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: Nice quality, bright and burnished, dark silver washed, die struck alloy construction, two piece badge is in the form of a burnished, dark silver washed, vertically oval, wreath with a canted swastika superimposed to the bottom center, separate, bright silver washed, stylized, spread winged eagle in flight, clutching, dual lightening bolts in it’s talons mounted on the wreath. The eagle is secured to the wreath by two, small dome headed rivets which are visible on the reverse. The vertically oval wreath features embossed laurel leaves to the right side and oak-leaves to the left side. The age dulled, burnished, dark silver wash to the wreath is retained about 95% and has taken on a yellowish patina. The age dulled, bright silver washed, finish to the eagle is only retained about 25% and the eagle has reverted to the bright silver of the aluminum alloy base. The nicely convexed wreath and the highly vaunted eagle both show nice detailing including intricate feathering to the wings, cut-out detailing to the dual lightening bolts and high relief details to the wreath. The eagle’s wings extend beyond both sides of the wreath. The smooth reverse of the wreath has a soldered, solid type hinge, a thin round vertical pin, and a heavy soldered catch (maybe repaired) all intact. Although unmarked, most probably a Friedrich Linden (Lüdenscheid) example.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $488.00