Bulgarian Pilot's Badge

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Hello all,

I have little to no knowledge of this type of badge, so I was helping to get your help on this one. As stated in the title, it's a Bulgarian Pilot's Badge.

What are your thoughts on it?

Thanks!
~Chad

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[Gene]

Beautiful example

[Erich B.]

A high quality, most likely German made version. The Bulgarian made badges are not bad, but this example is much much finer.
Erich

[Tim B.]

Chad,

That's a beautiful example IMO and what I personally like to see is the seven rays to the sun.

I know these have been copied and some are better than others, but most copies I see have only six rays to them and the lines crossing the hills are different.

You have an excellent piece!
Tim

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Thanks for the help guys! I am quite surprised, this is great news!

[Christopher G.]

That is one sweet badge my friend. That thing is really beautiful and I must say that it is much nicer than the Bulgarian made ones I have seen.

Regards,
Chris G.

[Tim B.]

I would like to see a good thread on these showing the different examples from various manufacturers and the difference between the German and Bulgarian produced pieces.

Really a beautiful badge and still priced somewhat reasonable IMO.
Tim

[Scott C.]

Wonderful badge. What timeframe would this have been awarded?

[Wood]

Why is the anti-rotation pin (I presume thats what it is) straight in one picture, then bent in another? ( At least it looks bent)
Pete

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Hi Pete,

If you look again, you'll noticed that it's slightly bent up and to the right in all pictures.

~Chad

[Wood]

In pic. 3 (the lower one) it is curved, like rhino horn!

Pete

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Hi Pete,

If you look again, you'll noticed that it's slightly bent up and to the right in ALL pictures.

~Chad

I am agreeing with you.

[mgidhagen]

This variant of the indeed beautiful model 1936 Bulgarian pilot badge was made by the Friedrich Sedlatzek firm of Berlin.

The model 1936 pilot badge, more commonly found of Bulgarian manufacture (by the Miloshev firm of Sofia), was issued and worn until the Soviet government prohibited the use of the Royal crown, and during a few years in the mid/late 1940s, the crown was replaced by a red star - as a temporary solution, before a Russian type metal wing replaced the old pilot badge.

The model 1936 badge was also used as an honorary pilot badge, awarded to foreign pilots, foremost to German Luftwaffe officers serving together with or as instructors to the Bulgarian air force.

/Mikael