$750.00
This is an excellent condition lightly worn Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge, which looks to be a textbook late-war Zinc alloy construction. The “swooping eagle” is held on by the usual two rivets, and has a “blacked” finish. It has a non-magnetic vertical pin on the back, with a barrel hinge and bent wire catch.
Condition is excellent, with the original finish well retained on both the eagle and the wreath, with some light wear around the edges and raised areas. The silvering on the wreath is great, and the back of the eagle shows the original “blacked” finish very well.
The back of the eagle is marked with a BSW mark in a clover, the trademark for Brüder Schneider A.G. of Wien (Vienna), a known WWII-era maker of Luftwaffe badges, particularly the pilot’s badge. The wreath and eagle are the correct more “delicate” style used by this maker based in Vienna.
A good chance to pick up a great example of a classic Luftwaffe badge by a well-known maker!
History:
The Luftwaffe Aviator / Pilot Badge (Flugzeugführerabzeichen or Pilotenabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe service personnel who completed flight training, receiving their flying license and
citation. It was instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring. It came in distinct types; nickel silver (changed to zinc during the war) and a variant made of gold. It depicts a silver eagle (Silberner Adler) perched atop a swastika (hook cross), wings open in a landing pose, and surrounded by a wreath with laurel (Lorbeer) on the right side and oak leaf (Eichenlaub) branches on the left side, respectively. It was worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, underneath the Iron Cross 1st Class if awarded.
The design is two parts, with the eagle attached to the wreath by two rivets. The badge can be distinguished from the very similar Pilot/Observer Badge by the wreath; the Pilot’s Badge has a silver wreath, while the Pilot/Observer badge has a gold wreath.
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World War 2 was one of the most significant conflicts in modern history. Millions of soldiers and civilians died in the fierce battles between the Allies and the Axis.
Tales of courage and sacrifices still live in the military artifacts that remain in our grandparents’ attics, basements, and footlockers. Iron Cross HQ is very proud to offer a wide selection of WWII uniforms, WWII field gear, weapons, medals, decorations, photos, and more, for sale at Iron Cross HQ Store. Reproduction items and originals are available for Militaria collectors and reenactors.
