Taz

eddie i think now the parts are made in china and assamble in cuba

Greg,

thanks for that detail

That's very interesting to know.

Also that Italy made items.

Regards Eddie.

thanks eddie again i have a few of this and other so this is soviet stile best regards greg

That's right Greg, the only difference being that there is a red star on the Soviet ones and as seen on your example, the Cuban state emblem above the white class shield.

Cuban Paratrooper badges were soviet made and i suspect these too.

Regards Eddie.

This is a Soviet style, Cuban class badge, worn by Officers and Ensigns.

Exists in the classes M,1,2 and 3.

Regards Eddie

Yep,

It's the bottom part of the Hat insignia. the example below is on a Air Force hat.

Hi Andy,

Seems it would be connected to the Fire control computer, see below:

The fuze is set using the electronic fuze setter. This consists of a fuze setter head and a fuze setter logic unit. The units can be connected by a straight cable of any length up to 30 m. The setter head is placed over the Series 132 fuze, and the time is set in less than 2 seconds. The logic unit can be used to support up to two setter heads and features auto or manual selection of fuze/function and arming times, independent fuze setting and checking, an interface with a fire-control computer, displays which include error codes and battery-low indication, and self-test and self-calibration.

Regards Eddie

Hi Greg,

That is the Cuban Liberator Medal which was awarded for service in the Cuban Revolution of 1895-1898 including the actions of the Spanish American War.

The ribbon is correct for this medal although it should have a metal suspension part to it, above the medal ring with a star in the middle, and wreaths to either side. On the reverse it would read Freeman, Mercaderes 2, Habana.

There are Silver, gold plated and copper versions of the medal. The silver medal is regarded as the highest class.

Regards Eddie

Awarded in recognition of exemplary attitude in the Revolutionary Armed Forces and consequent military service for more than 20 years, dedicated to the defense of our Socialist Mother country and its territorial integrity and in occasion when needed to carry out other tasks and functions that the Revolution assigns to them.

The Medalla "Fraternidad Combativa" has much the same award critaria as this Medal.

Magyar ?rdemkereszt (arany, ez?st, bronz)

Hungarian Cross of Merit (gold, silver, bronze) (1935)

This seems to be the gold version (Magyar Arany ?rdemkereszt) because of the green enamelled center wreath

Regards Eddie

Hello Gentlemen,

Im looking for more infos about the icelandic WWII Ace Thorstein Elton Jonsson who scored 8 aerial victories and 7 probable while in service of the RAF. A picture would be great.

Thx in advance

Regards

He served as a Flight Officer with 111 Sq and 65 Sq in the Hurricane und Spitfire Mk.V. if that helps at all.

Regards Eddie

Medalla "J?sus Menendez" Type 1 (Matt finish)

Medalla "J?sus Menendez" Type 2 (Staybrite finish)

My example of this Medal arrived today,

and another variation comes to light.

The Medal is in fact the same but it has the more scanner friendly Matt finish.

Also the Medal ribbon lighter, the Medal ribbon bar is even brighter red, green and yellow.

I'll scan and post asp.

Regards Eddie.

Hello Robin,

Maybe a closer look here could help you in the right direction:

http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/ordersof.htm

And here:

http://www.sikhli.in/history/

Regards Eddie.

With regards to the UK, servicemen are not allowed to wear this Medal (Heard that before)

Strangely enough, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has given permission for the Saudi Arabian version of the Liberation of Kuwait Medal to be worn in a few cases.

The Saudi issue Liberation of Kuwait Medal is also regarded as the senior in precedence of the two Medals.

Best regards Eddie.

Does anyone know please what are the differences between an infantry used MG08/15 and the version placed inside the German tanks of WWI? I have seen an 08/15 with trunions but assume this is for use in pillboxes/fortifications. Belgians used captured WWI MG08/15 in their forts and 'added' pieces to them. I am assuming for German WWI tank use there may be no butt stock, or different ammunition feeds or indeed different water cooling system etc etc.

VMT for any help.

Mark

Hi Mark,

Hope this helps a little,

The MG's in the A7V were firmly fixed and not 08/15's but the heavier water-cooled MG 08. When aiming, the port cover and the whole gunners seat moved too which caused problems with blind corners.

Each tank had a standard, lighter MG 08/15 for use if the crew had to bail out.

Neben der Schnellfeuerkanone war der A7V mit 6 Maschinengewehren vom Typ MG 08 ausger?stet. Die MGs waren lafettiert, also fest eingebaut. Bei einer Bewegung des Maschinengewehres bewegte sich nicht nur dieses, sondern auch der daran fest angebrachte Sitz des Sch?tzen und die gepanzerte Walzenblende, die die "L?cke" verdeckte, in der das MG angebracht war.

Nachteil dieser relativ "festen" Verbauung waren tote Winkel. Diese ergaben sich vor allem im Frontbereich zwischen den vorderen MGs an den Seiten und der Kanone und n?her als 4,5 Meter am Panzer. Bei weiter entfernten Zielen konnten die noch bestehenden Probleme an der Frontseite durch Zickzackfahren gel?st werden.

Zus?tzlich befand sich in jedem A7V ein leichtes Maschinengewehr 08/15 mit 300 Schuss Munition, 6 Karabiner 98, Handgranaten und pro Besatzungsmitglied eine Pistole 08. Der Sinn, diese Waffen mitzuf?hren, war, dass die Besatzung bei Aufgabe des Panzers als Sto?trupp weiterk?mpfen konnte.

Regards Eddie

Taz, I have gone back through all my images, archives, etc. and cannot find another example of anything with an FAR bac?!!! interesting!!

Rick,

Another mystery to add to the list

Oh well one more won't really make too much difference

Regards Eddie

Hi John,

The distinguishing features are:

1st class - Gold Cross

2nd class - Silver Cross

3rd class - Gold Medal

4th class - Silver Medal

5th class - Bronze Medal

All classes have a 1940-1945 ribbon bar in the metal of their grade.

The 5th class is the 3rd class Medal if seperated from the crosses. So both are technically correct.

Civil Decoration 1940-1945 5th class, or 3rd class Civil Decoration Medal 1940-1945

Regards Eddie

The edges/rim and ose are different as well..... looks similar edging to some of the other column/combattant medals, but not as cleanly finished.... but that could be the scan.

Thats three different ring types just on the examples posted here,

Post #2 & 3 seems to have a flattened ring.

Post #4 the ring does not join at the medal rim.

Post #5 circular ring which joins together at the medal rim.

The medal rim itself is in fact flat, round and even, the scan in this case highlights the edge knocks and makes this worn medal look worse.

Regards Eddie.

Matt finish on this example.

Hi Igor,

does this help at all?

http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germa...sta/jasta11.php

http://www.frontflieger.de/2-j11.html

Regards Eddie.

Guys,

Strange one isn't it, I wasn't even going to post it until I had a second look at the reverse.

A FAR issue Medalla "Combatiente Internacionalista"? I really have no idea right now.

Medalla "Combatiente Internacionalista" (I) Council of State reverse

Medalla "Combatiente Internacionalista" (I) FAR reverse

Medalla " Combatiente de la Lucha Clandestina" Type 1 (Matt finish)

Medalla " Combatiente de la Lucha Clandestina" Type 2 (Staybrite finish)

This example arrived along with the other Medals I posted a few days ago and after examination there is one distinct variation to this one.

Not the swapped ribbon, it has a totaly different reverse to it. Instead of Council of State it has the wording FAR.

Regards Eddie

I was wondering if anyone has any information on the squadron. I have a lot of pictures of spitfires, shot down 109's and some v1 pictures he took if anyone would be interested in looking at them

Regards Adam

Hi Adam,

Have you seen the Wiki articles on the Polish Squadrons?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._317_Polish_Fighter_Squadron

Further down under related content are further links to various other Polish Wings, squadrons and other units.

Regards Eddie.

Telephone workers, then? Or might this also be for postal employees?

Well Rick I was looking around for info on what that actually entails and came up with some interesting details.

Firstly it seems that the Union has had its name updated or changed to include:

Trabajador de las Comunicaciones, la Inform?tica y la Electr?nica (workers of the communications, computer science and electronics)

Secondly a point which I think I have mentioned before, women recive Distinctions for 20 years and men for 25 years service.( I've seen roughly the same for the Distinction Nico Lopez)

Here part of a translated Cuban web page:

"The Distinction Mario Mu?oz Monroy was granted to a group of workers of the sector, for 20 years the women and 25 the men, who maintained uninterrupted and commendable work within the communications sector".

With regards to who this might include, certainly Radio and television.

You've got TWO now!!!!

(Still 0 for me )

Just the one Rick, I passed on the boxed one because I had already decided to buy the one in the scan.

An interesting detail in this Medal which dosen't show up well in the scans is that the Medal is actually concave in shape, the lowest point being the center of the star on the obverse.

No other Cuban Medal has this distictive shape, at least none we have seen so far.

Regards Eddie.