Friends, Romans, Countrymen, LW PAB holders ...

[Yuri D.]

I know what you mean about the "smell". The "smell" is one of the many indicators that I use to authenticate badges (for myself ofcourse). I would love to see a photo of another example similar to this one. I will never even suggest that I am certain about one Luft. PAB or another, because this badge may remain a mystery forever. But maybe one day, we will find a photo or a soldbuch. Hell, I'm still looking for a photo of a Luft Retired Pilot badge being worn.

Yuri

[Perry Floyd]

Gary when he sells one he doesn't go long before he has another one for sale...nuff said..

[Eric Queen]

Here is a couple of pages from a soldbuch from a man in Fsch.Pz.
Aufkl. Abt. "HG". (sorry for the b/w copy of the awards page, I took a color copy only of the photo page and the book itself is packed away with a lot of other junk)



Notice the bottom entry for the " Panzerkampfabzeichen d. Lw. in
Schwarz" dated 10.3.45

[Eric Queen]

Letter and original envelope to a man in 11./Fallsch. Pz.Gren.Regt.3 "HG" stating that he was awarded the "Panzerkampfabzeichen der L.W. in Schwarz" on 19.3.45.
( Klaus Peters Collection )

[Chris Boonzaier]

Klaus Patzwell, who I dislike intensley, but who is one of the real German experts, has an article about these in one of the back issues of his magazine. He has Yuris example photographed as a fake.

For me it would take more than the "its really good quality" and "smells, looks old" to proove the LW PAB argument.

All th ebest
Chris

[Mark S.]

Panzerkampfabzeichen der L.W. in Schwarz

In Schwarz?

Doesnt that mean "in black"?

Like the wound badge entry-

17.2.45 Verw. Abz. Schwarz

Im confused

[Gordon Williamson]

Superb Soldbuch Eric !

No mystery on the "Schwarz" , the LW PAB was to be in Silver or Black as opposed to Silver or Bronze like the Army, the black being the Luft equivalent of the Bronze.

Gordon

[Eric Queen]

Thanks Gordon. Just as a matter of interest, Jedzig was awarded the "Nahkampfspange d. Lw. in Bronze" on the same day.

If anyone would like to see award documents for the "Nahkampfspange der Luftwaffe" let me know.

EQ

[Frank Mills]

*

****

[François SAEZ]

I have seen pics of 2 of them lately (I mean documents - dated 02 & 03 1945) - Probably the sames than Eric, what was more than interesting is that it was both 1st & 2nd class Nahkampfspange d. Lw. to the same guy (HG)
Now, I speak only about docs I saw on pic.

François
Eric, please, I woould appreciate if you send me the pics

[moranimal]

Magnificent Eric!

Thanks very much for the information, those are really nice Soldbuchs. If you could send me the pictures for the Nahkampfspange d. LW entry, that would be great.

It looks like all the 'X d. LW' entries - for both the PAB and CCC - are in March of 1945 so far. Presumably we'll find some later documentation as well. (Maybe earlier?) That being said, does anyone have any information as to a manufacturer, or at least where it was to be manufactured? All the examples I have ever seen have no maker's mark. Has anyone ever seen a PAB d. LW with one? (Whether real or fake is irrelevant at this point.)

Frank: The badge on Jamie Cross' site appears to have two rivets and maybe a third, but I can't tell from the picture. It also appears to be unmarked, but has been blackened. (Most that I've seen tend to be a grayish color and generally one piece.) Any thoughts on this piece?

[Gordon Williamson]

So now thanks to Eric's fabulous Soldbuch we have proof that the LW PAB was awarded, at least on paper.

So we know that the badge was officially instituted, and that from illustrations of the badge itself in the Luftwaffenverordnungsblatt that tooling was made and at least some samples struck.
I have seen LW PABs with the eagle attached with three rivets just like the Ground Assault, with two rivets and as one piece like Roger Benders example, all in zinc and in a manufacturing style that exactly mirrored those used by various Ground Assault Badge makers. At least these were the correct manufacturing style and metal for the period. I have also seen numerous reworked denazified 1957 pieces which were rather obvious due to their bright finish and heavy brass base metal.

I suspect Eric's guy more than likely got the Army badge though it was the LW awarded on paper, so I very much doubt any were ever awarded, but I don't think the possibility of some being manufactured but never issued can be ruled out. Don't suppose we will ever know for sure.

Gordon

[mott5ranch]

I suspect Eric's guy more than likely got the Army badge though it was the LW awarded on paper, so I very much doubt any were ever awarded, but I don't think the possibility of some being manufactured but never issued can be ruled out. Don't suppose we will ever know for sure.

Well said and so true. I like my badge and Yuri is happy with his.

[Eric Queen]

Here is the "Nahkampfspange d. Luftwaffe" set of documents I was recently offered for $9000.00 ( needless to say I passed )
Francois, is this the same set you are referring to?

EQ

[François SAEZ]

Correct, exactly these 2 docs - were sold some weeks ago

François