Round Pilots Badge for Opinions

[Serge M.]

Hello Guys,

Was wondering what your thoughts are as far as originality of this badge?
Late war or fake?

All opinions are welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Regards,
-wagner-

[Serge M.]

[Serge M.]

[Leroy]

Nicely made fake, IMHO.

[Tim Calvert]

Wags, compare that eagle to the one on the early air crew badge. I'll bet you have a match! Sorry!

[Serge M.]

Thank You Leroy and Tim !

You guys are great. I really need the help here and so many of you have come through with all your experience.

Regards,
-wagner-

[Jos L C]

Concerning finish etc. it looks like the badges are created by the same artist.
Besides that there's no single grain of evidence concerning these round badges other than being created for space ship captains, which makes them very exiting, that's a fact..

Jos.

[Gary B]

Dear Wagner,

The collecting community is split on the originality of these badges. As you will note in Jos' posting he is not one of the believers.

To date there is no explanation for this badge. There is speculation (unfounded) that these were issued to women pilots, jet pilots etc, but, as I indicated, nothing to back the theory up. In addition, there is no photgraphic evidence that these badges were awarded/issued.

On the flip side there are those who believe in these, including many dealers - I might add that many who believe own such a piece. As evidence they show the pin/hinge set up which is similar to a Juncker set up as well as the eagle. Prices for these round variants are a little bit higher than a regular tombak badge since no one wants to take a chance on buying what might ammount to a fantasy piece. On the other hand, if photo evidence turns up on these pieces the current price will be a "bargain". I have never really see one sell at a show.

As for your badge, this appears to be a copy of the "other" badges which some believe as real. Hinge set up on your piece is all wrong when compared to what some believe to be an original piece.

A search on the forum will reveal how controverisal they are.

I am not sure if this piece will be discussed in Mike Previtera's new Luftwaffe book - I believe it was considered to be included just as an interesting subject but not making any statement about the originality of the badge....I do not know the final outcome though (Mark Miller would know).

Gary B

[paddywhack]

if they were awarded to jet pilots then we surely would have seen them by now either from period pics or the vets themselves!as for women pilots same thing!i seem to remember the only evidence was a pic from ebay that turned out to be photoshoped!

[Pierre]

Others believe that this badge was for flying saucer pilots and used by alien volunteers in the Luftwaffe....

Pierre

[Serge M.]

Thank You Jos and Gary for the detailed explaination.
And to paddywhack.
And to Pierre: I even read that these could have been part of the unacknowledged part of the "Gehiem Vunder Waffen Project" - "Vril".

Regards,
-wagner-

[AZartman]

here is a good start...I sold it last year, controversial, ....YES!

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=129231

[mmiller]

Dear Wagner,

The collecting community is split on the originality of these badges.

I might add that many who believe own such a piece.

I am not sure if this piece will be discussed in Mike Previtera's new Luftwaffe book - I believe it was considered to be included just as an interesting subject but not making any statement about the originality of the badge....I do not know the final outcome though (Mark Miller would know).

Gary B

Gary,

Well stated. And you are right, the believers are the big dealers that always seem to have one of these 'rounders' tucked away, for the vulnerable and gullable collector who has more money than brains.

I believe this badge was omitted from the book, at least based on the text I 'proofed'. Several of these speculative awards may be mentioned, but with no photo study, per se. The bigger the book, the more it must ultimately cost the collector. We focused on what we knew.

I have always wanted to believe in this badge, but never have been convinced it was made. I don't own one and doubt I ever will. ....at any price.

Mark

[Ludwig]

IMO not original.