Harrier

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2009/post-2778-1230830783.jpgThanks! I was actually thinking of the later period, when the LDO had to license the manufacture of all awards for sale and had to approve a sample before license was granted.

When the manufacture of a piece is specifically authorized by the government (as in "licensed"), is the piece, even though it may differ from a "brand" actually awarded, still a copy? Sorry to go "off topic".

LW=Luftwaffe WH= Wehrmacht Heer (Army)

The LW one looks like the fakes made back in the 60's by "The Patch King" in New Jersey. I don't believe it is real. The Army eagle looks OK to me (although the neck looks awfully long). Army is really not my field.

I was staying once at a hotel in Indianapolis and found, to my great surprise, that a reunion of surviving crewmembers was being held in one of the ballrooms. I was able to briefly speak to some of these nice, and now old, folks, and hear some of their stories. Incredibly, some of them (because survivors were so spread out in the water) didn't even know at the time that sharks were attacking their friends.

Thanks again to everyone. I think it was not uncommon at all for "re-tread" officers to be put almost anywhere they could possibly be of use. Nice if former flyers went to flying units, but an officer was an officer and supposedly had enough skill to be able to do SOMETHING! In this case, old Alois just happened to be somewhere they wore yellow. I'd really like to figure out what was on that right pocket. I believe Rick is 100% correct that on the left were a WMC 1st and some other minor badge (sports, etc.). The right pocket has me stumped now that we know he wasn't a flyer.

Ian, Thanks very much for the information. It's always good to know at least something about the man who wore this and this is a big help! Regards, Harrier

Try this: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32603&hl= (It's my tunic, so I have a selfish motive for putting up the link!)

On the Donitz uniform, do you recall if the "rings' on the sleeves were made as a "unitary set", with the broad ring and the other rings sewn on a separate piece of cloth and then attached, as a unit, to each sleeve, or was each "ring" actually sewn individually to the sleeve itself? I ask because I think I recall a photo where you see (on the uniform in the photo) they were made as a set.

This is very interesting to see. Thanks for posting this!

And are the portraits all matched to the subjects' original uniforms?

I had never heard of a Japanese made DKiG (and certainly not RK)! This is great to see! Any chance of seeing the RK?

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2008/post-2778-1228350043.jpgSlightly different (and obviously not the standard issue cap...maybe not even of originally German origin).

This looks like a 4-hollow rivet cross which has had the hollow rivets filled with solder and a central rivet added to secure a loose swastika.

Air Gunner Badge.

Is this an Osang variant?

Very rare items! Not many of these have survived all these years and you are both lucky to have an example!

Wonderful, rare cap!

Makes sense. Harrier

It looks rather like a ship "wappen". What is the size? Best, Harrier

It is indeed a real enamel wreath. I thought it was also a nice touch to use one blue ribbon, instead of 2, for the LS awards!

The back. Sorry for the poor photos, but my lighting is very bad right now.

Bringing this old thread back up. Here's what I think is a little bit older copy of the Rommel ribbon bar. The backing is a sheet metal (not brass) which shows some rust inside. The Memel ribbon appears to be a real one and does not glow (neither does anything else). Picked this up at the MAX show last week for the fun of it. VERY cheap!

A beautiful and rare uniform! One of the finest I have seen anywhere!

Great! Please let us know where you will be at the MAX.