Jareth

Interior of early star vent hole top helmet

Earliest variation without any insignia

OK. Here they are.

Headgear is my main area of interest especially navy/NLF items. As an artist I love Japanese medals but I have not yet jumped into those waters. Here's rest of helmet. Some call it "English" helmet, Siberian or Shanghai incident helmet. Only second example I'm aware of & mine is complete. I have three of the early vented top helmets if anyone is interested I'll post them

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item2a1bbfd9d7&item=180854184407&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=sPBj78WJcowPN7Lc7EIAJ43quBE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Great post with terrific photos of some very rare badges! I call that brown finish "bronze". I believe these were issued as proficiency badges awarded upon completion of flight school. It is my understanding these were worn on service dress tunics only

You'll get all the help you need on this fine board. Might need to register http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php

here's letter with Goettge's hand written signature

Picked this great U.S.M.C. & Japanese group off eBay. I bought it for the rare N.L.F. (navy landing force) officer's collar tab for paymaster. A good friend alerted me to the second signer of the additional document. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Goettge here's auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=200559853783&si=E6m8%252F8gAytIT1%252Bjks5Cz44MM5ds%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

That's a heavy tunic he's wearing.

Proceed with caution. Lots of reproductions & aged repros

You can put it in a tupperware container with a cup of baking soda.

Great website http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/index.html

Very interesting!

Let me guess....cupman?

Nice score Paul! I'd of thought the badge without enamel was second class & not in that style of box? Also in your photos I see hand inscribed /scratched kanji on reverse.

My main interest is in Japanese headgear. My collecting goal is to have one mint & one issued (named) example. I like both. When it comes to medals/orders I'd prefer mint condition items. Just because a medal is less than exc. & ribbon is soiled etc has no bearing it was actually an issued medal worn by a Japanese soldier.

That enamal looks in exc. condition on that kite! The ribbon could always be replaced with an original from a lower class. My pet peeve are fantasy vet stories or any stories period! I judge an item on it's merits not any fancifull tales. I'd like to get a tatoo in gothic type along my arm that would say "buy the item not the story!" For instance we know the Japanese didn't wear medals into combat like the Germans but I see ratty Japanese medals sold as taken off a dead soldier etc when they're real just been poorly handled & stored.

Still Christmas weekend in New York! Merry Christmas!

Very nice!

Very nice medal ! what were these awarded for?

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

New member here & my first post. The style boonie cap you have was worn by army nurses as well as females working under army supervision. Difficult to prove who wore these but they are not rare. The model boonie that's rare & expensive is the navy/NLF marked examples. They have sewn in white interior labels. I only know of a few examples.