Your opinions on this Pilot Badge ...

[Matthieu]

Hello,

I've always taken a liking to Pilot badges, as I think their design is the nicest one made during the TR period ( IMHO ).

A while ago I was able to buy my 1st Pilot badge ( late-war zink FLL ), but the one posted here I recently traded against a few other badges.

IMO its yet another late-ware zink FLL, and could even be a P/O badge ???

Thanks for your time and looking forward to your comments .

Matthieu

[Matthieu]

IMO the hardware is consistent to other examples ....

[Matthieu]

Close-up of the eagle .

[Matthieu]

Close-up of the eagles claws & the swaz ...

[Matthieu]

Close-up of the hinge ... IMO a wartime repair has been made here ???

[Matthieu]

Another shot of the hinge ....

[Matthieu]

Hinge has been knocked about, but still firmly attached.

[Matthieu]

Close-up of one of the rivits ...

[Matthieu]

Side shot ....

[Matthieu]

And this shows why I believe it to be a P/O badge, as you can still see some gilding here and there ???
I find spots like these all over the badge ( no gilding left on the backside, though ).

[Matthieu]

Side to side with my other zink FLL .... different hardware though.

[Matthieu]

Last one for now ... quick snapshot of my two LW badges side by side .

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Mattieu,

Nice FLL pilot badge. I also like the design of these and the FLL's are of pretty good quality despite being a late war zinc badge.

Both types are hardware are perfectly acceptable on FLLs, you can see the same progression from block hinge to sheet metal hinge on their CCCs, PABs, IABs too.

The eagle's black finish makes me quite sure its a pilot badge. The silver must have toned down over the years to give it more of a yellowish appearance, which is also different than FLLs true gold finish that we can see on their CCCs and real POs.

Tom

[mrg]

Hi Mathieu nice FLL just like the one I used to have, before I came up with the great idea of selling it

[Matthieu]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Maybe one day I might afford a nice buntmetall one .... .