Chris S

The two old rare birds together!

Chris

A Fot found on the net which shows a Latvian Pilot wearing an Estonian pilots badge!

Chris

Screwpost set up...

Chris

A Close up of the right wing...the hanging device is very delicate, amazed how it survived all these years and repression.

Chris

A close up of the beak area...

The back

Hi Guys

Not to sure if this is the best place to put this badge, but it is linked being Latvian and part of the Baltic States.

This again is a very, very rare badge.

A Latvian Airforce Regiment badge circa 1930. You will be interested to note that the Latvian Airforce has a Swastika, this is nothing to do with the Nazi's.

Latvia adopted this symbol in 1919 for its airforce and called it the "Ugunskusts" which means "Fire cross".

Chris[attachmentid=45648]

I dont quiet fancy hiding a Order of the Red Star up my ass (Even if it is a Gonzak) to get through Russian Customs though

Could you step this way sir for a body cavity search.......

Order of Victory

Now reminds me of the film "Virgin Soldiers" ...as he said under contact..."###### this for a game of Soldiers"

Chris

That reminds me of a quote from Pulp Fiction:

"This watch was on you daddy's wrist when he was shot down over Hanoi. He was captured and put in a Vietnamese prison camp. He knew that if the gooks ever saw the watch, they'd confiscate it--take it away. The way your dad looked at it, this watch was your birthright. He'd be damned if any slope's gonna put their greasy yellow hands on his boy's birthright. So, he hid it, in one place he knew he could hide something: his ass. Five long years he wore this watch . . . up his ass. Then, he died of dysentery, he give me the watch. I hid this uncomfortable hunk of metal up my ass two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you."

Reminds me of "No Pain no Gain" followed by "front support place...bend and stretch"....not from a jane fonda fitness vid

Chris

A beautiful award. What are they awarded for? Is the new (post communist independence) pilot badge similar to the WWII type? Do you have any photos of the current pilot badge?

Regards,

Lee

Check this site out...

? 6. Order of the Cross of the Eagle

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle was instituted in 1928 by the National Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowed in order to give recognition for military services and services in the field of national defence.

http://www.riigikantselei.ee/?id=684

There is a display of badges where I work, it has a pilots badge which is the same design I will take a fot next week, but it is very inferior to the pre and war2 example

Chris

Is it also illegal to IMport them then?

Actually the jap was taking them out...simple anniversary medals and a Labour award...big article in pravda about it...reckon you would drop your self in the pooh being caught in or out....

Any way Bob ...go for it, and then you can spin a dit about how you did get them thru or what a pain it was.

Chris

Personally, I would not like to take the chance of taking items thru Russian Customs, I used to leave that to Russian guys who knew who to butter.

I always remember seeing some poor Japanese guy being made an example of for taking thru 2 dollar items and the hoo harr in the papers whilst connected guys did the dirty thru pay offs.

As for back to the topic, expect to pay more than US prices for good items, jeh, baffles me as well!!!

Chris

Complete with box.

Chris

A bit closer of the Eagle.

Chris

Hi Lee

This is an order of the Eagles Cross, it comes in 8 degrees, this one is the 3rd Class. It was instituted on the 28th February 1928.

This Cross was the first 3rd Class awarded in its new Independence from the Soviets.

Chris

Oh now you went and did it!

I LOVE those!!!! I want one sooooooooooooooo bad! But I've only seen one and that was on Ebay like years ago!!!!

How, where, when, why, how much!!!!???? Gotta know! PM me, email me... catch a flight! Must know!!!!!!!!

Also can you show the back... puleeeeeeese! And what's the size? Comparable to OGPW or to the OoV?

Dan

Its the same size as the Order of Victory...here however compared to a OPW...

Regards

Chris

This is my Order of Stalin

Two Navy Types......

Chris

Two KGB types with that nasty chap beria on one....indicative of how out of step these medals are...

Chris

Some more.............

I found these some years ago ...5 I think...nice and graphic but typical of a mass produced medal which means nothing (my opinion).

Funny thing is you don't see them that often now and could be quite hard to find...

Chris

The back....what makes these badges even harder to find is that during the Soviet Occupation if you were found with these badges it could lead to serious consequences, as I mention Roman Tavast dies in a Soviet Concentration camp.....he was famous for his badge making.

This badge is made of German Silver.

I have a few other Estonian badges which are post WW2...like an Eagles Cross 3rd class with documant would you like to see these also?

Chris

Hi Lee

Just for you another one, which may appear to be a Pilots badge due to is "winged" nature but the Estonian's love their State Eagle and birds of prey

This is a Defence League (like national Guard) good service badge...pre WW2, for the Sakula (region in Estonia)

Regards

Chris

I was actually looking for Soviet items but as soon as I saw this Pilots badge I new I had to have it...It was in a Antique shop in the old part of town in Tallinn, Estonia.

Never see one before or since altho the modern pilots badge is similar it is no were near as detailed and not made of silver.

Regards

Chris

Hello Chris

Thanks for the additional photos. As you said, not only a very rare badge, but with its case too. How and where did you find this?

Regards,

Lee

I was actually looking for Soviet items but as soon as I saw this Pilots badge I new I had to have it...It was in a Antique shop in the old part of town in Tallinn, Estonia.

Never see one before or since altho the modern pilots badge is similar it is no were near as detailed and not made of silver.

Regards

Chris