The Bombardier Badge was a military badge of the United States military which was issued between the years of 1918 and 1947. The decoration was intended to recognize the military training and qualification required by those service members who were bombers onboard military aircraft.
Originally known as the Bombing Aviator Badge, the Bombardier Badge was first issued by the Army Air Corps during the First World War. The badge consisted of a standard pilot’s badge, centered upon which was a downward facing bomb. The badge remained unchanged until the late 1930s, at which time it was redesigned as the Bombardier Badge. This change was primarily made due to the rapid increase in aircraft (and aircraft bombing technology) which took place between 1920 and 1939.
During the Second World War, the Bombardier Badge was a common decoration of the United States Army Air Force. The decoration was issued to all military bombardiers upon completion of basic flight training and advanced bomber instruction.
With the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947, the Bombardier Badge was gradually phased out and there were none issued after 1950. The modern day Officer Aircrew Badge is considered the U.S. Air Force successor decoration to the Bombardier Badge.
