Airgunner-badge with black wreath + case

[peterm]

Hi guys!

I got this one many years ago from privat and I'm really interested in Your opinion. As far as I remember, I once wrote in this forum, that these badges should have a TOTAL black wreath (also on the backside). Maybe, I remember that wrong...
So please let me know what You think!

Kind regards, Peter

[peterm]

Correction: I once READ in this forum the wreath should be completely black!
Sorry for my mistake!

[peterm]

.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Peter,

Well, black wreath would be an Unqualified Airgunner. I don't ever recall seeing an FLL Unqualified Airgunner badge before, typically on Deumer and possibly Assmann. However, I really like the look of the black finish on your example. The rivets are textbook FLL are completely unmessed with IMO, so that speaks very well for this badge being an original UQAR as well. I would look VERY closely at the eagles wings where the meet the wreath to be sure you don't see any black finish on the eagle at all. If you don't, then I think you have a true, FLL Unqualfied Airgunner and a very interesting find.

Tom

[peterm]

Hi Tom!

Many thanks for Your detailed comment! There is indeed absolutely no paint on the eagle at all. Because of the source it once came from I never really had concerns about the originality of the badge, but You never know...

Thanks again for looking and kind regards,

Peter

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Peter,

No doubt an original badge. However, IMO it looks to be a standard Air Gunner/Flight Engineer Badge that was altered to an Unqualified Air Gunner Badge. For me, the reverse is very telling: The eagle is dark gray and the wreath is noticeably lighter gray with what appears to be traces of silvering still present. Wouldn't the eagle of an Unqualified Air Gunner Badge be silvered rather than dark gray? Hard to say when and where this black finish was applied to the wreath. Given the lateness of the badge, though, I suppose it is possible that it left the factory this way.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

Another concern I have is the darkening to the Hakenkreuz. Shouldn't it be silvered on an Unqualified Air Gunner Badge?

Best regards,
Tom

[Thomas Durante]

Another concern I have is the darkening to the Hakenkreuz. Shouldn't it be silvered on an Unqualified Air Gunner Badge?

Best regards,
Tom

Hi Tom,

I don't think this was specified in the official Airgunner regs. Deumer badges typically have the silvered swastika, but if it wasn't in the regs then it must have been a maker-specific characteristic IMO. When we are dealing with a different maker such as FLL, they may not have preferred the polished swastika like other makers.

Tom

[peterm]

For me, the reverse is very telling: The eagle is dark gray and the wreath is noticeably lighter gray with what appears to be traces of silvering still present.

Tom, that's just the scan and a little bit of "Zinkfraß" (called "zinkpest" on the forum). There is no silver on the wreath, just grey basic material.

Kind regards, Peter

[AFF96]

I don't think it's been messed with or modified based on the pics, very nice find & wonderful case.

[peterm]

Thanks for Your opinion, Greg!

Kind regards, Peter