Stogieman

OK, not a fighter, here's where we went with this guy: Sargeant Karl Bauer (FFA4 in summer, 1916) Anhalt Friedrich Cross, 2.kl. gazetted 28 June 1916 in Feldflieger Abteilung 4 EK1/EK2 Brunswick EAK2 Bavarian MMK1wK/X Honor Cross for Combattants Bavarian 15-Year LS Cross (bumped down to Luftwaffe 12/4) Repeat on the EK2, 1939-45 Bavarian Pilot Badge He was a mechanic until at least 22Feb18 when he was posted to FEA 1b. He may have received pilot training at that time, but I lose track of him. This is what I have: (Sergeant) FeldLuftAbt 2 _______ 2Aug14 - 11Dec14 FFA 4b ____________ 11Dec14 - 15Jan17 (renumbered) (Vzfw.) FA 47b ____________ 15Jan17 - 10Jan18 AFP 3 _____________ 10Jan18 - 22Feb18 FEA 1b ____________ 22Feb18 - Vizefeldwebel Bauer, Pilot, FA 293(A)b, wounded in action 16 September 1918. Additional Bauers: 22.06.1918 Vizefeldwebel Josef Bauer (F) in der Gegend von Ayette durch Bodenbeschu? schwer verwundet 16.09.1918 Vizefeldwebel Hans Bauer (F) und Leutnant der Reserve Heinz Jordan (B) im Luftkampf mit 8 Sopwith Camel schwer verwundet. Das Flugzeug geriet in Brand und die Besatzung konnte sich mit dem Fallschirm retten. Unteroffizier Bauer erlitt einen Bauchschuss, Leutnant Jordan eine leichte Knieverletzung. (Kofl 17 Bericht Nr.55 vom 19.09.1918) So we have several Bauers, perhaps the names were annoted incorrectly on the casualties list. In any event that unit was a support unit, not a jagdstaffel

Hi Chris, Rick was able to narrow this down to (probably) one Bavarian enlisted Pilot. There were two Officers that received the Anhalt Cross the same day from this unit. Hang on and I'll see if I can dig out the notes.

Outstanding Bar. Simply outstanding! :food-smiley-004:

Hmmm, where to begin? I'll have to comb through about 900 archived ribbon bar pictures! :speechless-smiley-004:

C'Mon Fran?ois, you're holding back! Show us yours!

very nice bars! Keep 'em coming!

If I remember correctly, there's less than 250 Double medal winners. Makes for a narrow pool of recipients and hikes the rarity scale through the roof. I've only ever found one double ribbon bar, one double medal bar. I've only seen fotos of one more in a collection in Germany. (The owner likes to tease me and every month or so eMails me photos of some of his stuff..... how mean can a guy get?)

Hi Jason, I never knew for sure, but it came in together and I hate breaking things up, even packets. I suspect you are probably right. The mark is for the Prussian State Mint... but I do not know if they made WB's

I have always thought this to be one of the most attractive of the bronze vet awards. Nice to see so many nice examples!

Hey Mike, welcome aboard!

Christophe! Bienvenue!

Hi Jason, welcome aboard!! The red packet is from something else, remember?

I have a question..... were there not different grades of this cross, or was it strictly a Neck Order? I'm not saying the one Robin shows is legit.. but my initial impression is this would have been (1) a medal bar piece, not neck order.. (2) A spangen-stuch strictly for the medal bar?? The number struck in the back looks remarkably correct for other Friekorps pieces I have seen, but I'm pretty thin on experience in some of this stuff "between the wars".

OK, that's all from me for now. I have many variations of the above. Does anybody have any different examples of other medals in packets? Thanks!

Saxon Friedrich August Medal in Bronze. Silver came this way as well. Both of these could also be "Private Purchased" from Scharffenberg (Dresden) in at least 2 case styles.

Prussian Wound Badge in Black

Prussian Iron Cross, Second Class. These blue packets can be found with a multitude of ink-stamped (usually purple) maker marks. Including "K", "W", "S&W", etc.

Oldenburg Friedrich August Cross, Second Class. They don't get much minty-fresh than this one was!

One of my Favorites! The Lippe Cross for Bravery, Second Class. This one is very hard to find!

Hessian General Bravery Decoration in the issue packet. For some reason, this one is actually easy to find!

The Hungarian one is infinitely harder to find... a plain brown packet, no title, no marks, but with the "Legitimization" paper and a maker note inside!

Let's not forget the Commemorative Medals... Here's The Bulgarian WW1 Commemorative Medal in the wax-paper issue packet!

And later, when the Brunswick "Front Fighter Clasp" was issued, it arrived like this!

Here's one from Brunswick for the Ernst August Cross, Second Class: (EAK2)

Here's one from Bavaria for the Ludwig Cross