J Temple-West

Pat, Send Robert Noss (photos/cards expert) a PM. I'm sure he'll be only too happy to give you an opinion on these cards.

Nice one, Dave. What a find!! O' to be the one that came across that one! I take it that Russians aren't big hikers?

Jacques, That first group photo with Ziegler and von Thoma is extraordinary!

"As for the colour photo, I do not know for sure but it could be a black and white photo that has been colourised. I really have little knowledge of photography and the quality during the 2WW but quite often colour newsreel was original black&white and later coloured." Rich, The Rudel pic is in original colour, as are a lot of documentary films that abound on satellite history channels. Have a look at this site http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/ww2incolor you may find it of interest. As to the existence of 'all silver' badges, as with most things, there's always more than one school of thought. Imo, there's more evidence for than against.

JMME Radio Op/Air Gunner and Pilot's.

Rain! You plum, Chris. As said, I think the're factory produced. Here are a few that have little wear..all silver. Juncker 1st pattern

We had a discussion on ?all silver? Luftwaffe awards some time ago. Some collectors regard ?all silver? examples as merely having lost the finish or that they have been heavily cleaned, but there are just too many of these silver badges about, by various makers, for this to be always true. I?m of the opinion that badges were factory produced in either ?all silver? or the traditional silver wreath/darkened eagle, this being proved, in part, by corresponding cloth badges which are also found in ?all silver? or traditional, and of course period photographs. Normally, period photos are in B&W which, of course, will show a traditional (darkened eagle) pilot?s badge for what it is. However, the combined pilot/observer badge usually appears as being all one colour, silver, so hard to tell if it?s ?all silver? or P/O. But just occasionally period colour photos will give us that little more proof that these ?all silver? badges did inded exist. This one from "Der Adler" magazine shows Hans Ulrich Rudel with two of his flight, both wearing what can only be 'all silver' badges.

A much underrated award, Chris. When you get to clasps with pendants showing over a thousand operational flights + you have to wonder if these flight crews ever had time to rest. "the owner sank 7 or so allied ships with torpedoes" I take it you have some paperwork with these clasps, if so..Let?s have a look see. the owner must have sunk there ships during the 60 + missions it takes to win the silver clasp. Anything else on the man?

It should play automatically. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtl_NRcGDjQ

What you have there is an unused eagle for the sports kit.

Superb, G. My cap is doffed.

A very warm welcome, Doc. Just watch out for those Imperial guys, just a bunch of reprobates.

All this can be done in ?Word?. Open ?Word? go to ?Insert?>>Symbol and set up your keyboard shortcuts from there. Then when you want to insert an accent all you do is hit Alt and the letter that?s to be accented. When you?ve finished whatever you?re writing?copy and paste. You?ll find that the insert facility will remember the most used letters and will store them in a separate box, then there?s no need for the Alt and letter, all you have to do is hit the letter required, hit insert and hey presto.

Hi V, These badges, issued by the ?Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps (NSFK), were worn by ground observers/officials during national flying events/competitions. The numbers are thought to be the stage where the official was located. Your particular badge was for the ?Germany Flight? an event held in 1938 for powered aircraft. Here is another example of one of these event badges for the "Coastal flight" competition-1938. Unnumbered, it was most likely issued to a participant.

Hi V, I?ve just been looking at the little I can find on your Uncle?s service history and it makes interesting reading. WW1/2 Pilot, 6 victories, survived the war and passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Tell me, did he leave any paperwork, diaries or photographs? If so, perhaps you could tell us a little more about the man and his life. When you get a minute, would you be good enough to post his "Unknown maker" badge as it's always nice to see family pieces.

Hi Alexandre, A quick 'Google' search has turned up some information on "Philipp". See what you can come up with on the other two. Hans Philipp. http://www.jg54greenhearts.com/Philip.htm [attachmentid=59097] G?nther Josten [attachmentid=59103] Maximilian Stotz [attachmentid=59099]

Alexandre, It's an Operational Flight Clasp for Day fighters (Frontflugspange f?r Tagj?ger)

Hi D... Subscriptions/donations are purely on a voluntary basis. If you wish to make a donation, and I emphasize; it's purely voluntary, you can send it via your control panel under the options heading. As far as posting items for sale is concerned, Just send me the "LC" Commemorative banner and awards and you can post as much as you like...

Paul, Generalleutnant Gustav Kastner-Kirdorf. you'll see a few in the documents section

I was just going to ask if it was marked with the full name or clover leaf. You beat me to it. Nice!!

I'm glad you did, D... A very clean example of a "BSW" - and with the 'Urkunde'

Hi Alexandre, Not much info on "Schmidt" but here is a picture of him.

Das ist wunderbar!!

Thanks for that, Stijn That is a very convincing case. From the pix supplied, the font style looks good, as does the interior. Did you ask for further pictures. I should add that wooden inlays are only found in early pre-war Luftwaffe cases.

I agree with Chris... The staging and quality would suggest either a professional at work or a photographer who certainly knew his way around a camera. An absolutely superb insight into the life of the "HJ"