J Temple-West

juvatwad A well known fake. There is also an Observer badge with the same wreath and Assmann style eagle. An original "W.Deumer" for comparison.

Hi FRank I may well be wrong but this pin looks very similar to those issued to members of one of the various pre-war ?DLV? (Deutscher Luftfahrtverband) aero-clubs, for either membership or participation in a flying competition. In the early days, membership badges were produced with two crossed propellers, the club emblem, and usually the imperial crown. This was then changed to the standardized insignia of the ?DLV? being the single propeller, wings and swastika.

B&NL pilot?s badge Italian pilot?s badges Rumanian & Croatian cloth Medal/ribbon bars Black wound badge Operational Flight Clasp with ?1800? pendant Luftwaffe Officer's dagger (can?t comment on the blade engraving) All look fine to me, F. As for the EK?s/Bulgarian award, probably best to post them in the appropriate forums for comments?.. but I see no problems.

Cheers Rich... How about this battle-weary example. Again, repaired catch. Amazing how close to the Juncker eagle design these 1st pattern pieces are.

Reverse.

Comparison between the 2nd pattern aluminium RO/AG badge (left) and its early nickel silver counterpart (right). Interesting to note that the eagles? left wing, on all aluminium badges, are placed at a lower angle than those on ns/buntmetal examples.

Reverse.

Going on groups, containing both original urkunde/badges, the 2nd pattern was introduced in 1938, this being the case for most Luftwaffe war type badges, certainly by Assmann. 2nd pattern.

Reverse of the 1st pattern.

Stijn, A very nice example. The missing catch??.typical for these aluminium pieces. The Radio Operator/Air Gunner badge was first mentioned in official orders in the ?Luftwaffenverordnungsblatt? on the 19th Jan 1935. Regulations were published on the 27th Nov 1935, and the badge was finally instituted on the 26th March 1936. 1st pattern aluminium RO/AG badge by Assmann.

"Consequently I find it difficult to believe the LW version is a M1938, based on my formentioned assumption." Peter, I wish I had answer for you but there is a marked lack of information on the various civilian organizations attached to the Luftwaffe. A lot of the pre-war organizations were reclassified, amalgamated or disbanded, new units formed etc, as was the case for most military/civilian/political organizations of the time. I can only think that the badge in question was instituted in 1938 as the insigne for uniformed personnel of a newly formed civilian branch of the Luftwaffe who served in occupied countries at the time of the Austrian ?Anschluss? and subsequent entry into Sudetenland. Of course, there is a difference between the terms ?civilian members? & ?civilian personnel? which may explain the use of a general insigne for one group and designated insignia for the others. "Is the 3.5cm from the Angolia reference or the one that Nesredep cited?" Lee, The measurement come from the 'Angolia' reference.

This is sickening...and happening all too often! I hope this bast##d is caught and has the book thrown at him! Stijn, please pass on our sincerest regrets to the gentleman concerned, make sure he understands that we will keep an eye open for his badge and not to lose hope.

A superb addition to the flock, Rich.

Nesredep has indeed come up with a reference for this badge?good eye, Nes! Page 71, vol 1 ?Uniforms & Traditions of the Luftwaffe? by Angolia & Schlicht shows a badge of similar design attributed to German Aviation Management Career Personal (Abzeichen f?r in den deutschen Luftfahrtbetrieben besch?ftigte Personen) which goes to prove that one should never dismiss a piece until all avenues of research are exhausted. The picture is very small making comparison difficult. Differences, yes? but does show us that the insignia existed which gives us something to work with. As a starting point: Lee, we are given a wingspan measurement of 3.5cm. How does this compare to your badge?

Paul.. The only enameled badge I can think of would be the early 'DLV' badge. And, as a point of interest... The civilian air/sea rescue badge.

Hi Lee I?ve come across these badges before, handled a couple but can find no reference for this type of badge. Although similar in design to the M1938 lapel badge worn by civilian members of Luftwaffe/armed forces in occupied countries, these badges are (IMO) fantasy pieces based on the civilian retinue badge (below) and possibly the civilian radio operators badge (below) Perhaps other members have more information to share.

Looking forward to that, Stijn.

Uffz Hans Martan, and wife.

Uffz Kurt Vogel.

Obltn Fritz Festhuber.

Early 'DLV' portrait.

A rather nice portrait of the photogenic Werner ?Vati? M?lders.

A Flak Oberst showing a 1st pattern EK2 spange.

Paul, Colonel Friedrich Knackfuss is well known in Jersey (Channel Islands) as the Feldkommandant of the Civil Affairs Department of the German military government of the Channel Islands during the occupation. This civil administration department was run by Feldkommandantur 515 which was based at Victoria College House, St.Helier. Jersey. Heads of the Civil Administration, Feldkommandantur 515. (Feldkommandanten to May 1944, then Platzkommandanten) 9 Aug 1940 - 19 Sep 1941 Friderich Schumacher 19 Sep 1941 - Jan 1944 Friedrich Knackfuss Jan 1944 - 19 May 1944 Wilhelm Kratzer (acting) 19 May 1944 - 1 Mar 1945 I. von Heider 1 Mar 1945 - 9 May 1945 Kurt von Cleve Looking through the archives of the ?Jersey Heritage Trust? www.jerseyheritagetrust.org/occupation_memorial/historybook/occupationhistoryintroduction.pdf I find these last entries for ?Knackfuss? 2 March 1944: Feldkommandant Knackfuss leaves Jersey, to face trial over ?defeatist remarks? British War Crimes Investigators characterised Knackfuss as a 'very jovial type.? Used to wear a monocle and was clean shaven. Speaks Italian fluently and looks a bit like an Italian'. According to a report available to the investigators Knackfuss was 'relieved of his post in 1944, court-martialled as a result of his opposition to certain orders issued by superior officers and his anti-Nazi behaviour generally'. I?ll see if I can find out what ultimately happened to Knackfuss and let you know.

Good morning, Claudio Pass my congratulations on to Marco for his work. If he?s not a professional artist, he should be.