Whilst your idea about the eagle being replaced would be feasible if the hat badge was a one off, this is not the case. Firstly, the eagle is a totally different pattern to those used for arm eagles or any other badge. Secondly, there are at least three individual examples of the badge that I have seen so far, all of which show clear signs of having been worn. It may be that they stem from the confusion that existed in 1918/19 about which way the eagle should fly. This is clearly shown in photos of the time where Airmen are shown wearing the arm eagle flying both ways in the same photo. I believe it was not until 1920 that definitive orders were issued dictating the direction of flight.
Dave
|