Luftwaffe Juncker Combined Pilot Observer Badge

[Guest Rick Research]

Apparently one of these has never appeared here before!

[Guest Rick Research]

This turned up locally on a recent foray to the Mainland with members of the Traveling Museum and is shared by kind permission of the owner and the amazing technology of Epson!

[J Temple-West]

firstly...good to have you back, Rickster!

So, a 2nd pattern PO by C.E Juncker in very nice condition.

A "Traveling Museum"...only in America.

[Chris Boonzaier]

A "Traveling Museum"...only in America.

They call themselves that because the youngest guy there is Rick.... ;-)

[Guest Rick Research]

At least I still have all my own hair. Some I never had before, too. You'll see, whippersnapper! (CAN NOT MAKE SMILIES WORK :-( )

John-- Owner says thanks very much--you have a GREAT website!!!!!

[Tom D.]

Hi guys,

Sorry to say, but this is a fake in my opinion. Similar to original Juncker's at first glance, but study it in depth and you will find many differences to originals in small details and reverse hardware and even the maker mark.

Tom

[germanmedals]

I would not put it in my collection. Ugly one

[Guest Rick Research]

St. John 20:25

[Tom D.]

Rick, ask and ye shall receive.

Here is a comparison of an original Juncker Pilot Badge (J2) on the left, and your fake on the right. There are many differences to be seen on both the eagle and the wreath, but the quickest and easiest difference to see is the detail and shape of the tail feathers. On the original, there is virtually no feather fletching to be seen and each feather shape is different. Whereas your badge has a very detailed fletching and very consistent length to the feathers.

Just look around the rest of the eagle, specifically at the exact shape of each feather and you will see many other differences.

Tom

[Tom D.]

Moving to the wreath, you can also see small differences in the leaf shapes and also the berry and acorn locations and detail compared to an original Juncker badge. The most notable of these is the vein alignment of the 3rd leaf up from the bottom; on original Juncker badges the veins are noticably offset whereas on the fake they are pretty much lined up. As with the eagle, there are many other small differences to be seen, but this is the most visual.

Tom

[Tom D.]

Now that you know what to look for, you can spot this fake easily and I have seen several, with different maker marks. Here is an identical one marked for JMME:

[Tom D.]

And another, this time marked for B&NL.

[Tom D.]

Here is another one, marked Juncker like yours. If you compare the maker marks on these fakes with an original, you will also see differences.

Nothing but a well made fake.

Tom

[Tom D.]

John 20:27

Tom

Edited June 10, 2013 by Tom D.