Early Aluminium Pilot's Badge

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

I'm posting these pics for member Rob. I'm sure he'd like to hear your opinions on his bald eagle with some serious character!

Some specs as supplied;

wingspan of eagle - 66.5mm
height & width of swastika - 15.0 x 15.0mm
thickness of eagle - 3.5mm
width of wreath - 41.75mm
height of wreath - 53.5mm
thickness of wreath - 2.5mm
weight - estimated at 11-13 g.

Rob can comment of the "engraving" on the reverse if he wants.

Regards
Mike K


4 pics, reformatted, to follow;

[Mike Kenny]

reverse

[Mike Kenny]

oblique flash shot of the obverse;

[Mike Kenny]

reverse flash image - seems to better show the finish;

[Darrell]

Looks like a Frankensteiner

[rhudspith]

Could it be a 1st pattern juncker?. Looks to me as if the owner was quite proud of it and did not want to part with it at any cost hence the repair. Maybe he thought it brought him good luck

Rob

[Mike Kenny]

Could it be a 1st pattern juncker?. Rob

Hi Rob (but not the Rob that owns the badge!),

To answer your question, Imo almost certainly.

Interesting how the repairs on this example are very similar to repairs I've seen on other examples. Brings to mind Franks comment about badges being repaired by manufacturers, although in this case I could image the original wearer demanding HIS exact same badge back!

Regards
Mike K

[diablo12]

Early Aluminium Pilot's Badge

Thanks for posting the pics' Mike.To elaborate on the inscription on the reverse,I presume the owners name 'HILTRUP OEKENPOHLER'.I will weigh the badge on electronic scales as soon as I am able.Does anyone else have an example of this type (J1) that they can submit pics of,I'd be really interested to see a mint one if it's out there,regards Rob Miller.

[rhudspith]

I usually dont like rough or damaged badges and prefer them in as best condition as possible. However there is the odd piece which seems to have some character and tells a story which I find appealing. This is one such piece and I sure would not mind it in my collection.

Regards
Rob

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Rob M, here are some links to some threads discussing Aluminium badges and specifically reference J1 Junckers. I'm sure I've seen images of a near mint J1 Pilot's Badge around here somewhere as well but can't find the thread.

Regards
Mike K

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...cker+aluminium

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...ight=alu+pilot

[diablo12]

Excellent references Mike,just what I looked for but couldn't find.An outstanding line up of like type badges in these threads.It certainly shows what knowledge and timing by the purchaser can scare up out of the woodwork,very impressive

[Frank Heukemes]

I own two repaired Aluminium flight badges with the exact same rivets used for the repair, these big, flattop aluminium rivets!

[Thomas Durante]

Rob, here is the thread regarding my J1 Pilot badge.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...ad.php?t=89754

Tom D.

[münster]

Umm Maybe Frank can help me out here,,I do not think Hiltrup is a German First Name,,The weird thing is I lived in a village 5 minutes out of Münster, Germany named Hiltrup. There were Several Luftwaffe installations in This area, including one flight line in Münster itself. Do you think this is any connection?

If it matters, Iam really convinced this badge is from that area. Hiltrup is a stadt teil to Münster,,Look it up on the net Lüftwaffe and Münster and you will see there was a lot there.

<CENTER>Luftflotte 2 in Münster

</CENTER><CENTER>Gen Kesselring

</CENTER><CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=2 border=2><TBODY><TR><TD>2.(F)/122</TD><TD>Münster-Loddenheide</TD><TD>ObLt Schwartz</TD><TD>He 111H
Ju 88A</TD><TD>7
5</TD><TD>5
4</TD></TR><TR><TD>3.(F)/122</TD><TD>Münster-Loddenheide</TD><TD>Maj Keienburg</TD><TD>He 111H
Ju 88A</TD><TD>10
2</TD><TD>7
2</TD></TR><TR><TD>4.(F)/122</TD><TD>Goslar</TD><TD>Hptm Pannwitz</TD><TD>He 111H
Ju 88A</TD><TD>7
5</TD><TD>5
2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Wekusta 26</TD><TD>Münster-Loddenheide</TD><TD>Hptm von Rotberg</TD><TD>Do 17Z
He 111H</TD><TD>6
4</TD><TD>3
3</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>


Münster -Löddenheide is now a ratio markt on the Flight line. I worked in one of the old LW buildings in a Market reaseach Buro which was the old Feurwehr building for the runway. Münster -Hiltrup is about 5 minutes drive down the road and ther e is a British Kaserne there which I believe was the old Buildings for the Luftwaffe, I sincerly believe your badge comes from there, it really carries an interest for me! Sorry to get carried away on that

[J Temple-West]

That has to be the most battle weary, repaired (I'd say typical of field repair) piece I've ever seen...
I've a few badges that have the owner's name + the flight school/airfield, where the individuals qualified, scratched into the reverse which would fit in with the theory that Munster has put forward.. The scratching of these details into the reverse of flight badges seems to have been quite a common practice...