Japan Japanese Pilot-Observer Badge: World Premiere

[JapanX]

Well, this is what I call reeeeeeeally rare profficiency badge.

Undescribed and practically unknown...

Good thing I have one in my collection

No info about when it was established (but judging by the manufacturing style this badge came from 10s-20s period of time) No info about to whom and for what it was issued...

Even the exact name of the badge is unknown ...

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Ain`t it beautiful?! :rolleyes:

[JapanX]

Details

[JapanX]

Guilochieren ;)

[JapanX]

[Claudius]

"Even the exact name of the badge is unknown ..."

Don't know what they would call it....but with the binoculars on it....do you think it is more of an observer badge than pilot?

[JapanX]

Don't know what they would call it....but with the binoculars on it....do you think it is more of an observer badge than pilot?

When I wrote pilot-observer I thought about "aircraft observer" of course.

But then again it could be merged/combined badge ;)

Edited November 23, 2012 by JapanX

[Claudius]

When I wrote pilot-observer I thought about "aircraft observer" of course.

But then again it could be merged/combined badge

Hmmm...I see your point. Maybe because the very early airplanes were single-seaters and the role of aircraft was entirely as "observer".

[azyeoman]

Wonderful badge. Thanks for sharing this. Needless to say, it's the first time I've ever seen one.

[Hugh]

But perhaps it's for a ground-based aircraft spotter (for AAA).

Best,

Hugh

[JapanX]

But perhaps it's for a ground-based aircraft spotter (for AAA).

Best,

Hugh

Hi Hugh,

ground-based aircraft spotter badge?

Hmmm...

You see the size of the badge is untypical (it is much bigger) for standard "ground" proficiency badges (i.e. artillery, marksmanship, etc ... badges)

Another thing - there was special "Antiaircraft Observer Badge" that was introduced in 30s (please check fig. 187, p. 107 in Peterson, J.  “Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States” 3rd edition).

Best,

Nick

[JapanX]

DIMENSION OF THE BADGE

Height 43,22 mm

Width 44,70 mm

Weight 24,56 grams

[JapanX]

I'll post tomorrow a couple of photo comparisons.

This badge vs. pilot badge.

This badge vs. marksmanship badge.

Etc...

Cheers,

Nick

[JapanX]

Here it is Hugh.

This AAO badge that I mentioned.

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

A few size comparisons

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[Hugh]

Fascinating! Thanks. The "optical instrument' appears to be a stereoscopic rangefinder. Such a specialist would be stationed relatively near the guns to provide range information for fuze setting (This was before the era of VT fuzes).

Not to beat a dead horse (and with no specific knowledge whatsoever), but there would also be a separate class of observer, what we used to call an aircraft spotter, who would search the skies for incoming aircraft and report them to a raid reporting center. He (or she) would estimate range and bearing, course, speed and altitude and describe the aircraft type. This allows the AAA net control to build up a picture of all the incoming raids, and could also vector friendly interceptors. These spotters might also have a badge. Alas, my Peterson is the first edition, so no specialist badges.

Best,

Hugh

Edited November 26, 2012 by Hugh

[JapanX]

Not to beat a dead horse (and with no specific knowledge whatsoever), but there would also be a separate class of observer, what we used to call an aircraft spotter, who would search the skies for incoming aircraft and report them to a raid reporting center. He (or she) would estimate range and bearing, course, speed and altitude and describe the aircraft type. This allows the AAA net control to build up a picture of all the incoming raids, and could also vector friendly interceptors. These spotters might also have a badge.

Best,

Hugh

Yes, but this propeller (only air force related japanese badges have this element in design) + the age of the badge (isn`t it too early for AAA spoters?) + design is strikingly different from all others "ground" army profficiency badges (where is "sakura shape"? All early and later badges have this basic design element).

Cheers,

Nick