GdC26 Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) I'm posting this pic courtesy of Francois Saez. When posted on another forum, this pic created something of a heated (and rather speculative) debate around the (nationality of) the pilot depicted. What are we, in fact, looking at? Views invited. Regards, Sandro Edited April 6, 2008 by GdC26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Thanks SandroInteresting but let start with a larger scan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Now the back who may (or may not) answer questions like: "Is the pilot Kroatian or German?"Translation provided by our friend Rick ResearchZum Andenken anKroatienvon DeinemJungenWil(s?)(place obscured by glue), 22.10.44In memory ofCroatiafrom your(this is either LITERALLY "young" or son in the sense of "kid")Wil(s?)(place obscured), 22.10.44Why write in German if you are Croatian?* To note/look at the guy in back with his shoulder strap falling off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) I believe the guy is German. He's an officer candidate and wearing what looks like a private purchase leather jacket with the Croatian shield on the wrong sleeve, and no Croatian pilot badge. The shield could have been an honorary award rather than one denoting where he came from. Edited April 6, 2008 by Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Now, speaking of the position of the badges, I believe that like all foreign badges there us the official regulation/propaganda and the field applicationSome pics to illustrateFrom the archives of ECPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 on the same subject a wartime book (1943) provides many good photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GdC26 Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 In view of the writing on the back, and the absence of a croatian pilot badge as note by Gene, I consider it quite likely that Gene is right.Regards, Sandro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 but personnal and "field" photos can show different applications; as Sandro correctly mentioned in the begining of the thread, no speculation needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
François SAEZ Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 My theory is that he is a german pilot, attached to one of the kroatian flying units.Snoopy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Great photos Francois. Can you identify the cufftitle in the top photo of post #7?Thanks!Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) Great photos Francois. Can you identify the cufftitle in the top photo of post #7?Thanks!ScottIt looks like the officer version, of the "Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe" cufftitle. The officer's camera is peeking out of his trouser pocket.Snoopy Edited April 6, 2008 by Snoopy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jos Le Conté Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 (edited) Think bottomline is that the pilot just added the non-luftwaffe Croation cloth badge to his non-luftwaffe regulation jacket the way he liked it..It also looks like he's wearing a L of Lehr Geschwader on his shoulderstraps ?Nice and rare pics !Jos. Edited April 7, 2008 by Jos Le Cont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Davie Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Why write in German if you are Croatian?How is it known the guy with the leather jacket is the one that wrote on the back? maybe the other of the 2 sent the photo back home. C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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