Just for a historical "vignette", my first squadron CO…VT-10 in the fall of 1971…still wore his "toilet seat" NAO wings, even though I'm pretty sure he was grandfathered into the new wings at the 1968 change of insignia date. I expect that wasn't uncommon…sort of a "Hey, these were the wings I earned and flew with for the past ~20 years, and these are the ones I'm gonna wear." Something like that. There was also a "deluxe set", with a two piece fabrication…gold wings and roundel, with a separately affixed "silver" circle and anchor. Pretty Gucci at the time….I have a set in my collection.After logging 200 hours of flight time (as an officer) and maintaining NATOPS currency, you were eligible for designation as a Naval Aviation Observer (NAO). (BTW - the breast insignia worn before the NFO designation in 1968 - I think !!!).
