CRBeery

The photos in this grouping are outstanding. They are in very large format. Here is a selection of cropped photos. In the first picture he is mounted on the far left. Here is my second favorite after the portrait! This represents some real history! Also - Some facial hair for Chris.

Some confirmation from the back of the photo.

Gentlemen, Thank you for the research! I have decided to reframe the photo make sure everything is acid proof. There is no glass currently as it broke and I asked to have it removed prior to shipping. Normally I leave things alone but this is a great photo and the frame looks like wood that was dipped in plaster and much of the plaster is coming off. I found something written on the backing of the photo. Confirms above info and more! I'll try to post it tomorrow. Chris- this guy was born just up the road from you!

14-1/2" by 22". It's the largest photo I have seen from that era. When I bought it there was nothing in the photograph to provide scale. I was quite happy to see it. I haven't done any research on him other that Googleing his name which came up with nothing. Thanks to Paul and Chris and Chris.

A face to go with it!

Look at the stiching! They look the same. Odulf has the wings as issued and have them after they have been through a war. I don't think my pair has any real monetary value but along with the NZ pair I posted they represent some "been there" pieces. As the wear is so heavy on both is it possible for one pilot to have worn both on the same uniform? I don't think I have seen such a photo.

Just some photos of him out of a family grouping. I think I have four generations of militaria in the box. His grandsons awards are in my KM thread here on GMIC.

I present to the forum the Ehrenritter cross of later Major General Bruno von Rudgisch. I bought it thinking it was bronze gilt as the seller confirmed there are no markings on the cross. When looking closely with a loop a "FR" can be seen engraved into the bottom of the cross. I had to use a loop to see it. Turns out this is a hollow gold version. Most likely the closest I will come to a PLM.

I bought out the leftovers of a family collection that time did not scatter to the winds. It represents four generations as best as I can tell. The awards of the youngest:

Just a nice clean two war medal bar. The EK2 still has almost all of it's WW2 type plating on it. Nice curves!

Here is one that I normally would not buy as it is not WW1 or earlier. An older collection is slowly being sold off and this became available and I decided to get it. Not often that you find the Mine medal mounted. I also like that it is a three kingdom bar which is a bit rare also. I believe the Mine Rescue Medal is from S&L.

I have posted a set of wings that match these from South africa. They came together and I am trying to determine if they are real and what era they are from. I can't imagine this much wear was acceptable in a uniform inspection. Let me know your thoughts.

I came across these heavily worn wings and decided to buy them. They are heavily padded and heavily worn. They came with a New Zealand pair in the same condition. Any one know if they are original and what era they are from?

Is the black stripe 4mm or larger like 4.5 to 5mm?

Gentlemen, I still haven't given up on this yet. I found more of the supposed name:DIETER WALTER EBERHARD von RUDGISCH-BALLAS. How would this be listed? As v Rudgisch or as Ballas or both? he was born in Berlin in 1917. Fits for a WW2 guy. Sailed commercially until around 1970.

I LOVE this bar! Can we see the back? This is a different version of the Saxon mounting that I do not remember seeing before.

Extremely nice condition on that bar. Looks like the day it was picked up from being mounted.

Another von Rudgisch but still not my guy. Maybe it is a Grandfather, Father, and then the wayward Naval son! The badge is a cool piece and I wanted to put some history to it. Was there an Imperial equivalent? I had one further thought on this piece- it is one of the only TR pieces I can think of that did not have a swastika on it. The same design was used post war. This badge is the war time type but could have been a surplus piece that was not issued until after 1945. His name would not be in the wartime references.

I have a spare Volume 1 if anyone is interested.

Paul, On some bars it is not possible. The others you can tell by the awards. Certain awards were given to specific ranks. The higher ranks would get the wreathed or crowned version (Saxony). Long service medals are also a good tell. Some senior officers have bars that get smaller as awards move to the neck. They look like an enlisted/NCO bar but the officer LS is still there.

The Hindenburg was not given out to my understanding. A person had to apply for it during 34/35. If this guy did not apply for it he would not have it on his bar. He was most likely done with war and then was somehow pulled back in as a civilian in uniform to get the Olympic medal and 25 year LS. I have a two war NC bar that has the Olympic and a similar LS award with no Hindenburg. It was blessed by Rick as original.

How about these guys: http://www.ordensmanufaktur.com/ordensspangen.html

This is one of my newest NCO bars just in on Friday. I have a couple other ones I like better but this one is still here for pictures. Those of you who know me know that I am not a fan of bars with the 14/18 cross on them but I do make exceptions. Here is one I could not pass as you just don't find them. A three kingdom bar to boot!

There are at least 25 years of service on the ribbon bar so Oberst would fit. I found the Dieter from an obituary near where the grouping was found. He was sailing into the 60's commercially. It could be father and son but in reality I will never know. Thanks for the insight.

I really don't know what the second letter is. It was in a case a at gun show and caught my interest. I'm sure there is a collector out there that is into this type of item and has some period documentation. Seems like there were many groups in NY with members numbering in the thousands.