The age old question, Army Recon or luft signal?

[afrikasandman]

Guys,

im at a sticking point with these and honestly these could go either way. I like the cyphers and as you can see there is a little bit of thread that was sewn on these cyphers to keep the numbers a little bit more secured. The tops are the shinny topped ones (luft standard) and the color is more brown than coppery brown in my opinion. I know these get into that hard to call color, so lets put it up to a solid vote on the WAF. Matt

[afrikasandman]

What do you guys say?

[brooksbz]

It could be either. I don't there is a way to tell. Shiney normally means luft as you stated.

[afrikasandman]

little history on the 40th Recon, folded into the 64th Krad batt...

[Johnny R]

This color overlaps with Bau as well and there were at least five Bau units with the 40 designation. This type of Russian braid is sort of on the fence between shiny and matte. When it ages and fades it loses its luster and I have seen examples of it used on boards for most of the Army waffenfarbe.

[Hans Kristian]

But how would the number "40" fit to any Luftwaffe unit..???:..I dont know if LW ground troops used these numbers, but I would believe this to be a heer board.

Hans Kristian

[Tim O'Keefe]

To be Recon or not to be Recon ? That is the question,...

Matt, I'm going to narrow it down to Bau most likely.

[brooksbz]

It is my experience that recon wore brown and copper-brown in the field. I know many threads on this forum make another case. It was a good point that the numbers make a good case for heer... unless they were added later. I would just enjoy the boards, they are a rare color no matter what.

[Schulterklappen]

Heer

I would be inclined toward Heer also. You will see numbered Luftwaffe Flak boards and I have a Jaeger pair from a Luftwaffe Field Division; but, I don't think the Luftwaffe unit numbered boards and straps anywhere on the same scale as the Heer. Congratulations on a nice acquisition!

[Panzer Bob]

Luftwaffe boards used by an Army formation?

Hello, all!
To muddy the waters a bit...perhaps Luftwaffe boards purchased by an Army officer since Army boards in the appropriate color could not be found. There was a Bau-Bataillon 40 early in the war, so that's a possibility as well.
Regards,
Bob

[afrikasandman]

I hadn't even considered the bau at first but it is a real possibility. Matt

[don_kihotis7]

I would go with Heer recon here too.

[Asper]

I believe these are early Heer Recon, do some research on early regiments and find the match.

Cheers,

Asper