Early Luft Para Badge

[Mike Yokum]

A BIG THANK YOU to my good friend Mathijs for his sacrifice in giving this badge over to me! What can you say about a friend like that? You're the best buddy!

Okay, here's an early example of a Luftwaffe Para Qualification Badge, awarded to Paras who had completed six training jumps.

After looking the example over with a 10X jewelers loupe I'm thinking that possibly the wreath is a wartime leftover and possibly the Osang style eagle as well. The reason for thinking the eagle is possibly a wartime leftover is that cut marks run perpendicular to the flat back as usual except where the swastika was clutched by the talons. Here there are grind or file marks running PARALLEL to the flat back. I was not able to get it photographed but will work on it as it is a pretty interesting characteristic of the bagde.

For now here are the pics I could get before losing light. The pics don't really show the nice patina on the wreath or eagle. Really a nice one in hand.

The weight is 36.05 grams.

As always, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts!

[Mike Yokum]

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[LuckyLuudje]

Very nice and early FJ badge, another great addition for your collection

You have some very interesting thoughts as well.
I will post mine for discussion interests also.
I am struggling with my camera and found out that I can still use it with manual focus.

[LuckyLuudje]

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[LuckyLuudje]

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[Nigel N]

Great looking badge Mike, all the early features in the hardware dept. and retaining a lovely finish too!! Interesting thought about using wartime leftovers, i'm sure they did on the earliest pieces it would make good sense Hard to upgrade this one!! Top badge!! -Nigel

[Mike Yokum]

Super fine, minty and early example Luud! Yours appears to be from the same maker as mine. All the same characteristics in dies, hardware type, rivets,etc. Interesting about the filled hole in the wreath! What could have caused such a large hole through the entire wreath? Think it was intitially intended for another style of badge? Monday morning manufacturing after an Oktobefest bash?

Here's a pic of the swastika/talon area on my badge that I said had been filed. Note the tail of material left on the eagle from the file. This filing was done prior to finishing.

This is not definitive evidence of it being a wartime leftover, but it is a different attribute. Check Luuds. No filing in this area.

[Seewolf]

Hi Mike,
a very early great and wonderful lovely FJ badge. This one is really an eyecatcher

Luud´s one is also a great wonderful piece

Looks like the wreath of Luud´s had a false bore for a rivet and it has been closed.

[Matthieu]

I knew you like this one, Mike . I know for a fact you will appreciate it much more then would have done .

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Mike,

Very nice 57 Para. You are right, it uses wartime dies, but no Osang. This is a Steinhauer & Luck wartime badge, and like many other Luft & Heer awards, they modified their wartime badges to make their 57 awards. Your wreath and eagle are an exact match to these wartime badges, with the exception of the swastika, finish and hardware setup. Here is a wartime S&L Para for you to compare.

What is your badge made of? Seems like its almost made from aluminum, or cupal, but that is probably due to the really nice finish. 36 grams is right in line with wartime badges, so it has to be made of brass or zink.

Tom

[Mike Yokum]

Thank you for the input Thomas. Of course you are right about it being S&L and not Osang.

The metal I see peeking through the finish in spots certainly appears to be brass. The only magnetic aspect of the badge is the hinge pin that holds the needle in place.

Not sure if you've seen my Heeres Para by Deumer Thomas, but I've love to hear your thoughts on it. CLICK

Thanks to all for the kind words!

[George L]

Very nice 57 paras! Initially, I also would've wagered that extra hole was also for another badge that needed a hole in a different spot, but now that I think about it, I the placement of it, in relation to the other, does not fit any luft series that I can think of (ex AG/RO, Obs, etc).