Aeronautics Merit Badge History

Introduced1942

StatusDiscontinued 1952

Replaced withAviation

Earned through 195219,677

Best year19433,590 earned

All-time popularity#199official, as of 2020#201by 2025 (estimate)

The Story

The Aeronautics merit badge utilized the suspended Aviation merit badge design for its design. After the four "Air Scouts" specific badges were dissolved in 1951-1952, the Aviation merit badge was brought back and used the latest rendition of the Aeronautics merit badge design.

Trivia

Timeline

1942 The Aeronautics merit badge is introduced. The first Aeronautics merit badges are earned: 1,540 that year. The earliest known Aeronautics pamphlet printing (Type 4BL).

Merit Badge Patches

Select a patch to enlarge it; many include the back.

Type C1942 - 1946
Not known to exist
Type D
Type E1947 - 1952

What do the patch types mean?

Type C: Tan narrow border crimped (1936 - 1942). The same crimped edge with a narrow border of about 1/8 inch, on tan cloth.
Type D: Fine twill (1942 - 1946). Wartime badges on lighter, finer-weave cloth (fine twill and war cloth) while heavier cloth went to the war effort.
Type E: Khaki narrow border crimped (1947 - 1960). Back to heavier cloth after the war, now in khaki.

Dates are approximate and can vary by badge.

Merit Badge Pamphlets

The printings come from Scoutmaster Bucky's own collection and research.

Select a cover to see its back covers and every known printing.

4 printings, all in the collection.

Type 4BL1942 - 1944

Hard Cover Varieties

Earned by Year

First earned in 1942. Peak year 1943 with 3,590. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.

19421,540 earned#59 of 110

19433,590 earned#42 of 112

19443,379 earned#53 of 111

19452,380 earned#60 of 111

19461,614 earned#65 of 111

19471,158 earned#72 of 111

1948927 earned#74 of 111

1949990 earned#75 of 111

19501,213 earned#76 of 111

19511,383 earned#76 of 111

19521,503 earned#83 of 120

"#83 of 120" means the badge was number 83 of the 120 merit badges earned that year. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.

19421,540#59 of 110

19433,590#42 of 112

19443,379#53 of 111

19452,380#60 of 111

19461,614#65 of 111

19471,158#72 of 111

1948927#74 of 111

1949990#75 of 111

19501,213#76 of 111

19511,383#76 of 111

19521,503#83 of 120

Grand total through 1952:

Aeronautics: workbook data

Printings (4)

Have	Year	Month	Cover	Back	Run	BSA #	HC	Notes
x	1942	July	4BL	back-4bl	10M	3306		Proof Edition
x	1942	December	4BL	back-4bl	5M	3306
x	1943	February	4BL	back-4bl	15M	3306	HCC
x	1944	May	4BL	back-4bl	10M	3306	HCC, HCF

Earned and rank by year

Year	Earned	Rank	Of
1942	1,540	59	110
1943	3,590	42	112
1944	3,379	53	111
1945	2,380	60	111
1946	1,614	65	111
1947	1,158	72	111
1948	927	74	111
1949	990	75	111
1950	1,213	76	111
1951	1,383	76	111
1952	1,503	83	120