BACKGROUND: The wireless operator’s/air gunner’s qualification badge was introduced by Hermann Göring on March 26^TH 1936 for award to radio operators, air gunners and mechanics who had met the required criteria. The wireless operator’s/air gunner’s badge was awarded on an individual basis and the main criteria for bestowal of the badge was the completion of five operational flights over enemy territory or a minimum of two months active service. As with other flyer’s specialty badges a cloth version of the wireless operator’s/air gunner’s badge was authorized for wear on the flight blouse with a machine embroidered pattern for EM/NCO’s and a hand embroidered pattern for Officer’s. Of Note: After the introduction of the air gunner’s badge on June 22^ND 1942, the wireless operator’s/air gunner’s badge was re-designated Bordfunkerabzeichen, (Wireless Operator’s Badge), and was bestowed exclusively to wireless operators.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Two piece, die struck alloy construction badge with silver and dark burnished silver finishes. The badge is in the form of a silver finished, nicely convexed, vertically oval, wreath with laurel leaves to the left side and oak-leaves to the right side and a canted swastika superimposed to the bottom center. Mounted on the wreath is a dark burnished silver finished, highly vaunted, stylized eagle in flight clutching dual lightening bolts in its talons. The eagle is secured to the wreath by two, small dome headed rivets which are visible on the reverse. The eagles wing tips extend just beyond the outer edge of the wreath. The badge shows nice quality detailing including cut-outs to the lightening bolts. The silver finish to the wreath appears to be retained about 90% and has taken on a flat matte blue/grey appearance while the dark burnished silver finish to the eagle is retained about 85%. The dark, somewhat shiny, finish to the eagle stands out in nice contrast to the wreath. The reverse of the wreath has a soldered, barrel type hinge, a thin round vertical pin and a heavy soldered catch on a circular base plate, inset into a circular recess all intact. The reverse of the eagle is well marked with the stamped, manufacturers name and location in two lines, "W. Deumer Lüdenscheid".

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $702.00