Prussian & Bavarian Pilot's Badges

[M Wipf]

Does anybody here know the significance of the scene depicted on the front of the Prussian and Bavarian pilot badges? I understand the Traube was the first military aircraft, but where is the actual location of the road, the hills and buildings? What buildings are these?

All the best ..

Mike W.

[Ferg 1]

I may be wrong but I do not think that the landscape is meant to be taken from an actual location. I think it is just ' a landscape ' with alpine type buildings . Of course the badge is symbolistic in other ways, e.g. the laurel leaves mean victory and the oak leaves mean strength with the ribbon at base tying the two together. Ferg1

[jaba-the-hunt]

Like Fergus told not a special place jast a landscape. It would be vary interessant to know who make the design for the pilot badges.

Regards Alex

[M Wipf]

Thanks guys,

I vaguely remember reading that the small village depicted had a name and the large building in the foreground was a barracks. I've been through my material and cannot find a thing other than what you have already stated. I'm going to keep looking ..

Interesting the designer of the badge chose an Austrian 1910 Taube. Probably symbolistic of the unity between Germany and Austria.


Fergus,

I still have this ...

All the best ..

Mike W.

[Wild Card]

Hello jaba-the-hunt,

While I do not know exactly who is responsible for the Prussian, and Bavarian, aviation badges, I would like to point out that they have a rather interesting lineage.

In 1888 a series of badges for Generaladjutants, Generals a la Suite and Flügeladjutants was instituted. These were awarded during the reigns of Wilhelm I (1888), Friedrich III (1888) and Wilhelm III (1888-1918). From 1888 to 1918 the basic form remained more or less constant while only the emperor’s cypher changed. Below is an example of a Kaiser Wilhelm II badge which illustrates from where the design for the aviation badge came.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

[Claudius]

Thanks guys,

I
Interesting the designer of the badge chose an Austrian 1910 Taube. Probably symbolistic of the unity between Germany and Austria.


Mike W.

Not to be augmentative, but I don't think it was an overt show of symbolic unity between Germany and Austria. When the pilot badge was instituted in 1913 the German Army was actively using the Taube. There were two stationed in the Far East at Germany's China protectorate -Tsingtau at the outbreak of the war.

[Robin Lumsden]

I vaguely remember reading that the small village depicted had a name and the large building in the foreground was a barracks.

Interesting....................

[M Wipf]

Not to be augmentative, but I don't think it was an overt show of symbolic unity between Germany and Austria. When the pilot badge was instituted in 1913 the German Army was actively using the Taube. There were two stationed in the Far East at Germany's China protectorate -Tsingtau at the outbreak of the war.

Claudius,

Thank you for the enlightenment! A very interesting fact.

All the best ..

Mike W.

[M Wipf]

Interesting....................

Robin,

It really is interesting, isn't it?

Look at the design of the buildings, they're not really the type you would expect see in an average village. The large one down front does look like a barracks and the building across the road on the side of the hill looks like a tower of some sort. It all looks more like a military installation. I wish I could remember where I read about the name of this place.

Best ..

Mike W.