Luftwaffe Collection, Part 1

[Mike H]

Retired pilots badge

Mark,

Actually, the badge is in bullion and wire --- and the picture is pretty bad. I will take some closeups of it and run them for you. Stephen Previtera took some fabulous pictures of it at the SOS a couple of years ago and I hope it will be in an upcoming reference.

I, too, would love to see one of these in wear. Someday, I am sure someone will produce a photo. Lord knows, there are plenty of unpublished pictures out there.

The badge would be like any other of the Luftwaffe qualification badges --- they were all made in bullion for officers, cloth for enlisted, and so on ...

My badge is the one that is featured in Forman, second edition, page 130.

More photos to come ... the originality will be apparent from the photos, if my camera does a decent job.

Mike

[frank]

Mike
after seeing your collection, I'll give up!
Just kidding!
Simply astonishing, beautiful and complete; when did you start?

Cheers

[Mike H]

Never give up ...

Frank,

I started collecting when I was 12 which was in 1961 ... I got two items that year. An Afrika Korps pith helmet from a company in New York (The Day Company) which was selling them mint out of the box for $5.00. I still have it. Also a friend of my father gave me a hat wreath/cockade for a Luftwaffe enlisted hat. So that's when I started.

But I didn't resume until about 1991. I found a book on collecting in the local bookstore and got started. I had no idea there was even a hobby of collecting this material though I always was interested in Luftwaffe from the beginning. So it has been quite intense since that year and I have learned a lot. But the most important lesson --- never give up, learn from your mistakes, and ask lots of questions.

More soon .... I just received a cased DRL badge yesterday which I will post some photos of soon. I am working on the photos now with Adobe.

Best regards,

Mike

[jgarcia]

Mike,

Fantastic collection, one of the best that I've had the pleasure of seeing. Thanks for sharing your collection!

John Garcia

[Mike H]

Retired in Bullion

Mark brought up the subject of the Retired Pilot's badge I have in bullion and I promised some more detailed photos of this piece, so here they are.

As you will see from the photos of the reverse, there are vestiges of paper there, most of which are lost to time. The front was hard to photograph in order to bring out the "three dimensional" effect of the eagle. It really is quite stunning and it has incredible detail. I hope these photos do it some justice.

Bullion badges are not often discussed here --- which is somewhat disappointing as they are quite beautiful and the real ones are also readily apparent from fakes.

Mike Heuer

[Mike H]

Reverse

An overall view of the reverse ...

[Mike H]

Eagle and wreath

Detail of the bottom of the eagle and the wreath.

[Mike H]

More detail ...

... of the eagle and wreath again.

[Mike H]

And the eagle

.... detail of the eagle.

[Mike H]

And finally ...

.... a view from the side which might give you a sense of the three-dimensional construction of this badge.

Mike Heuer

[Mark S.]

Holy Cow, Mike! The detail on that is absolutely incredible! I have never seen anything like it. I am in awe.

Simply amazing, really. Thanks for the great pictures.

[Mauser]

Brillliant !

Awsome Collection mike, jaw droping with all those rare awards .Very nicley displayed . Keep up the good work

Kindest Regards

Mark

[junior]

STUNNING LOVELY, I just cant find the right words!










----------------------------------------------------------------------------- my 400th post!!

[Mike H]

Collection

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your kind words. It has been nearly a year since I posted the photos of the collection and a lot has happened since. As you may know, there are a few other "Parts" to the collection posted as well, so have a look.

I do appreciate the comments. And perhaps will get busy and post another Part in the next few weeks.

My best,

Mike Heuer

[CLENTER]

Mike, A very impressive collection! Thank you for sharing with us all, you are a inspiration for truly beautiful collection! Very,Very nice!