# Googling "World War 2 flying penis pendant" didn't work **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583 "2013-05-05T23:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/21 "2014-11-11T14:33:00Z")
Street vendors in Naples, Italy used to hawk them to American sailors for a buck when our ship pulled in back in 1971. “Hey Joe. Flying cock and balls?” They’re probably still selling them today. Some things never change. 🙂 Here’s one I found through googling: [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/23712550\_wwii-silver-trench-art-key-chain-cock-and-balls](http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/23712550_wwii-silver-trench-art-key-chain-cock-and-balls) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/22 "2014-11-11T14:55:15Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I don’t think there is an explanation as to what it is. It is what it is: a [winged phallus](http://io9.com/5955398/ancient-romans-carved-winged-penises-to-ward-off-the-evil-eye), a roman **symbol of good luck** (and not, apparently, fertility). FWIW, the scientific term is “apotropaic”, Greek root, meaning “that which wards off evil spirits”. The Greeks also were [lucky phallusmongers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herma). Good luck springing that one in conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/23 "2014-11-11T15:25:31Z")
I bet it’s one of [these](https://img1.etsystatic.com/002/0/7005311/il_340x270.375948547_de5x.jpg) with the lower part of the propeller broken off. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/24 "2014-11-11T18:17:18Z")
**Ranger Jeff** Respectfully, not a chance. My zeide Herman had plenty of pins with propellers on them. He also had a winged penis souvenir. There is zero chance it was anything but a winged penis. Oh and since it is veterans day, I’d like to salute all the vets on the SDMB. Cause, freedom isn’t free. ---
**Author:** ![NrsSteph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@NrsSteph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NrsSteph)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/25 "2015-10-21T01:55:47Z")
I just was talking with my Grandma, who has 2 of these. 1 from her late husband, who was in the Army and my current Grandpa who is 96. The winged Penis was actually an award given from your commander to you for a job well done, so similar to being “coined” today. It was “from the head Prick of the regiment”. They would wear them on their collars or as a tie clip. Now you know. I’ll try to get him to tell me more about it, but wanted to share what I had found out tonight, since there seems to be a lot of people looking for the information. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/26 "2015-10-21T02:44:49Z")
Welcome the SDMB, **NrsSteph**. I am curious, what country’s army did your relatives serve in? ---
**Author:** ![Oddball\_92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b3f665/32.png) [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/27 "2015-10-21T03:22:34Z")
I remember the “hey, Joes” in Naples in 1972-73, and I clearly remember them being for sale. Never could bring myself to buy one ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/28 "2015-10-21T11:06:39Z")
Perhaps a small penis got a hold of a red bull? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/29 "2015-10-21T11:11:16Z")
**Simply\_Cats** , does it look like any of these? [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://img1.etsystatic.com/060/0/5310714/il\_fullxfull.740449055\_i5yd.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.etsy.com/market/penis\_charms&h=1461&w=1460&tbnid=6ZfDOxoyHZ4sAM:&docid=QGjrwcCe7\_iFzM&ei=bUsnVsCSLMKwUbLwgTg&tbm=isch&ved=0CCgQMyglMCU4ZGoVChMIgP3LtZHTyAIVQlgUCh0yeAAH](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://img1.etsystatic.com/060/0/5310714/il_fullxfull.740449055_i5yd.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.etsy.com/market/penis_charms&h=1461&w=1460&tbnid=6ZfDOxoyHZ4sAM:&docid=QGjrwcCe7_iFzM&ei=bUsnVsCSLMKwUbLwgTg&tbm=isch&ved=0CCgQMyglMCU4ZGoVChMIgP3LtZHTyAIVQlgUCh0yeAAH) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://institorium.pl/page/components/com\_jshopping/files/img\_products/full\_abae23373cd97d7574b6932a6d6700da.gif&imgrefurl=http://institorium.pl/page/index.php/en/basket/product/view/9/22&h=548&w=635&tbnid=z8GYFDkqChZl6M:&docid=AacAgk\_yVFwbiM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CFUQMygxMDFqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://institorium.pl/page/components/com_jshopping/files/img_products/full_abae23373cd97d7574b6932a6d6700da.gif&imgrefurl=http://institorium.pl/page/index.php/en/basket/product/view/9/22&h=548&w=635&tbnid=z8GYFDkqChZl6M:&docid=AacAgk_yVFwbiM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CFUQMygxMDFqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://product-images.highwire.com/3041035/flying-penis-ring-4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.michaelraymondjewelry.com/product/flying-penis-necklace-charm&h=848&w=960&tbnid=bEyI6QAIYMCFbM:&docid=2d73pohq6zdMJM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CEwQMygoMChqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://product-images.highwire.com/3041035/flying-penis-ring-4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.michaelraymondjewelry.com/product/flying-penis-necklace-charm&h=848&w=960&tbnid=bEyI6QAIYMCFbM:&docid=2d73pohq6zdMJM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CEwQMygoMChqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.inspirations-in-gold.co.uk/images/1345.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.inspirations-in-gold.co.uk/gold-charms/fantasy-charms/adul-t18-charms?page%3D1%26sort%3D3d&h=350&w=350&tbnid=XCT9m1dr9doCDM:&docid=BDk1gmpBW30BhM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CCgQMygMMAxqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.inspirations-in-gold.co.uk/images/1345.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.inspirations-in-gold.co.uk/gold-charms/fantasy-charms/adul-t18-charms?page%3D1%26sort%3D3d&h=350&w=350&tbnid=XCT9m1dr9doCDM:&docid=BDk1gmpBW30BhM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CCgQMygMMAxqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.charmsdirect.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/3/1345-9y.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.charmsdirect.co.uk/gold-charms/flying-penis-gold-charm&h=350&w=350&tbnid=cOOKGvcalEKYoM:&docid=-SMGQRc8dGadOM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CCMQMygHMAdqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.charmsdirect.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/3/1345-9y.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.charmsdirect.co.uk/gold-charms/flying-penis-gold-charm&h=350&w=350&tbnid=cOOKGvcalEKYoM:&docid=-SMGQRc8dGadOM&ei=KksnVo3qJIO5UfzAmIgC&tbm=isch&ved=0CCMQMygHMAdqFQoTCI2ny5WR08gCFYNcFAodfCAGIQ) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pewterreplicas.co.uk/second%252520site%252520pictures/phallus%252520flying.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/03/18/man-throws-own-penis-at-cops/&h=297&w=312&tbnid=zVUVrzcbxCMqwM:&docid=H1MtBC8QfiNiZM&ei=GUcnVtCkIMOeU8LSvdAN&tbm=isch&ved=0CBUQMygSMBI4ZGoVChMIkJWVpY3TyAIVQ88UCh1CaQ\_a](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pewterreplicas.co.uk/second%252520site%252520pictures/phallus%252520flying.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/03/18/man-throws-own-penis-at-cops/&h=297&w=312&tbnid=zVUVrzcbxCMqwM:&docid=H1MtBC8QfiNiZM&ei=GUcnVtCkIMOeU8LSvdAN&tbm=isch&ved=0CBUQMygSMBI4ZGoVChMIkJWVpY3TyAIVQ88UCh1CaQ_a) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://i.imgur.com/s0tUHRB.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1n7rf2/my\_deceased\_grandfathers\_favorite\_keychain\_the/&h=1024&w=768&tbnid=NbIzT7Mb969DSM:&docid=Da7zRjlhqSlvoM&ei=qkYnVsmNN4b9UL79qvAF&tbm=isch&ved=0CCwQMygQMBBqFQoTCMmKtfCM08gCFYY-FAodvr4KXg](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://i.imgur.com/s0tUHRB.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1n7rf2/my_deceased_grandfathers_favorite_keychain_the/&h=1024&w=768&tbnid=NbIzT7Mb969DSM:&docid=Da7zRjlhqSlvoM&ei=qkYnVsmNN4b9UL79qvAF&tbm=isch&ved=0CCwQMygQMBBqFQoTCMmKtfCM08gCFYY-FAodvr4KXg) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pintreasures.com/image/cache/data/catalog/FUN%252520TO%252520OBSCENE/MMS19-150x150.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pintreasures.com/flying-dick-pewter-pin-lapel-pins-hat-pins-free-shipping-no-min-order&h=150&w=150&tbnid=8Do-VVZVI--61M:&docid=Wn\_ngR4TVuD0DM&ei=qkYnVsmNN4b9UL79qvAF&tbm=isch&ved=0CCUQMygJMAlqFQoTCMmKtfCM08gCFYY-FAodvr4KXg](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pintreasures.com/image/cache/data/catalog/FUN%252520TO%252520OBSCENE/MMS19-150x150.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pintreasures.com/flying-dick-pewter-pin-lapel-pins-hat-pins-free-shipping-no-min-order&h=150&w=150&tbnid=8Do-VVZVI--61M:&docid=Wn_ngR4TVuD0DM&ei=qkYnVsmNN4b9UL79qvAF&tbm=isch&ved=0CCUQMygJMAlqFQoTCMmKtfCM08gCFYY-FAodvr4KXg) [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/1841/50408/23712550\_3\_l.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/23712550\_wwii-silver-trench-art-key-chain-cock-and-balls&h=374&w=650&tbnid=3Yp1ILKnVc9OwM:&docid=puZdeblKKYxqWM&ei=E0YnVviPMYa0UbvPtlg&tbm=isch&ved=0CEYQMyhDMEM4ZGoVChMIuOWuqIzTyAIVBloUCh27pw0L](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/1841/50408/23712550_3_l.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/23712550_wwii-silver-trench-art-key-chain-cock-and-balls&h=374&w=650&tbnid=3Yp1ILKnVc9OwM:&docid=puZdeblKKYxqWM&ei=E0YnVviPMYa0UbvPtlg&tbm=isch&ved=0CEYQMyhDMEM4ZGoVChMIuOWuqIzTyAIVBloUCh27pw0L) ---
**Author:** ![PukinBuzzard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c67d28/32.png) [@PukinBuzzard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PukinBuzzard)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583/30 "2016-07-09T01:25:20Z")
My father was career Navy, and on one of his Mediterranean cruises he got a pendant like that. He said it was called the “flying cock and balls of Pompeii”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googling-world-war-2-flying-penis-pendant-didnt-work/657583.md?page=1)