WRANGEL

Has anyone a ribbon for this medal? Please contact me.

Cheers

Bill

Hello Hugh,

Thanks for the confirmation. Yes, I do like the design too.

Cheers.

Bill

Hello JPL,

Many thanks for the identification. I definitively need to buy Sylvester book. Yes I thought it was rather uncommon when came across this badge but had no idea of what it was exactly (besides the fact it came from Indochina-Vietnam). Seems like I will have a hard time finding the ribbon.

Cheers

Bill

Good evening gentlemen,

Can anyone help me identify this vietnamese medal ? It looks like it is some kind of military award. I believe it is French made, although there are no maker's mark. Any idea of what the ribbon looks like ?

Cheers.

Bill

Hello Panzer Jager,

Aubagne98 is right, this is not German but for the Italian carabinieri. Here is a modern version of this collar tabs.

Cheers

Bill

Hello Ricardo,

This is the model currently available at the Monnaie de Paris (the French mint), it cost 107 euros on their website, but you might find one at a cheaper price on the internet or at a flea market.

Cheers

Bill

As they all said, hats off ! Congratulations !

Cheers

Bill

Hi Chris, Hi Doc,

Thanks for commenting on the badge. You may certainly be right regarding this badge as not being American. I thought first that it could have been a USAF patch locally made somewhere, but I have no real idea of the original country of this badge. The only thing I am sure is that it is not French (although I bought the badge on a Paris fleamarket).

I agree with you Chris, the bird does look like a kingfisher, and I would not be surprised if the patch was for a naval or maritime unit as well. Since the bird seems to be in an attacking position and holding lightning in its claws I imagine that the unit is some kind of fighting or bombing squadron.

The construction of the badge does not look like an asiatic product (but I might be wrong). It is handmade. I think it is circa 1970-1980.

Cheers.

Bill

Hello Gentemen,

I bought this cloth badge this morning. I think it is an American patch but I have a hardtime identifying this badge. Does anyone knows what unit this is ?

Thanks. Cheers.

Bill

It is always nice to give a face to a name and reverse is true too (putting a name on a face). Did Walter Herbert's sister succeed getting informations on her brother from the Foreign Legion Administration ?

I have the problem, but from the other side of the Rhine, my grandfather was in the Wehrmacht (GFP) and my father in the HJ, but I have a hard time finding their military records.

Cheers

Bill

"The cult of the motherland"

Well in fact it should be "The cult of the fatherland" since the word "patria" comes from the latin "pater" meaning the father.

Hi PKeating,

Yes your right F. Mitterand was awarded the order of the Francisque Gallique, but you could also named Raoul Salan, the Lumière brothers, General Weygand, Louis II de Monaco, the widow of General Huntziger and so on...

Regarding Mitterand I would not be surprised if he had kept his awarding document. Mitterand was the only French President to flourish Marechal Petain's grave. Of course he said he was honouring the memory of the conqueror of the battle of Verdun. Nevertheless all the French president of the so-called right (Chirac and Sarkozy) have ended this tribute to Marechal Petain.

The certificate for this order is in fact a small member card.

Cheers

Bill

Hello Jef, Hello Mervyn,

Many thanks for your interest in this badge, and the identification. I must add that I am also in debt to Guy Deploige who helped me identifying this badge.

You can check also this site for Belgium military regulations :

http://forumeerstewe...pic.php?t=12807

here is the page with the above badge.

Cheers.

Bill

Sorry,

I forgot to add the reverse of the badge.

Cheers

Bill

Hello Gentlemen,

I am trying to identify this badge. I have no idea if it is British, Dutch, from Belgium or Luxemburg...It was bought in a flea market in Paris but it is definitely not French. Is it military or police ?

I await your suggestions. Thanks.

Cheers

Bill

Hello Guy,

Superbe clasp. Thanks for showing it.

Cheers

Bill

Everything is written in the article, quote " Crucially, Ms Hayek is married to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, who happens to be a close personal friend of Mr Sarkozy." and by the way Francois-Henri Pinault was made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor at the same time.

Isn't life wonderfull in the land of the rich and powerful ?

Even the reproduction of the image of Marechal Petain was submited to authorisation as can be seen on this wallet with O.A. number printed on the reverse.

Cheers

Bill

Here is another one.

Hi,

Thanks Veteran.

I said I would post a few exemples of badges using the image of the francisque with a number on the back. Here is a 1st exemple.

As I said before this number is just an authorisation number (O.A. = Objet Authorise followed by a number) that authorises the manufacturer to reproduce the symbol of the francisque and in no case an awarding number !

Cheers

Bill

Hello AK101,

Yes this is a French Air Force badge, it is the badge of the Base Aerienne (Air Force base) 107 stationned at Villacoublay. It is a post war badge.

Cheers

Bill

Congratulations ralstona,

You can be proud of your ancestor. That is a superb military career. Swiss are peaceful people, but when they decide to go at war...

Cheers

Bill

Good evening TacHel,

Nice find.

Happy New Year.

Bill

Hello Lightfoot,

Here is the reverse of the badges. Do you know what is the Serbian double headed eagle badge with the double pin on reverse for? I think it could be a cap badge, but I don't know for which service !

Sincerely yours

Bill

Congratulations Robin,

That is really a nice find.

Cheers

Bill