Original Post World War Two Indian Air Observation Post Pilot Wings.
Embroidered, full size. These wings likely date to the 1960s-1970’s.
India’s current Army Aviation Corps (AAC) originates from the Air Observation Post (AOP) which was part of the Indian Artillery. The role of the AOP was to act as spotters to direct artillery fire on to the enemy targets which the ground based observers could not see. The introduction of helicopters to replace fixed wing aircraft revolutionized the AOP’s role. The AAC was raised as a separate Corps on November 1, 1986 and became the youngest Corps in the Indian Army.