Nack

Is there any way to ID the maker from the construction details?

Trying my hand at photographing some head gear. I need some practice, so bea4 with me. Tips, comments, etc. welcome! A couple more Trying one more.

Makes sense, John. Many thanks, yet again!

Are there "unit histories" (books or pamphlets detailing the history, battles, and often rosters, of a unit) available for German units like on the American side? If I were researching a US pilot, for example, I would locate the unit histories for the units he was in. I have tried looking around the internet for such things, but have not had any luck, perhaps because such things do not exist? I could see that being the case, as after the war, Germany tried to move on and not really discuss that chapter of their history.

Interesting. Here’s some quick snaps of the jacket. Sorry for the quality. i have no idea whether any of the accoutrements came with the jacket when it was originally acquired.

Thanks! On Molinari, the aircrewremembered site lists that S. Molinari you mentioned, and indicates that he was an Italian pilot I gather? Molinari, S. Lt Italy, Regia Aeronautica Italiana 2 Gruppo (Egypt) G.50 (lost 6/17/41) KIA 17 June, 1941 near Sidi Omar Egypt; sd by RCAF F/L Woodward of No. 33 Sq. (RCAF Claims List). The other site lists a different Molinari, who I guess was German: MOLINARI, Anton. (DOB: 08.05.11 in Nürnberg). 05.44 in JG 110. 11.44 Oblt. in 4./NJG 11 then 5./NJG 11. Would the Italian Molinari have had the occasion to wear a German uniform? If not, it would seem that we could eliminate him. I'm not up to speed on how the Axis handled uniforms when it came to servicemen from one country working with another. Any thoughts appreciated!

I’ve done a little searching, and how are these for research sources? http://www.aircrewremembered.com http://www.ww2.dk I take it that the former is where you got the info on Blum? I’ll keep digging!

Thanks again - I was thinking Lt. Molinar as well. My guess on the date was Mai. Will poke around the internet to see what I can find on a Molinari. Thanks!

Wow! Amazing. Thanks again! I’ll have to give this research thing a shot! Is this spreadsheet somewhere online? I’ve got another name to look up - once I figure it out - it’s on the label in a flight-piped officer jacket.

So, I’ve been looking at this badge at various angles, and I think it says “H. Blum”. Not sure any other spelling fits. Thoughts?

Ah-ha! Thanks!

This small badge is pinned to the side of a M43 LW cap. I presume it’s some sort of unit pin? Anyone know what it represents? Thanks!

That would be very cool. I'll examine it more and see what I can come up with. Thanks again!

In playing around with the lighting, I noticed that the initials “HB” are scratched on the back in a few places - on the back of the eagle and the right side of the wreath. Hopefully these pics show it. It’s a bit stylized with the right-hand side of the H forming the left-hand side of the B.

Thanks again! I see what you mean by the rivets. I’m just using An iPad to take the pics. I see if natural light helps out.

Here’s another shot of the B&NL pilot that shows the rivets. I don’t know why, but I find it rather difficult to take useful pics.

Fascinating. Many, many thanks, John! I’ll do some more studying today as well. Thanks again!

Hello, all - My collecting has radically slowed down over the past few years due to kids and work getting in the way, so I've frequented the forums much less as well. I am almost exclusively a WWII US Army Air Force collector, but I've always found that items from other nations' air forces are interesting as well, and I've picked up a few things here and there. I am exceedingly cautious when it comes to German stuff, but recently had the opportunity to potentially add these Luftwaffe items to the collection. I've studied threads here and on the WAF, but I still find it rather difficult to tell good from bad sometimes (or maybe more accurately, often!). Any thoughts upon these three badges would be greatly appreciated! If better angles, lighting, whatever would help, please let me know! Best, Nack First, a pilot badge marked Berg & Nolte. Second, an unmarked pilot. Third, a bomber clasp marked Funcke & Bruninghaus.

Got it - thanks again!

By the way, the positioning of the award loops - is that indicative of a wound badge, other combat-type badge (like an infantry-assault badge), or could be other things? Again, sorry for the rookie questions.

Thanks again! These old-style German letters befuddle me!

Thanks! Yep - those are the shouldersraps. “KS” for Kriegsschule. I’m not sure of the letter below - is it a W?

For sure! Here’s the whole thing. Sorry - not sure why the pics are rotated, and my photography skills leave much to be desired.

Thanks much! I thought it might be “I.R.”! Please forgive the rookie question - it’s my first German uniform.

This infantry Waffen oak has a stamp which reads “Gepruft ____________ 115”. I’ve got some guesses as to the other letters, but am I tesetest in opinions. The middle of the stamping is kind of light, so I tried to fool around with the colors to make it stand out better. Any thoughts appreciated!