Airplane Structure Merit Badge History
Introduced1942
Preceded byAviation
StatusDiscontinued 1952
Replaced withAviation
Earned through 195212,130
Best year19441,738 earned
All-time popularity#207official, as of 2020#210by 2025 (estimate)
The Story
The "Air Scouts" program, established in 1941, offered the Ace Award as its highest program level recognition. Despite lower membership numbers, the Ace Award maintained a similar consistency to its program equivalent; the standard Boy Scouts program and the Eagle Scout award, at around 3 to 4 percent of all potential members receiving the award.
Trivia
Timeline
1942 The Airplane Structure merit badge is introduced. The first Airplane Structure merit badges are earned: 220 that year. The earliest known Airplane Structure pamphlet printing (Type 4BL).
1944 All-time high: 1,738 Airplane Structure merit badges earned. Best ranking: 66th of 111 merit badges.
1952 Last year the Airplane Structure merit badge is offered; it is replaced by Aviation.
Merit Badge Patches
Select a patch to enlarge it; many include the back.
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.
5 printings, all in the collection.
Type 4BL 1942 - 19431 back · 3 printings · 3 in collection
No photo
back 4bl1942 - 1943 · No. 3279
- 1942 Jul · 10M
- 1942 Dec · 5Mproof edition
- 1943 Feb · 15MHard cover HCC
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 5B 1946 - 19481 back · 2 printings · 2 in collection
No photo
back Blank1946 - 1948 · No. 3279
- 1946 Dec · 2M
- 1948 Jun · 2M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Earned by Year
First earned in 1942. Peak year 1944 with 1,738. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.
"#92 of 120" means the badge was number 92 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.
1942220#102 of 110
19431,242#68 of 112
19441,738#66 of 111
19451,476#70 of 111
19461,157#72 of 111
1947908#75 of 111
1948820#76 of 111
1949949#76 of 111
19501,251#75 of 111
19511,435#75 of 111
1952934#92 of 120
Grand total through 1952: