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Vintage USAF Air Police Badge #15 1950s Experimental Design 2.75”
An intriguing piece of early United States Air Force law enforcement history! This vintage USAF Air Police badge, prominently numbered 15, exhibits several characteristics associated with the earliest Air Police badge designs, along with substantial physical damage that raises interesting questions about its history.
The United States Air Force began testing official Air Police badges in 1957, distributing approximately 400 experimental examples. These early badges reportedly featured colored shield inlays and a three-point attachment system. Problems with damaged inlays and broken attachments eventually led to design modifications.
This example measures approximately 2.75 inches tall and features an elaborate spread-winged eagle, raised AIR POLICE banner, radiating border and central Department of the Air Force shield. Remnants of the original colored decoration remain visible, including traces of blue. The reverse features a partially legible U.S. government-property inscription and three apparent attachment locations, with damaged and bent hardware remaining.
Of particular interest is the unusually low identification number 15, clearly marked at the bottom of the badge. Historical accounts document individually numbered Air Police badges, including shields numbered 1 and 2 presented to senior Air Force officers in 1959. Whether this badge belongs to the original experimental production, an early subsequent issue or another period of manufacture has not been established.
Equally fascinating is its condition. This is not simply an old badge exhibiting ordinary wear. The lower numbered section has sustained considerable crushing or compression damage, with visibly displaced and distorted metal. The back also exhibits deformation, and the attachment hardware is damaged. The nature of the crushing suggests a substantial mechanical force, possibly from the edge or corner of a heavy object.
How did this happen? Was the badge damaged in an incident during service? Was it deliberately rendered unusable before disposal? Or did it survive an unrelated accident sometime during its decades of existence? Its history is unknown, and these possibilities are offered as questions rather than established facts.
The badge remains unrestored and displays extensive age-related wear, oxidation, tarnishing, plating loss, scratches, deteriorated shield decoration and significant physical deformation. Attachment hardware is damaged or incomplete. It has not been cleaned, polished, straightened or repaired.
The combination of its very low number, early-style construction, remnants of colored decoration, three attachment locations and unusual crushing damage makes this an especially interesting research piece for serious collectors of USAF Air Police history.
Exact manufacture date, originality and possible association with the 1957 experimental badge program have not been independently authenticated.
An uncommon-looking survivor with a story yet to be uncovered, offered exactly as found.
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