Junkers Aluminum Pilot's Badge.

[Willi Z.]

This badge just came my way, so I thought I would share it.

[Willi Z.]

...

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Willi,

Well, that's an interesting one! Thanks for posting the pics. Initially I thought "nice to see one that hasn't been repaired", then I noticed the apparent absence of rivets on the reverse and unusual wear on the obverse of the eagles wings over the wreath. I haven't seen a repair job like this one - very neat on the reverse and filled in with aluminium? At least the catch hasn't busted on this one, unlike 95% of other Aluminium Junckers! Do you know who the original wearer was?

Regards
Mike K

[Willi Z.]

Thanks for the observation Mike, I didn't realize it had been repaired. I have no experience with aluminum badges.

The badge came from the widow of a JU52 pilot. I have a few more badges and buckles from him. Am awaiting a photo of the pilot. He flew over Kreta, and was killed in Russia. She remarried after the war (to a GI) and came over to the US.

My initial interest in the badge was because my dad's pilot badge was aluminum. He lost his as a POW, and as badges are not my thing, I hadn't encountered one of these before.....will have to show it to him this weekend.

Willi

[StevenD]

I notice on the right side where the hole was filled in but on the left side I can not see where the whole was filled in. Very interesting piece.

[JTownsend]

Yes it has been repaired. I think that the "liquid aluminum" patch used was post-war. These aluminum Juncker badges are very rare and often damaged so I think this is still a nice piece.

[Willi Z.]

Here is a closeup of the back repair. The repaired area does seem brighter. Post-war?

[Willi Z.]

Front repair.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

It's in great shape too, mine wasn't as lucky...

[skip]

Nice badge Willi. I think thats only the second J2 aluminum that we have ever seen here. I used to have one with repaired catch but it flew away and landed in Neils collection. Maybe he would care to show it.

Skip

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Skip, not the second but the third J2 on the forum. Here's the link to another

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...cker+aluminium

Willi, even with the repair (time of repair remains unknown), it's a very nice and relatively rare variant. Great to know it also has direct provenance to a German vet!

Regards
Mike K

[skip]

Ahhh!, so you got one as well Mike. Somehow I seem to have missed that thread. Still a nice badge though.

Skip

[J Temple-West]

Hi Willi, nice badge... No need to worry about the repairs, 90% of these Alu badges are found with repairs of some kind, this being one of the reasons for them being so unpopular with recipients of the award..

I take it, from your story about your Dad, that he was also a pilot? If so, why not give him this one as a replacement for the one he lost, and watch the smile
grow on his face..

[Neil Howes]

Here it is!!


Obverse:

[Neil Howes]

Regards,

Neil

Reverse: