Shoulderboards Leutnant Flieger opinions please

[RamJet]

Hi,

as I usually collect only Luftwaffe WWII, I have absolutely no clue if these WWI Lt flight boards have a chance to be real. Would You Imperial experts please help? And what are they worth?











Thanks in advance,
best wishes,
Steve

[Chip M]

My guess is that these might be put-together examples. I think all of the parts are original, but several things lead me to this conclusion.

First, the boards themselves are not Flieger boards per se. This officer would have had to have been seconded to the air branch. Normal Flieger officer boards would have had a double underlay for Prussian units...dove gray base with a color coded upper piping denoting the battalion number. These board's configuration in itself is not impossible by any means, but just one thing to think about. Even officers, who were seconded to the air branch and kept the uniforms of their earlier unit affiliation, were supposed to change their boards to those of the normal Flieger officer. We know, however, that this was often not done.

Secondly, the prongs on the devices are stuck completely through the boards, meaning that they were added later. Once again, this would be the case if the officer was seconded to the unit. It does make you wonder, however, where the marks of the original devices are.

Finally, I think the oxidation marks on the silver wire are caused by long contact with a string. Unused boards (left over after the war) are relatively common and often display these marks from being tied together from the manufacturer. They are better suited to use for this purpose (putting something together), as they don't have puncture holes from previous devices.

The only thing I can see in their favor is that they appear (from the widening of the button holes) to have been worn.

So, all this said, they may be fine, but certainly these factors would give one pause to consider if a lot of money was involved.

Chip

[RamJet]

Thanks, Chip!

That helps a lot. I already thought that boards should have a grey underlay, but even with my limited knowledge, I understand that other branch colours are kept when an officer is transferred to flight.

From the source they come from they have a good chance to be actually found in this condition, but no one can prove that ...

To know at least that all parts are genuine is a leap forward. Thanks again!

Best wishes,
Steve