take this to mean that you were wearing them and OTHERS pounded you on the chest so many times that the wings eventually broke in half. So in essence - others broke them - you didn't sit there and bend them back and forth in your fingers until they broke did you? This is what happened to mine and I still have them and will problably mount them here in a year or so to remind myself of the good times left behind Even in the video of my SOFT winging - the CO chastises my roommate for hitting me in the chest and he says "ha, ha, ha - just don't do that when you get the real wings" (kill joy)
In any case - for those that didn't have their wings broken - it likely came from the extinction of the act when HAZING became such a big deal in the military quite a few years ago and no form of HAZING in allowed - this includes the pounding of the wings onto your chest by your fellow aviators - or in the case of airborne or others who gain airborne qualification, the infamous 'Bloodwinging" of Marine Recon from a few years back in time.
Heck - even the hosing down with water and fire extinguishers after your last flight makes the radar screen sometimes. It shouldn't be a big deal - but some have made it a big deal and others have taken a time honored tradition and abused it and taken it too far and now you have to look over your shoulder every time and hope that someone important isn't going to take offense.
USMCFLYR
Even in the video of my SOFT winging - the CO chastises my roommate for hitting me in the chest and he says "ha, ha, ha - just don't do that when you get the real wings" (kill joy)In any case - for those that didn't have their wings broken - it likely came from the extinction of the act when HAZING became such a big deal in the military quite a few years ago and no form of HAZING in allowed - this includes the pounding of the wings onto your chest by your fellow aviators - or in the case of airborne or others who gain airborne qualification, the infamous 'Bloodwinging" of Marine Recon from a few years back in time.
Heck - even the hosing down with water and fire extinguishers after your last flight makes the radar screen sometimes. It shouldn't be a big deal - but some have made it a big deal and others have taken a time honored tradition and abused it and taken it too far and now you have to look over your shoulder every time and hope that someone important isn't going to take offense.
USMCFLYR
12-03-2008, 01:18 PM
#29
Owner
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: TC-12B (SELRES)
Posts: 304
Old school stuff. After your wings were pinned on, folks took turns punching them in (minus the backings) until they poked into your skin thus making you bleed. It didn't quit until the blood soaked through your shirt and thus "blood wings". I think that it stopped around the time the aircrew guys video ended up on TV, maybe circa 1997??? I have never seen it or know of anyone that had it done.
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