This is a rank-elevated Cuban Air Force wings badge, distinguished from standard pilot wings by the addition of a star within a laurel wreath mounted above the coat-of-arms shield — a device denoting senior or command pilot status within the Cuban military aviation hierarchy. The central shield carries the familiar Cuban coat of arms in enamel: the sunrise over the horizon, the key motif, diagonal blue-and-white striped field, and a royal palm rising from the landscape panel, flanked by full-span feathered wings in darkened silver-toned gilt. The reverse is maker-marked with a shield-form stamp reading what appears to be "VILARDEBO Y RIERA," tying this piece to the prominent Havana goldsmith house Antigua Vilardebó y Riera, the principal manufacturer of Cuban military decorations through the Republican period. The reverse also bears the engraved initials "B.D.D.," indicating this badge was privately inscribed for its recipient, giving it individual, named provenance rather than being an unissued stock piece. The horizontal pin-back closure is intact and functional, and the metal shows a deep, aged, oxidized patina throughout consistent with genuine period wear, with the enamel on the shield remaining largely intact.
Measures approximately 1"x3"
🛫 WINGS OF HISTORY RETURNS!
The Aviation Collectible & Memorabilia Extravaganza Continues!
✈️ Part Two of the Frank Cuadrado Lifetime Collection — Online Only Auction
Lots Begin Closing: Sunday, October 25, 2026 @ 6:00 PM EDT
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, COLLECTORS — WE'RE BACK IN THE AIR! Part One was a high-flying success, and Part Two is even bigger. Bid Y'all Auction & Realty is proud to present 250 lots from the world-class lifetime collection of Frank Cuadrado, retired Federal Aviation Administration employee.
Mr. Cuadrado spent a career inside the world of aviation and a lifetime preserving its history. This next leg of the journey features Tiffany & Co. sterling, 14K gold pilot wings, a fleet of vintage desk and display models, rare pre-1959 Cuban aviation insignia, and one of the most extensive offerings of Eastern Air Lines memorabilia you'll ever see under one roof!
🦅 THE GREAT SILVER FLEET — EASTERN AIR LINES
✈️ Large carved wood "Hockey Stick" wing sign, a true showpiece (Lot 132)
✈️ Framed "Fly the Great Silver Fleet" flag (Lot 150) and framed "Route of the Great Silver Fleet" route map (Lot 250)
✈️ 1983 "America's Favorite Way to Fly" triple time-zone wall clock (Lot 145)
✈️ Eastern captain's visor cap with insignia (Lot 232)
✈️ Dozens of Eastern crew and job-title wings, including Balfour 10K gold-filled pilot hat badges and wings, plus wings personally named to Eastern employees (Lots 135–243)
✈️ Eastern crew baggage tags, a 1966 Flying Golfer trophy, 1970s hard hats, and a classic "Fly Eastern" flight bag (Lots 123–124, 165, 233–234 & 246)
💎 PRECIOUS METALS & FINE JEWELRY
✈️ 14K GOLD Cuban Pilot Wings with National Coat of Arms, a substantial 16.75 grams (Lot 100)
✈️ TWO Tiffany & Co. Sterling Eastern Pins, including a c. 1930s–40s "E.A.L." airliner pin (Lots 139 & 223)
✈️ Sterling Eastern pins, cap badge, and "Silverliners" wing (Lots 140, 160 & 236)
✈️ Silver-plated Boeing 314 "Clipper" by Editions Atlas, with Certificate of Authenticity (Lot 15)
CUBAN AVIATION & MILITARY HISTORY
✈️ Cuban Air Force pilot's badge named to "Jesús Garcia" (Lot 104) and Cuban Air Force Command Pilot badge (Lot 101)
✈️ Two Cuban Air Force officer visor caps (Lots 228 & 229)
✈️ 1940s Aerovías Q gold bullion pilot wings (Lots 56 & 60)
✈️ Pre-revolutionary Cuban military proficiency medal bar (Lot 59) and rare pre-1959 Cuban Air Traffic Control lapel pin (Lot 88)
✈️ Cubana Super Constellation flight bag (Lot 243), Cubana DC-4 model (Lot 112), and large-scale Cubana Britannia wall piece (Lot 226)
✈️ WWII-era U.S. Navy and Marine Corps base employee ID badge from Guantanamo Bay (Lot 76)
🛩️ CALLING ALL MODEL COLLECTORS!
During aviation's golden age, airlines and travel agencies showcased high-quality replicas to entice travelers into the skies. Today these travel agent models, airline display models, and desktop models are prized by a devoted community of collectors, and Part Two brings one of our strongest model selections yet!
✈️ Seven mid-century cast metal Eastern Air Lines Lockheed Constellation desk models (Lots 106, 109, 111, 113, 114, 186 & 189)
✈️ Pacmin resin display model in Go! Airlines livery (Lot 110)
✈️ Gold-tone Aero Commander Jet Commander presentation model, presented by W.F. Rockwell Jr. (Lot 193)
✈️ Eastern DC-9 "Whisperjet" by The Walter J. Hyatt Co. (Lot 107), plus Westway Models Eastern L-1011 and Cubana airliner (Lots 39 & 42)
✈️ Government of Canada Lockheed JetStar "CF-GTX" (Lot 205) and FomAER Italy F-4C Phantom II desk models (Lots 128 & 185)
✈️ Century Wings SR-71A Blackbird "Ichiban" 1:72 (Lot 66), Eastern diecast by InFlight200 and AeroClassics (Lots 148, 149 & 151), and two sealed 747 cutaway kits (Lots 73 & 74)
🏅 AMERICAN AIRLINES & FEDERAL AVIATION
✈️ An extensive run of American Airlines positional badges, including sterling assistant manager, chief, general foreman, inspector, expediter, and more (Lots 17–26)
✈️ FAA credential and badge wallet group (Lot 227) and a Federal Aviation Agency pin from before the agency became the FAA we know today (Lot 115)
⭐ CATALOGER'S CHOICE
✈️ Our own Clay's personal pick and a modern standout, a Franklin Mint PATRIOTIC F-117 STEALTH FIGHTER (Lot 75)!
Whether you're an Eastern Air Lines devotee, a precious-metals insignia collector, a display model enthusiast, a Cold War and Cuban history buff, or someone who remembers when flying was an EVENT, this is your boarding call. Provenance like this rarely comes to market, and when these pieces are gone, they're GONE!
Fasten your seatbelts, since lots begin closing Sunday, October 25th! And keep your tray tables up, because the journey isn't over yet. PART THREE of the Frank Cuadrado Collection is already on the horizon! Register now so you're first in line when boarding begins. 🛬
All items sell AS-IS with no warranties or guarantees expressed or implied.
We reserve the right to add or delete items prior to sale time.
All items sell AS-IS with no warranties or guarantees expressed or implied.
We reserve the right to add or delete items prior to sale time.
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IMPORTANT PICK UP & SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS:
Pick up date for this auction is 10/28/2026 from 10-4 PM
Lots may only be picked up at our office on scheduled date as shown above unless other arrangements are made prior to that date. We will combine shipping for multiple auctions ending within 10 days of the other.
IMPORTANT SHIPPING INFORMATION!
All shipping cost are the responsibility of the buyer and will be charged separate from the auction.
ITEMS WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO THE ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PAYMENT AND USED AT REGISTRATION!
Shipping will be coordinated through Shipping Saint. You will be sent an email and/or text when your items are ready to ship. You will be prompted to confirm your address and will be able to pay for the separate shipping invoice at that time.
