Claudius

​It does seem like a Bulgarian crown. But I can't place that castle view. The details don't match up with Veliko Tarnovo. Maybe a different Bulgarian castle?

​ DOE 1181 / H&S 755 ? Wow. A very unusual medal indeed. Because of today's date I might believe you are trying to fool me, but the evidence is there. Do you know any more about the medal than what is in H&S?

Nice ribbon bar. I really like the Legion Condor on the end. It is a Legion Condor ribbon? I wonder if the ribbon bar could be identified?

Looks great. Now you just need to get a couple of other DDR items to go with it.

Claudio; That is nice Navy Commemorative medal bar. The battle bars are amazing. Congratulations! (I don't know what happened on the GMIC website, but I can finally respond)

​

​Hello Claudio; That bar was on the top of my list from RR for all the reasons you mention above especially the Finnish connection/1918 war for independence. C'est la vie. There will be another day, with other items that I will look to be victorious. Regards, Claudius

Anyone here won #0020?

@ Gunner -Thanks. I will make the "Holm" corrections to my notes. I should have said from the onset that my chronography on Hess is a work in progress. @Chris Liontas -Thanks. I (of course) agree, these badges and the ones that can be attributed to an individual's WWI history are really special.

Otto Hess b. Braunfels 11/21/16 -earns his SeefliegerAbzeichen in SFA II Wilhelmshaven 5/21/17 -transferred to SFA I 7/4/17 -promoted to FlugOberMaat 6/8/17 -EKII awarded 3/19/18 -Promoted to Flugmeister 7/18/18 -A British patrol of two Short 184s out of Westgate (coast of Kent) escorted by two Sopwith Camels out of Manston were met by six Hansa-Brandenburg seaplane fighters (w.29) from Seeflugstation I, Zeebrugge. The air battle occurred over Quadrant 1305K (Kentish Knock). Both Short 184s were shot down. Ace and PLM winner Kapitanleutnant Frederich Christiansen accounted for one of the downed airplanes. Flugmeister Hess and his gunner Hahn were credited with the second. Either; Short 184 number "N2927" with Lt. Pegram (KIA) and 2Lt. Thrower(KIA) or Short 184 number "N2937" with Lt. Vowles (survived) and 2Lt. Farrall (survived) 11/21/18 -Hess and Hahn receive an Ehrenpries, the naval equivalent to the Ehrenbecker. The Ehrenpries trophy is two bronze eagles frozen in aeronautical battle mounted on a black plinth. It currently resides in a WWI Aviation museum in New Zealand. ----There are no known photos of Otto Hess or his airplane.---- (my many thanks to those that have provided me with much of Hess' career information, dates and details of his victory)

Are any bars attributed to fliegertruppen? (I won't even ask if any were from Tsingtau, China)

engraving ------------------------ O. Hess II Seeflieger Abtlg. W'haven RS ------------------------

reverse

seefliegerabzeichen

After a long gestation I am finally able to present this wonderful Seefliegerabzeichen. It is a "800" stamped piece with the excellent obverse details and patina you would expect. But it is the reverse that is really special. This badge is engraved to Otto Hess. He flew with the famous Naval Marine Ace, Frederick Christensen. I will post more details about his career later, but for now here are the photos.

Nice group! The West Wall medal is nice little gong on the end. Are there any maker marks on the BVO4x?

Well, I think it's clear that he has the Centennial Medal in the front. Followed by several gongs and the second last is the Danzig Cross 2k and a Sudetenland medal on the end. The grouping and order makes perfect sense...

"I only limp with my tongue and stutter with my leg. Nature never quite finished me."

Wonderful display. But I have to argue with you over the description of "little" US collection

I concur with that list and I would add that the last ribbon is very likely the Long Service award due to the Luftwaffe eagle clasp in it.

Don't be afraid of hurting that document. You're here to help. It wants to return to its previous shape.

Hello Tony; I think it's looking great. You're almost there! I few more strokes with the warm iron to both sides and it will be flat as cold-rolled steel. Now that I see the document you're working on, I believe this technique is very appropriate and you obviously have made a good start. The most delicate part is over. Just make sure the crease parts get the moisture, before you iron them flat. Then remove the moisture when it's back into position. If I may ask, you weren't using that red towel for the flattening process? You want to use something closer to linen. Like the material in a 100% cotton dress shirt. No lint. Several pieces. Some moist, some dry. And keep the iron moving. Don't let it rest in one spot too long. OK, I'll stop preaching now.

The damp cloth and ironing method I describe is really to raise the humidity of the piece so that the delicate fibers in the paper can be unfolded. When returned to the flat position, then a dry cloth and iron are used gently to remove the humidity so that the water in the fibers won't mold or breakdown the fibers. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/56823-light-document-restoration-work/ Otherwise, I would recommend a professional that show previous examples. And ask them how they are going to do it. You might find that it is essentially the same process, just they have humidity controlled chambers, irons that were never used on clothing and a lot more patience.

Sounds like an outstanding group to an Airship crewman, with a connection to a historically relevant raid over England.