Military rings?

[im2smrt4u]

I have a ring from my grandfather and I'm hoping someone can tell me more about it.

It is a traditional style ring like you see in the movies. It looks sort of like this, but it is 10k gold with a black onyx stone.

This is what it says around the stone:
Bombardier
USAAF

It has bomber's wings and a bomb on one side and an eagle and a plane on the other. On the inside it says JOSTEN10K.

Does anyone know anything more about this ring? Was it an award for something? Thanks in advance!

 

[Kelvrick]

I know Josten makes a lot of high school and college rings. Maybe him and the rest of the crew just decided to all get rings like that to represent the bonds they made during the war? I doubt the military would have Jostens make a ring for them to reward someone with.

<== monkey dance

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
I know Josten makes a lot of high school and college rings. Maybe him and the rest of the crew just decided to all get rings like that to represent the bonds they made during the war? I doubt the military would have Jostens make a ring for them to reward someone with.

Maybe, but then why doesn't it say anything more specific, instead of "Bombardier"?

 

[UltraQuiet]

USAAF- I'm sure stands for United States Army Air Forces.
Jostens10K-- Jostens's is the maker of the ring. 10K is the gold.

Many different schools, organizations, etc have rings. Personally I have rings that represent my service as a submariner and as a Chief Petty Officer. This ring probably has something to do with your grandfather graduating from bombardier school.

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer
USAAF- I'm sure stands for United States Army Air Force
Jostens10K-- Jostens's is the maker of the ring. 10K is the gold.

Many different schools, organizations, etc have rings. Personally I have rings that represent my service as a submariner and as a Chief Petty Officer. This ring probably has something to do with your grandfather graduating from bombardier school.

Did every graduate recieve one of these?

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: im2smrt4u

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer
USAAF- I'm sure stands for United States Army Air Force
Jostens10K-- Jostens's is the maker of the ring. 10K is the gold.

Many different schools, organizations, etc have rings. Personally I have rings that represent my service as a submariner and as a Chief Petty Officer. This ring probably has something to do with your grandfather graduating from bombardier school.

Did every graduate recieve one of these?

Usually each graduate has a choice of buying their own ring, no? They choose the type of metal and stone used. At least, thats how it is for highschools and colleges.

<== monkey dance

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Usually each graduate has a choice of buying their own ring, no? They choose the type of metal and stone used. At least, thats how it is for highschools and colleges.

Well, I know that is how they do it in high school...I wasn't sure if they did something different...

Is this ring valuable? I have looked all over and I can't find anything like it, so I can't really compare...

 

[woodie1]

IIRC United States Army Air Corp was the name before it became the USAF.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: im2smrt4u

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer
USAAF- I'm sure stands for United States Army Air Force
Jostens10K-- Jostens's is the maker of the ring. 10K is the gold.

Many different schools, organizations, etc have rings. Personally I have rings that represent my service as a submariner and as a Chief Petty Officer. This ring probably has something to do with your grandfather graduating from bombardier school.

Did every graduate recieve one of these?

My experience with .mil rings is that they have to be purchased. The gold content and size are the only options. Stone color, gold color and style are the same throughout.

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: woodie1
IIRC United States Army Air Corp was the name before it became the USAF.

Yea, I know. I'm pretty sure it was the US Army Air Force, then it simply became the Air Force.

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

My experience with .mil rings is that they have to be purchased. The gold content and size are the only options. Stone color, gold color and style are the same throughout.

If they were so uniform, why can't I find another?

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: im2smrt4u

Originally posted by: woodie1
IIRC United States Army Air Corp was the name before it became the USAF.

Yea, I know. I'm pretty sure it was the US Army Air Force, then it simply became the Air Force.

NOT AIR FORCE, Air Corp.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: woodie1
IIRC United States Army Air Corp was the name before it became the USAF.

IIRC, it was the United States Army Air Force as it was not a seperate piece of the US Military yet, it was still part of the Army.

I believe it used both names, Corps and Force at different periods of the war.

 

[im2smrt4u]

Well, when this ring was made, I'm betting it was US Army Air Force, considering it says USAAF...

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: im2smrt4u

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

My experience with .mil rings is that they have to be purchased. The gold content and size are the only options. Stone color, gold color and style are the same throughout.

If they were so uniform, why can't I find another?

I have no idea. Maybe because these rings hold sentimental value to the people that have them and they aren't trying to make a buck off of them on E-bay.

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

Originally posted by: im2smrt4u

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

My experience with .mil rings is that they have to be purchased. The gold content and size are the only options. Stone color, gold color and style are the same throughout.

If they were so uniform, why can't I find another?

I have no idea. Maybe because these rings hold sentimental value to the people that have them and they aren't trying to make a buck off of them on E-bay.

I've seen these types of military rings (on people). It's wonderful that you have your grandfather's -- I hope you aren't planning to sell :Q

 

[woodie1]

My father was in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII. We have his DD-214.

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: Jfur

I've seen these types of military rings (on people). It's wonderful that you have your grandfather's -- I hope you aren't planning to sell :Q

No, but I'm really curious...I see these types of rings in every war movie ever made, and the knockoffs are everywhere, but I have yet to find another real one!

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: woodie1
My father was in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII. We have his DD-214.

mt father-in-law, too. He was in India I think but was color blind .... so was grounded much to his disappointment.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: woodie1
IIRC United States Army Air Corp was the name before it became the USAF.

IIRC, it was the United States Army Air Force as it was not a seperate piece of the US Military yet, it was still part of the Army.

I believe it used both names, Corps and Force at different periods of the war.

The USAAC was superseded by the USAAF on 20 June 1941.

It became the USAF in 1947.

 

[DonaldC]

My father was discharged on "30 Mar 48" and it was called the USAF then according to his papers.

 

[im2smrt4u]

^