Steve K.

That is a true gem!!

Thanks. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something exotic that I had overlooked. Unfortunately I didn't win the auction, but a good one for the photo archive!

Can anyone help identify the last medal? Thanks, Steve

Hi Steven Sorry I didn't make a more poignant comment about the badge in question, but it seems to me that you have your mind made up about it. However, I wanted to add one more comment that, if nothing else, it may help others to weed out the bad stuff. Beyond the moon mark (although that was my first red flag), beyond the lack of details (look to the plane and the crown), the patina SCREAMS false to me and I'm 1000% sure it is a chemically applied treatment to add "age" to the badge. The "darkened" recesses of the wreath are alittle here, alittle over there, some splash of it here....once you know what it looks like, it will never fool you again. The key to it is to look for dark recesses that suddenly become brilliant silver again in a relative short distance (and being on the same plane). REAL 800 silver patina does not look like the badge in question. Strike three! Kindest Regards, Steve

The badge in question at Ruptured Duck is not a badge that matches the quality of C.E. Juncker flight badges from that era.

Ahhh, Eric you beat me to it...I was gonna post my GWL Radio Operator, since they are nearly impossible to find.... What about the Unqualified Air Gunner?

I agree...they are getting harder to find!

The metal being used is also a dead give away.

It sold for more than I ever imagined! Broken up now....what a shame.

Yep....I see the fractures now. Good eyes! My 4-week old has me on a 2 hour sleep/awake schedule.....so I'm a bit bleary eyed! As I said, I like what I see but better pics would be nice. (Eric...yes, the PB I saw scared me because I nearly threw down my money and I had the badge right in my hands).

If this is one of the new generation cast badges, you will be able to see tiny pock marks or a rough appearance throughout the wreath and eagle when you look at it with a 20X loupe. Cheers, Steve

Stan, I would not clean it. As she stands is as good as it gets!! A very nice addition to any collection! Cheers, Steve

It looks like a good badge to me, although the pics aren't the greatest. I would be concerned that the rivets have been "re-worked" or "tightened" at some point in time. Is there a pock mark below the eagle's beak? The reason I ask is that I saw a stunning Juncker Pilot badge at a show recently that caught my eye, but upon detailed examination the casting pock marks became evident. Steve

Nice badge! I like it!! I think the mark is a silver mark and not a maker's mark, but that is just my guess.

It's too funny what people will believe.....I sat next to an old man at a military show who told me he had 16 PLMs at home, all original....he paid less than $100 for each and was really surprised to see how much they had gone up in value.......

I really have no problem with this badge, other than the caveat described by JTW and Eric that these may have been seperate pieces married up (when? who knows?). I would wait to see if more pop up in the next few years (already a PO has been found!?!). That's what I did for my IMME 'First' pattern aluminum PB....waited 5 years or so, watching for others like it but I've found none. Cheers, Steve

I would not want this for my collection, however there are some that want to believe it is pre-1945.

mark, This is a new one for me! I would like to know if the pin is steel or magnetic? Any rust on it? Steve

A very special addition to any collection!

Nice badge Jody...one I have yet to acquire! Assmann badges are the best!! I've been buying a few....but no first pattern (egg shaped) PO yet! Steve

Very Spectacular bar! and now with a name!! I do Love those Mecklenburg bars!! Cheers, Steve

Exceptionally nice photo! Thanks for sharing it! Steve

one other.....

Thanks to all that gave some great information concerning these badges. It is more information than I could gleen from my sources, however the information that Valery supplied on the Hoa Hao badge was similar to information I found on the net.....so this group must have been a popular movement in Vietnam history. Paul is correct about the proficiency of the Drago corporation: I was told that it would take 2 or more lifetimes to collect all the badges made by Drago and others for this time period. The vietnamese used many abbreviations on there badges, which causes much confusion for those not familiar with the language and how their military terms are joined together. Perhaps I can put something together on these abbreviation (however, time has been restricted for me the past month due to family issues). In the mean time, here are a few other badges I have found that are eye appealing (at least to me)........

David No need to put a value on it...just send it my way and I'll keep it safe. I love the detail of the wing cut-outs from the reverse. Nice score!! Steve