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 Officers. Of Note: Originally the cloth version of the wireless operator’s/air gunner’s badge was only authorized for wear by Officers ranks until regulations of November 18^TH 1937 extended the authorized wear of the cloth versions to EM/NCO’s. Further regulations of May 8^TH 1942 discontinued production of the cloth versions although they continued to worn through-out the war. Also 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: Mid to late war production, die struck alloy construction, two piece badge with bright and burnished silver washes, is in the form of a silver washed, 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 it’s talons. The eagle is secured to the wreath by two, small dome headed rivets which are visible on the reverse. Only remnants of the silver wash to the wreath and the burnished silver wash to the eagle remain and both have mostly reverted to the flat matte grey of the base alloy. The eagle’s wings extend beyond both sides of the wreath. The reverse of the badge has a soldered, barrel style hinge, on an oval base plate, a thin, round, vertical pin, and a heavy soldered catch on a circular base late all intact. The reverse of the eagle is well marked with the stamped manufacturer’s name and location, "W. Deumer Lüdenscheid".

GRADE ***                             PRICE $536.00