Navy and Marine Corps aviators wore russet brown, and black, leather nametags on their M-422A flight jackets and flight suits.  Squadron parachute riggers cut their own nametag blanks from full hides; the color depended on what was available at the time.  They cut 2 X 4 and 2 X 5 inch tags, but the 2 X 4 inch tag is best proportioned and became the standard.

The rigger embossed the wings and name into the leather using metal wing dies and hand-set metal letters.  Every squadron had a Kingsley hand-operated embossing machine.  Once the machine was hot, the rigger placed a strip of gold foil over the tag and pressed the wings into the leather. 

When the tag was ready, the rigger sewed the nametag onto the aviators' M-422A leather jackets, or set snaps into the four corners of the tag if it would be worn on a cotton flight suit.  They also set  four matching snaps above the left pocket of the aviators' flight suits. 

The wings on early nametags are different from the current Naval Aviator wings.  They are more angular than the current wings and are completely filled in with gold foil.  Current issue wings have curved feathers merely outlined in gold.

The aviator's name, rank, and service were set in two lines. The first line included the aviator's rank, initials, and last name.  The service (USN, USNR, USMC, or USMCR) was centered under the first line.  This standard was altered in the field. Today the aviator's name is on the first name and his rank and service are on the second line.

When we create your historical Naval Aviator nametags, we use hand cut russet brown cowhide.  We sorted through bundles of hides to find one or two that are a russet brown that is a pleasing contrast with the brown of the M-422A  jacket.

We use an actual WWII wing die and emboss your name in 3/16 inch lettering, using the same type styles used during World War II.