VtwinVince

Thanks Rick, I already get loads of crazy invitations from various "investors" around the world.

Hi Koberstein, Yes, your dad Mike is my cousin. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions regarding family history. I am now almost finished the rough draft of the translation regarding his time in the death camps. He was sent to three camps in total, including the notorious Camp 7533 located near Preussisch Eylau. Apparently the German War Graves Commission is working to get permission from the Russian government to look after the mass graves located there.

Great badge, Ferg, and you're right, excellent details, almost better than my full size example. I also like the cutout crown.

Jeez, I wish my mailman would bring goodies like these. Outstanding group.

Great bar. Interesting that Belgium ranks above Oldenburg.

Wow, never seen a photo of a spange with the RAO on Nichtkaempferband.

That's a great set, Claudio, congratulations on another very nice addition.

People have tried to be "diplomatic" regarding this evident forgery, and I think it best if the buyer defers to Stogieman, Rick etc., who, however much Vinland cares to dispute it, are a genuine wealth of information on Imperial aviation badges. I have personally only owned one engraved Bavarian pilot badge, which I found in a small town in Bavaria in 1979. It bore no resemblance to the cut-out item and was a standard, flat-back Poellath badge with spoked wheels and the hallmarks in the usual places.

I assume you're referring to Fritz Ritter von Roeth, 28 victories and suicide on the last day of 1918. Honestly, unless this came from his estate, which it did not, I would not want it.

This badge, aside from being unusual, does not display any of the known characteristics of genuine Poellath-made badges. Unless your friend obtained this from the family of the reputed recipient, I would be highly skeptical.

Vinland, there are countless fakes floating around with COA's from various reputable dealers. I have never, in over thirty years of collecting, seen a Poellath-produced badge such as the one you show.

I don't know about date, but I'll give you 60p for it right now.

Outstanding badges, always nice to see some genuine Schaper items. All three are at the top of my wish list.

Great detective work, Rick, and an absolutely great spange with an unusual combo of awards. I love it.

Hey Ferg, give me a few minutes in Photoshop and let me see what I can come up with, for less money!

Hmmm, certainly looks like one from the blued-core, pumpkin-crown maker.

Great work and a fantastic resolution. The von Einem family was one of the grand old Adelsgeschlechts of Prussia, hence the seemingly endless number of members. If you think that family is confusing, try one like the von der Schulenburg.

Wow, I had no idea there was any demand for these in the 1950's, especially since period pieces are so scarce. No problem Ferg, thanks for trying. I'll try a couple of other ideas.

Gentlemen, I have obtained a few items relating to this officer, a member of Jasta Boelcke in WW 1. I have very little information on his WW 2 career, other than that he was a Hauptmann in 1940 and a member of the staff of Luftflotte 2. If anyone can help, or has access to a Luftwaffe officer's rangliste, I would appreciate it very much.

Ferg, I sent you a couple of bad scans of the Flieger-Erinnerungsabzeichen for posting via email.

Claudius, as I've mentioned, Strey is listed in Neal O'Connor's series, and there are a couple of pictures of him as well. His second victory, according to the confirmation from Kogenluft, was over a "Gitterrumpf" DD, or lattice-tail biplane. I think Strey is probably the least-known of the Jasta Boelcke pilots, probably because he didn't score any victories with this unit, due to the lingering aftereffects of a serious accident in Macedonia. I have his EK 1, awarded April 1917, a couple of his wound badges, two of his feldspanges, two flying caps and a model of an ME 110 presented to him in 1940. I am trying to negotiate for the Ehrenbecher and the Jasta Boelcke Cuff Title, which are still in the possession of the family. My apologies to Ferg for completely hijacking his thread.

That's a nice one. Interesting that it's on Ministry of Finance stationary.

Rick, I have a fairly detailed history of his WW 1 activities, but not WW 2. If Ferg doesn't mind, I can send him scans of the badge for posting.

Rick, there is a little info on Strey in O'Connor's series, and I have some documentation on his career, which included two stints with Jasta "B" in 1917 and 1918. There is a fantastic group photo of him with such luminaries as Bernert, Baeumer, Frommherz etc. He was a Hauptmann in 1940 as well.

Interesting spange, looks like a 3er that has been crammed.