JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 As we know Air Defense Association issued badges for its members in the following classes Supporting member badge Regular member badge Special member badge Merit badge Of course the most interesting and beautiful badge among this group is Merit (Meritorious) Member Badge (this badge described in Paul Murphy and Steven Ackley book “In the name of Living God”, page 44 as Meritorious Member Badge). I think that this badge had two grades. Let’s talk about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Pre 1943 specimens have higher quality (they are made in semi-noble alloy (judging by the patina) and have hot enamel) than later ones (they are made in aluminum alloy and painted). Early badge obverse/reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Enamel quality close up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 (edited) Later badge obverse/reverse (please pay special attention to the pin!) Edited April 4, 2012 by JapanX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 (edited) Another example of later badge Edited April 4, 2012 by JapanX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 (edited) Both (early and later) badges are found in grey navy blue boxes with green cushions. Here we have several examples of such boxes. Box 1 Edited April 4, 2012 by JapanX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Box 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 And now something different – same badge, but with different colors (decorative elements between rays change their color from yellow to red), different color of the box and different inscriptions on the box and on reverse of the badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 (edited) Box cover Edited April 4, 2012 by JapanX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 In the box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Obverse/reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Another badge obverse/reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Box covers comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Reverse inscriptions comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanX Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 (edited) Well I think that this “red” badge is higher class of merit badge. Two additional kanji (on top of right column) means Special. So Merit badge with red enamel must be Special Merit badge Cheers, Nick Edited April 4, 2012 by JapanX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul L Murphy Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I agree, this is a higher class of Special Meritorious Member badge. A very nice find, I have never seen one of these before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now