Interesting combination... :-)

[Chris Boonzaier]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Portrait-Freikorps-Flieger-des-Kampfgeschwaders-Sachsenberg-mit-Scharfschutzenab/391938255452?hash=item5b41572a5c:g:t3QAAOSwfGZaIpMF

[dond]

Interesting.  I've seen tankers with it (the MGSSA badge) as well.  I think they must have found some utility in sending other folks to the course.

[bolewts58]

4 hours ago, dond said:

Interesting.  I've seen tankers with it (the MGSSA badge) as well.  I think they must have found some utility in sending other folks to the course.

He may have gone to a "Fliegerschule' late in the war, in December 1918 or even as a volunteer in early 1919. The pilot schools continued to train through to September 1919. There were around 35 or so Freikorps 'Flieger Abteilungen' operating in the Baltic, Silesia and on the borders of Prussia.

I'll post the pictures from eBay, in case the link goes dead.

A bit of the history of Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg:

The German 1st Guard's Reserve Division had an aviation unit attached to it called the Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg. This regiment was formed on the basis of a demobilized field regiment of marine aviation (Marinefeldjagdgeschwader). It contained three squadrons: FA 413 (reconnaissance), FA 416 (fighter) and FA 417 (assault).

Lieutenant Gottshard Sachenburg was a former naval pilot of the Kaiser's army and had shot down in 1917-1918 more than 30 British aircraft. This regiment also had such celebrated aces as Joseph Jacobs (47 aerial victories) and Teodor Osterkamp. The Sachenburg command counted upwards of 50 experienced pilots and observers. Its 30 crews flew the newest all-metal monoplanes of the Junkers D-1 and CL-1 types. These machines were produced for the German Air Force at the close of the World War . The regiment also had the very well proven wooden biplanes, like the Halberstadt, DFW, LVG , Rumpler,Fokker D-VII and D-VIII types!

Sachenberg later wrote that thanks to the endurance of the phenomenal Junkers his regiment worked without interruption or breakdowns during their few months in the Baltic. The all metal Junkers were exclusive to the Germans. The Reds, Whites or even the Anglo-French Interventionist force had nothing comparable. The Sachenburg regiment contained the best pilots and aircraft in the Civil War. Because of this, they had no rivals with which to seriously fight. After eight months on the front; February to September 1919, they had not been in one air battle! By March 1919, their central base was an airfield in Vaynode (more west of Libau), where during the WW1 the enormous hangars for zeppelins were built. Sachenburg made use of them as airplane hangars. From there the German air unit moved to Alt-Auts and Petersfeld (more south of the River Dobel). Here, the Germans flew reconnaissance and bombardment sorties on the Red forces. As far as it is known, they lost at least two Junkers, one of which force landed in a village behind enemy lines due to engine trouble and the other (faulty and worn) was simply abandoned during the retreat to the airfield at Alt-Auts. The Reds took both aircraft to Moscow for careful study.

 

[HeikoGrusdat]

Nice pic - nice price

[dond]

Here is another interesting foto recently sold on ebay:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-Foto-Potrait-3-Sleeve-Badge-MG-Gunner-EK-2-kettwig-Essen-26-10-1919-/272933002311?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=EsJDt68huhWDFwSVKBL9cdeaATw%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

[bolewts58]

46 minutes ago, HeikoGrusdat said:

Nice pic - nice price

Agree. The buyer of this card has together with a handful of others driven up the prices on Freikorps postcards in the last few months and ruined the market. Cards that 6 months ago were selling for 30-100 EUR are now selling for double or triple that.  It's become crazy.

[bolewts58]

Here's another photo of a member of Freiwilliges Landesjägerkorps wearing a MGSS badge with the black backing (usually black velvet), as was a custom among many Freikorps units. I personally believe that the MGSS badge continued to be awarded by the Freikorps and the Provisional Reichswehr and was usually worn with a black backing, instead of a Feldgrau backing.

 

 

[Gilles]

Brian, I agree with the black backing for the FK and provisional RW but I would have thought that the badge was just private purchased.

A very nice picture of a member of the III. Abteilung!

 

[dond]

Brian, notice that he has inserted the black backing directly over the field grey backing.