Original Items: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge, with the standard two-piece zinc 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 very good, with almost all of the original silvering retained on the wreath, showing a bit of oxidation on the reverse. The eagle has some wear around the edges, but otherwise is one of the best we have ever seen condition wise.
The back of the eagle is marked JMME, the maker mark used for IMME & (u) Sohn Berlin. Standard German practice is to replaced “I” letters with “J” in markings. These are known maker of these badges, and are very well regarded.
A fantastic chance to pick up a rare badge by a desirable maker!
The Pilot Badge (German: Flugzeugführerabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe service personnel who completed flight training. It was instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring. 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 features a “swooping eagle” in the center, surrounded by a silver half oak leaf and half laurel leaf wreath, and the eagle is attached by 2 rivets on the rear.