Feldflieger cloth arm badge Reihenbildzug 3

[ArHo]

Hi all,

being a little sick and bored at home I decided to search through my pictures and found one I'd like to share with you - it is a Feldflieger from the Reihenbildzug 3, dated 25.3.1918. There are no medals, no weapons, no helmets and no death heads, but I like the not too common cloth arm Badge and the overall good quality of the image (a post card to a befriended family, sent with easter greetings). Hope you like it too.

Cheers

ArHo

Edited March 9, 2020 by ArHo

[The Prussian]

Great photo, ArHo!

Never seen before! I only know, the RBZ3 was under command of the 18th army

[ArHo]

Glad you like it too, Prussian! I almost overlooked it on first sight - but now I like it all the better :-)

I had never heard about the Reihenbildzüge before, there seems to be almost no literature available...

Cheers

[GreyC]

Very nice photo. I´m not sure, actually, if that badge was officially issued.

Reihenbildzüge were few and far between. I know of 9. Their purpose was to help fabricate large maps by a special aerial-photographic technique, that "scanned" the landscape from above photographically. The photographic stripes/rows (=Reihen) were then assembled / combined to form a large scale photographic overview that formed the basis for mapmaking.

Hope the description was sufficently clear. I provide an example from  my collection. This photo originated with Reihenbildzug 3. Note the stripes that indicate the Reihen (=rows). Souilly is 16km  southwest of Verdun.

GreyC

Edited March 10, 2020 by GreyC

[Chip]

A very rare patch. Though it was unofficial, so were a lot of patches worn in the air and balloon services, where they got away with a lot more than other units. 

[GdC26]

Very interesting reading, thanks gents.