A Pilots Badge

[Dirk]

Several years ago a fellow USAF officer and collector of mainly US stuff told me he was given this badge by Erich Hartmann after he met him through a western US military print dealer in the 70's or 80s...his story the three of them went out drinking and telling war stories and some how he told Hartmann he collected....several months later this arrived with a letter. Well, I've learned from this forum a story is just a story--and while I believe him, as I've known this officer for years ,unless someone has seen the letter and knows Hartmann's signature its just a nice story. Myself I've never seen a cut-out in person so couldn't even say 100% it was a good badge but I knew who to ask...I went to Tim Calvert who told me it looks like an early Assmann.
I don't want to take away from Tim's research but he poured over his records and found a photo that could show this mid-war pilot with just such a badge. Tim has a couple of ideas of why he would wear such an early badge....hopefully he will share them soon. Second ,Tim has told me he is starting to id other types of badges on other pilots photos...Since I've been visiting this site I don''t remember anyone ID'ing badge types through pictures....Now to me that is good history. Tim I hope you'll share what you have found.....

[Dirk]

Second View

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[Dirk]

Another View

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[Dirk]

More

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[Tim Calvert]

Hi Dirk,

Yes, in my opinion a very nice early (and rare) unmarked Assmann. Case looks nice and early as well. I'd guess that this is a '35-'39 production badge which at first didn't make sense when coupled with a mid-war pilot. In fact I found a picture of Hartmann wearing a different badge in '43. This shot was taken before Hartmann was an RKT.

[Tim Calvert]

A little closer. Notice the obviously thicker wreath than the early Assmann. Possibly a GWL???

[Tim Calvert]

However, once his flood of victories led to his rise to literal stardom, I can imagine that he was on the lookout for a nicer classier badge to wear when visiting the Berghof or Wolf's Lair for award ceremonies presented by "you know who".
I'm sure it was easy for him to talk another pilot into trading his early badge for "Hartmann's badge" (after all...it was Hartmann's badge!!!).

Here is a shot (although it's backwards) taken just after the award of the Diamonds in August '44. 301 victories. Notice how closely this badge resembles the early thin Assmann design? So after some initial scepticism, the possibility is there!

[skip]

Great badge and very hard to find, I agree with an early Assmann. Detlev had one on his update last week that was gone before I even pushed the shopping basket button.
Although I am not a great believer in such storys whose to say that Hartmann did´nt purchase a badge from a store somewere and this just happened to be an early type.

Skip

[J Temple-West]

Agree with Tim and Skip, absolutely no problem with the badge, 100% 'Assmann'..

Here's a marked example, for comparison..

[IVAN]

.I agree.......

[Dirk]

Thanks

Just wanted to post two more shots of the badge and offer a big thanks to the LW guys for confirming the badge was a good early one...Tim thanks for leading the way. Would really like to see Tim do a thread on other badges he has ID'ed from period photos...when he's not flying....

[Jos L C]

Great early flat Assmann's ,they're so ..delicate..

They're made like a Swiss watch..,John's badge gives a very nice impression ,unbelievable..

Although I love the early Juncker ,I think I love the early Assmann most..

2nd type , I like the Junckers most..

Can't explain.. , just like women..

Great Schtuff..!!

Jos.

[J Howland]

Here is a shot (although it's backwards) taken just after the award of the Diamonds in August '44. 301 victories. Notice how closely this badge resembles the early thin Assmann design? So after some initial scepticism, the possibility is there!

I believe that Hartmann received one of Goring's Pilot/Observer badges with diamonds at about the same time that year - what are the chances that he's wearing one of those in your photo instead of the basic pilot badge?

Jim

[mvm71]

Great story and a Super Badge!! Not many awards have the beauty of the pilots badge!!

Great photos!!

Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Calvert]

Hi Jim,

I'm pretty sure most P/O's w/diamonds were thicker, but......???

Dirk,

You're too kind. Any possibility we can see a scan of the letter that came with the badge?

Here's another for you to check out....