Cloth Birds for Inspection: Pilot, Wireless & Tropical Breast

[jwburchell]

Here are three that have been sleeping in my collection for awhile but are now ready to take flight...assuming I can be reassured that they are period originals. Please have a look and let me have your considered opinions.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Regards,

John

1. LW Pilot's cloth badge, padded, in really nice condition, unsewn with the cloth backing intact and even a price tag (not sure what the letters mean but I think the numerals indicate a price which might be Reichs Marks 0.75).

[jwburchell]

The price tag up close:

[jwburchell]

2. LW Wirless Operator cloth & bullion badge in excellent condition, unsewn and with the paper backing intact.

[jwburchell]

3. LW EM tropical tan breast eagle, unsewn. (I know this is not an award, but figured I'd slip it in here with the other birds it has been hangin' with).

[jwburchell]

Additional info: I posted #3 above in the proper Insignia Forum and now understand that this is a correct example of the characteristic triangle for a Luft tropical shirt and not a tunic breast eagle.

[Gene]

Can't say I like either the pilot or bullion aerial gunner badges; the latter is especially unconvincing.

[jwburchell]

Thanks for the feedback, Gene. Hopefully some others will also offer opinions. I am attaching a few more pictures which may help.

First, the LW Pilot badge showing another detailed obverse view and a side view showing depth of padding.

[jwburchell]

Here another detailed obverse view of the LW Wireless/Air Gunner:

[Bob Hritz]

I have seen this type of padded pilot badge and feel it is authentic. The bullion radio operator is a rather unimpressive pattern, but I bel;ieve it has a good chance of being wartime.

There is a wide range of quality for period embroidered Luftwaffe badges, and I am sure it was based on price, during the era.

Bob Hritz

[Wood]

Can't say I like any with purple paper on the reverse, and I've been tempted with a few.
Pete

[fdodge]

My thoughts on your padded pilot are that it is a good one. Like Bob Hritz, I've seen a few of these around and I don't see any red flags here. I own one very similar in obverse design and with the same backing material. I posted it for remarks last month and it drew attention from only 3 members, but all of whom I have much respect for. Two of them liked mine and one didn't.
Oh well......I guess all that matters is that I like it since it is in my collection.

Regards,
Frank

[AFF96]

Clothe badges in general are tough, but my gut is with Bob & Frank, the PB looks OK, the ROAG maybe as well.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi John,

I like the Pilot Badge, the cloth and thread type is what I would expect from an original.

But I am not a fan of the Bullion ROAG. The swastika and especially the bolts look quite amaeuturish IMO.

Tom

[jwburchell]

My thanks to all who have offered feedback and comments on these two badges. It is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

John

[pablo10]

i also like the pilot badge but the roag badge is not what id expect one to look like as some one said too amateurish.
cheers-pablo