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ARTIFACT:
This is an Extremely Rare World War I circa 1917 French SOP 131 Aero Squadron Badge for Enlisted Ranks / Mechanicians.
What we have here is a crude but beautiful example of a French Aero Squadron Badge for the SOP 131 Squadron. This Squadron entered WWI in 1917, flying Sopwith 1B1 and 1B2 2-Seaters (hence the SOP) and later transitioned to Breguet 14 B2 Bombers in early 1918, changing their designation to BR 131 at that time. The later badges have the BR in front of the 131 on the Aerial Bomb.
This example, lovingly, yet crudely, made in cast brass, was most likely made for non-flying personnel, and these badges are sometimes referred to as "Mechanician" for the Mechanics who made and wore them proudly.
This badge was purchased by our consignor directly from noted expert on French Aero Squadron Badges, Dr. Charles Walthall in the 2000's when he was deaccessioning badges out of his collection at the time.
A Brief History of SOP 131 Translated from the Les escadrilles de l'aeronaitique militaire web site:
The SOP 131 squadron was formed on the Villacoublay airfield on June 2, 1917. Placed under the command of Cne Rene Roux, it moved to the Luxeuil-St-Sauveur airfield on August 19, 1917. The SOP 131 squadron is integrated into the bombardment group n° 4 which counts in its ranks the squadrons SOP 131, 132 and 134.
On August 21, 1917, SOP 131 came under the command of Ltt Pierre Beaute. Its crews took part in numerous bombing missions and in particular on the factories of Essen, on October 22, 1917. Its planes repeatedly bombed the Strasbourg-Mulhouse railway line, which was the main supply route for the German troops in Alsace, as well as the cities of Selestat, Colmar and Mulhouse, in occupied Alsace.
VINTAGE:
World War I, 1917.
SIZE:
Approximately 1-1/8" in height x 1-1/4" in width.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Brass.
ATTACHMENT:
Horizontal safety-style pin.
MARKINGS:
N/A.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a large collection of WWI Aviation Artifacts, US & Foreign, which we will be listing more of over the next few months. CON-RLB-VAJJJX03/08-22 LBCGEX07/14/22 hldSBBJJX07/27/22
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
