Luftwaffe Air Gunner & Flight Engineers Badge By BSW

An early Luftwaffe Radio Operators and Air Gunner badge (Luftwaffen-Funker und Luftgewehrschützen-Abzeichen), two-piece construction in silvered tombak.  The reverse includes two rivets to secure the eagle to the wreath, with a vertical needle-style pinback with a narrow barrel hinge and a round wire catch; complete with “BSW” makers mark for Austrian maker Brüder Schneider Wien.   The badge has no damage or repairs in very good condition.

 

Product ID: 9131

£460.00

Out of stock

Description

Luftwaffe Air Gunner & Flight Engineers Badge

The Radio Operator & Air Gunner’s Badge (Fliegerschützenabzeichen für Bordfunker) is a commonly accepted title for the Luftwaffe-Fliegerschützen-Bordfunker-und Bordmechanikerabzeichen (Combined Air Gunner, Radio Operator, and Flight Engineer Badge).  It was a German military decoration awarded to radio operators, air gunners, mechanics, and flight engineers who were serving members of the Luftwaffe, who completed two months of training or five operational flights.

The badge was instituted in 1935, which was worn on the lower part of the left breast side of the tunic, below the Iron Cross.  The badge was oval in shape and had a silver-plated outside wreath around the rim.  The middle of the wreath had a national eagle “flying from left to right in a downwards direction”; clutched in its claws were two crossed arrow-head lightning bolts.  The polished eagle was also silver-plated but made of “oxidized old-silver” giving it a different shade of color than the polished wreath. The right side of the wreath was composed of laurel leaves and the left side of oak leaves, with a Swastika beneath.  The badge was originally made of aluminum, however, in the latter stages of the war it was made from metal alloy.  

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