Der Rittmeister Militaria, LLC. Imperial German Merchandise
Page 11: Flight Badges for Imperial Germany, Other Central Powers, and Selected
Allied Flight Badges.
Updated on 2 September 2010.
Contact us @:
rittmeister@tampabay.rr.com
Click here for Links to
our Merchandise & Content Pages. This is just a sample of the wide
variety of high quality items that we offer in our ever changing inventory!
New
items on
Bala's Bargain Bin, our clearance
page, effective
19 July 2009!!
AND
Kyri's Kurio Korner, featuring great
little items from a
cute little cat -- at reduced prices! Effective
19 July 2009!!
We have an office in Germany 0049 (0)4104-962028!!
Prussia
11-325 PRUSSIAN ARMY
COMMEMORATIVE PILOTS BADGE. This is
a one-piece Prussian Army Commemorative Pilot’s Badge.
This badge was worn by pilots when they were no longer
actively flying, due to retirement or injuries. The
manufacturer of this badge was Friedrich
Keller, a firm with which I have not had
experience. The badge has a fine swollen pin. It does show
some aging in the finish on the obverse and reverse. $595.00
(Click here for more images)
11-359 PRINZENGROßE
PRUSSIAN COMMEMORATIVE ARMY PILOT BADGE.
This is a very interesting example of a Prussian
Commemorative Army Pilot Badge in the prinzengroße size.
This badge would have been used by pilots who were no longer
actively involved in flying. It is sometimes called a
"Retired Pilot’s Badge." It was used when a
man was no longer flying, perhaps due to wounds or other
health considerations. This badge is about half the size of a
regulation-sized badge. It measures 1 3/4" x
1." It is a one-piece design, and hallmarked
for .800 silver. The detail to the badge is delightful. This
would make a good addition to any collection. $450.00
. . .
(Click here for more images)
11-445 PRUSSIAN ARMY COMMEMORATIVE PILOT’S BADGE -
PRINZENGROßE.
This badge was worn by pilots
who were no half to two-thirds the size of a full-sized badge. It is of the
stamped (cliche) type which was similar to how most wound badges were
produced. It is well made, with a very thin pin.
$450.00
(Click here for more images)
11-414 PRUSSIAN ARMY GUNNER’S BADGE - MINIATURE.
This is a miniature of a Prussian Army Gunner’s Badge. The badge is vaulted,
which is highly unusual. A large jump ring is attached to the smaller jump
ring on the badge. This miniature is in excellent condition.
$450.00
(Click
here for more images)
Bavaria
11-503
XJW BAVARIAN ARMY PILOT BADGE. This is a consignment item. It is a very fine
example of t
he Bavarian Army Pilot Badge. All states in Germany employed
Prussian Army Flight Badges (which boasted the Hohenzollern Crown at the top)
EXCEPT Bavaria. Bavaria displayed their Wittelsbach Crown instead, which is
quite different from the Hohenzollern. This makes Bavarian Flight Badges far
more scarce than their Prussian counterparts. The badges are identical in
appearance except for that crown. On the badge’s obverse a Rumpler Taube
flies over the countryside (its central theme). Framing that is a wreath
sporting laurel leaves on one side and oak leaves on the other. The obverse’s
detail is quite striking and crisp. The badge’s patina is not heavy
$1,095.00
(Click here for more images)
11-479
XBB BAVARIAN ARMY GUNNER BADGE - HALLMARKED SILBER - CARL PÖLLATH.
This is a consignment item. It is a Bavarian Army Gunner Badge. This badge was the last flight badge authorized for use during WW I. The
air war had developed so that two-seater airplanes were being used as ground
attack/troop support aircraft. Instead of an observer, a "gunner" was assigned
to the rear cockpit to man its machine gun (s). The badge was first used in
January 1918. What is particularly interesting is that it is a "cutout"
design, rather than the "solid" design more commonly seen for this badge. [In
some ways it mirrors the Bavarian Army Commemorative Pilot Badge, which also
sports a "cutout" design]. It has an elegant finish. The obverse is quite
striking. The badge’s obverse features a lustrous patina.
The reverse quickly shows it is a highly-desirable hollow two-piece example.
Directly below where the top of the badge’s pin swings down into place, a
small weephole reveals where the gases escaped when the badge’s two halves
were soldered together. The reverse displays hallmarking for the badge’s
manufacturer AND its silver content. It was produced by the well-known firm, Carl Pöllath. It is also hallmarked "Silber" in the Bavarian
manner. It is a gorgeous badge, in excellent condition. It is a plain-back
example.
I have one final piece of information to share with you. In my experience,
badges as finely-made as this were manufactured at some point AFTER WW
I had ended. The badge’s quality is extremely high. Silver was already scarce
in January 1918. It remained so through the war’s end in November 1918, and
for months afterwards. This is a fantastic badge. It just may not be a
wartime-production badge. $1,250.00
(Click here for more images)
11-423 XRB BAVARIAN ARMY PILOT’S BADGE STICKPIN.
This is a consignment piece. It is a high-quality stickpin with a miniature of
the Bavarian Army Pilot’s Badge. This piece has a magnificent patina. It is
unhallmarked for manufacturer or silver content. It sports a knurled pin.
These are far more difficult to find than Prussian Army Pilot’s Badge
Stickpins.
$250.00
(Click
here for more images)
Navy
11-490 XBB NAVY SEA PLANE PILOT BADGE.
This is a consignment item. It is a Navy Sea Plane Pilot Badge. The Navy had
two different pilot badges. One was for Sea Plane pilots and the other was
for Land Plane pilots. The primary difference is that the Sea Plane Pilot
Badge shows the island of Helgoland in the distance. The Land Plane Pilot
Badge shows a walled town on the water. As with all cases for naval flight
badges (with the exception of the Navy Commemorative Air Ship badge), the
finish is gilt rather than the silver finish that we see on Prussian and
Bavarian badges. The badge’s obverse shows excellent detail. The finish is
excellent, with just the right amount of patina. The badge has not been
cleaned in a long time.
The reverse reveals the badge is hallmarked for C. E. Juncker and for
.800 silver. Below the catch you can see the weephole that confirms
it is a two-piece badge. This style of construction is the highest quality
and the most sought-after by collectors.
$995.00
(Click here for more images)
11-493 XGB NAVY OBSERVER BADGE.
This is a
consignment item. It is a fine example of a Navy Observer Badge. Like all
Navy flight badges (except the Navy Commemorative Airship Badge), the badge
has a gilt exterior. As a matter of fact, its finish is a very
vibrant gilt. The obverse depicts an eagle with folded wings sitting on a
rock, looking out over the landscape. The clouds and the sun are in the
background. A wreath of oak and laurel leaves surrounds the scene. On the
reverse we see that the badge is a one-piece massive. It has been stamped
from a single metal planchet. It features a flat pin similar to what we see
on H. Scharper’s badges. That said, the badge is NOT
hallmarked for any manufacturer. $895.00
(Click here for more images)
11-440 PRINZENGROßE NAVY LAND PLANE PILOT
BADGE.
This is a Navy
Land Plane Pilot badge in prinzengroße
size. Prinzengroße flight badges are
seen on a scattered basis, but were highly favored by Naval aviators. It should
be stated that in Navy flight badges, the Land Plane variety is seen far less
frequently than the Seaplane variety. Our
example measures 2" x 1/8." It has a fine gilt finish. The reverse sports a
flat pin with hallmarking under it for Godet. The hallmarking style
indicates it is a post WW I example. It most likely hails from the 1920's. I
have seen very few Godet flight badges so between being a prinzengroße and
coming from the house of Godet. The quality of this example is
right up with any other Godet pieces I have ever seen.
$950.00
(Click here for more images)
11-421 NAVY
OBSERVER BADGE - PRINZENGROßE SIZE. This is a fascinating badge
for a Navy Observer. It has two features that make it interesting. First it
is prinzengroße-sized. While we do see a fair number of Navy Land
Plane Pilot’s Badges, we do not see the Navy Observer as often. The other
intriguing feature is that the badge is a cliche (stamped) variety.
This is very unusual! The badge boasts a fine swollen pin. The badge
measures 1 3/4" x 1." It is an unusual variation.
$595.00
(Click
here for more images)
11-391 NAVY LAND PILOT BADGE - PRINZENGROßE.
This is the prinzengroße version of the Navy Land Plane Pilot’s
Badge.
Prinzengroße flight badges are
seen on a scattered basis, but were highly favored by Naval aviators. It should
be stated that in Navy flight badges, the Land Plane variety is seen far less
frequently than the Seaplane variety.
Prinzengroße-sized flight badges are typically one-half to
two-third's the size of full-sized badges. This example measures 1 3/4" x 1
1/32." It has a fine gilt finish. It has excellent detailing on the obverse.
The reverse is unhallmarked for manufacturer or silver content. Yes, Navy
flight badges did come in a base metal or sometimes in .800 silver with a gilt finish over them!
$595.00
(Click
here for more images)
11-395
NAVY LAND PILOT BADGE STICKPIN. Navy flight badges were produced
in much smaller numbers than their Prussian Army counterparts. The Navy Land
Plane Pilot’s Badge was worn by aviators who flew in Navy (Marine)
Jastas. This is the stickpin for the Navy Land Plane Pilot’s Badge. It
has a fine burnished finish with very good detail. This is a difficult
stickpin to obtain.
$495.00
(Click
here for more images)
13-594
NAVY LAND PLANE PILOT’S BADGE RING.
Over the years I have offered numerous examples of a ring which featured the
Prussian Army Pilot Badge. These are delightful rings and which were generally
worn by pilots or possibly their sweetheart. They have always been very popular with collectors and when I
am lucky enough to find one I buy it immediately to be able to offer to you on
these pages. Today we have something that really excited me when I first saw
it. It is a ring for a Navy Land Plane Pilot! If you look at our Navy flight
badges you will see an example of this badge. One great difference that you
will see is that the badges are gilt toned while our ring is silver. There is
a fair amount of wear to the high points of the badge (wreath and crown) but
the interior detail can still be seen quite easily. The band on the ring is
massive and much larger than the Prussian Army Pilot Badge rings. There is a
cut out slot on each side between the actual band and the badge. Inside the
band we see that this is a VERY high quality ring as it is both manufacturer
hallmarked (SL) and .925 silver. This ring is a size 10 1/2. a very rare and
desirable ring.
$450.00
(Click here for more images)
Army & Navy Zeppelin & Misc. Zeppelin
11-495 XJB ARMY COMMEMORATIVE AIRSHIP BADGE
IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION CASE.
This is a consignment item. Today we are offering you something VERY
special. It is an Army Commemorative Airship Badge, (more commonly known as
the Army Zeppelin Badge). Two versions of Zeppelin Badges
existed, one for the Army and the other for the Navy. The badges were
identical except for one important detail. The naval version sported the
Hohenzollern Crown at its top, while the Army’s version did not. Both badges
were silver-toned. This is unusual for the Navy badge, as all other Navy
qualification badges were gilt-toned. [Please note: it is a
"Commemorative" badge. The badge was first authorized in 1920. In spite
of what some "experts" may claim, it was NEVER worn during WW I by either
the Navy or the Army. Some unofficial sleeve patches were worn during
the war, but a badge was never authorized]. All other flight
qualification badges (Prussian, Bavarian, and Navy) were designed as
vertical badges. The Army and Navy airship versions required a horizontal
design due to the zeppelin’s shape.
Our offering today displays a beautifully-toned exterior. The badge
measures 1 1/2" x 2 1/2." A wreath of oak and laurel leaves is tied at the top by a
ribbon. While most of the zeppelin’s body lies within the wreath,
small portions extend beyond the airship’s bow and stern. The reverse
features a fine swollen pin. A "CEJ" hallmark is incised underneath
the pin. This is for the noted firm and flight badge producer C. E.
Juncker. Juncker produced badges before WW I, and continued to
produce them up through WW II. This hallmark style is typical of the 1933-through-1936 period, following the
Third Reich’s ascension to power. It has no silver content hallmark. If you
look at the pin, you will see that part of the silver wash has disappeared.
A brass finish appears underneath. The badge’s patina shows some use and
honest age. Now the presentation’s "VERY special" part arrives, its case. Flight
qualification badge presentation cases are very rare. That said, neither the
seller (a very advanced aviation collector who has pieces in his collection
that museums do not) nor I have EVER seen another Zeppelin Badge
case. The case measures 3" x 3 3/4" x 1," and is covered in black leatherette.
Substantial scuffing shows on both its top and bottom. It is complete and
structurally solid, however. Inside the case the upper liner is blue silk.
(The case shows NO indication it was produced for Juncker. It is
possible it came from a Juncker Badge distributor and not directly
from them). The case’s lower half is lined with black velvet. A slot is cut
into the base wherein the badge’s pin fits comfortably. The badge’s overall fit into the case is as snug as a bug in a rug. The case
was clearly made for this badge. That, my dear readers, is why the badge and case are so special. In
recent months, I have seen cased Bavarian Pilot Badges in Europe that are
selling for nearly $3,000. Our badge is a marvelous value considering
its rarity. $3,495.00
(Click here for more images)
11-415 COMMEMORATIVE NAVY AIRSHIP BADGE - MINIATURE.
This is a miniature of the Commemorative Navy Airship Badge. The badge has
amazing detail for its size. It is in excellent condition.
$450.00
(Click
here for more images)
21-110 GILT COMMEMORATIVE NAVY AIRSHIP BADGE STICKPIN.
This
is a very high-quality miniature was mounted onto a pin.
This was then used by a veteran. This is gilt on silver. Its superiority and
attention to detail are quite striking for such a small item. As is correct
for a full-sized Commemorative Navy Airship Badge, it sports a Hohenzollern
Crown. This example is quite unusual due to its gilt finish. While all other
naval flight badges were gilt-toned, the Navy Commemorative Airship
Badge was silver like its Army counterpart. A half moon and crown, along
with the silver content (.800) are marked on the reverse. It is a
lovely miniature. $325.00
(Click
here for more images)
11-480
XBB COMMEMORATIVE NAVY AIRSHIP BADGE - STICKPIN.
This is a consignment
item. It is a very high-quality miniature mounted onto a pin. It was then used
by a veteran. It is silver-toned. It is very well made for such a small item.
As is correct for a full-sized Commemorative Navy Airship Badge, it sports a
Hohenzollern Crown. While all other naval flight badges were gilt-toned, the
Navy Commemorative Airship Badge was silver, like its Army counterpart. It is
a lovely miniature.
$325.00
(Click here for more images)
11-481
XBB COMMEMORATIVE ARMY AIRSHIP BADGE - STICKPIN.
This is a consignment
item. It is a very high-quality miniature mounted onto a pin. It was then used
by a veteran. It is silver-toned. It is very well made for such a small item.
As is correct for a full-sized Commemorative Army Airship Badge, it does
not sport a Hohenzollern Crown. It is a lovely miniature.
$325.00
(Click here for more images)
Austrian &
Central Power
Flight Badges
11-420 AUSTRIAN
NAVY PILOT’S BADGE 1st MODEL.
This
is a fine example of a 1st Model Navy Pilot’s Badge. What is
unusual about this badge is that it is prinzengroße-sized. The obverse
features an eagle or albatros in flight over a crowned anchor. It also
displays a two-color band of enamel. On the reverse we find that the badge is
a pinback. It has no manufacturer’s hallmarking. It is a fine badge.
$795.00
(Click
here for more images)
11-424 XRB FLIGHT BADGE - AVIATION SCHOOL COMPLETION -
AUSTRIA.
This is a consignment piece. Upon
completion of flight school, graduates were given a badge that was a prelude
to the Austrian Field Pilot’s Badge. The badge measures 2 1/2" x
2 1/4." It is silver
toned. It is a heavy, stamped badge and well-struck.
$350.00
(Click
here for more images)
Links
to Our Pages
| Der
Rittmeister Merchandise Pages: |
(Click
on Pictures or Words) |
Badges: Wound, Veterans', Shooting Prizes, etc. |
Bala's Bargain Bin: Sale and Discounted Items |
Boxes (Patriotic) & Cigarette Cases |
Bronzes, Busts & Figurines |
Colonial Memorabilia |
Desk Pieces and Accessories |
Documents Nr 1: Awards/Decorations Included |
Documents
Nr 2: Patents, etc. (Paper Only) |
Field Gear and Soldiers' Personal Effects |
Flags, Banners and Accessories |
Flight Qualification Badges (Imperial) |
Imperial German Air Service Nr 1:Artifacts,
Personality Items, Groupings, Shoulder Boards |
Imperial
German Air Service Nr 2:
Documents, Books, etc. |
Imperial German Headdress Nr 1: Pickelhauben |
Imperial German Headdress Nr 2: Busbies,
Mützen,Tschapkas, Visor Caps, etc. |
ImperiaI German Headdress Nr 3:
Reference Materials, Guides, Cd's and DvD's |
Imperial German Music on
CD |
Iron
Crosses & Related Materials |
Just In
from Germany: Newest Items!
ALL items start
here! |
Kyri's Kurio Korner:
More Sale and Discounted Items |
Medal Bars & Ribbon Bars |
Miniatures & Boutonnieres |
Navy,
(Imperial German): Documents, Swords &
Daggers, Badges, Cap Tallies, Books |
Orders & Decorations Nr 1: Four Major German Kingdoms
& Central Powers, Post War Items |
Orders & Decorations Nr 2:Grand Duchies,
Duchies,Free States, etc. |
Otto & Jürgen's Non-Imperial German Emporium |
Paper and Wood Artifacts:Books,Photos,Albums,
Maps, and Artworks (framed
paintings) |
Patriotic Domesticware Nr
1: Fine Tableware, Steins,
Glassware & Porcelain |
Patriotic
Domesticware Nr 2: Wooden, Metal, Cloth
& Embroidered Household Items |
Patriotic
Jewelry Nr 1: Rings, Bracelets, Pendants, etc. |
Patriotic
Jewelry Nr 2: Pins |
Postcards Nr
38:Imperial German Royalty & Nobility,
Central Powers Royalty & Nobility, and
Allied Powers Royalty & Nobility.
|
Postcards Nr 40:
Photo Albums, Original
Photographs, and Cartes Des Viste. |
Postcards Nr 42:Imperial
German Air Service and
All Aviation-Related. |
Postcards Nr 43:Imperial German Armed Service
and All Army-Related. |
Postcards Nr 44:Kaiserliche Marine and
All Navy-Related. |
Ranglistes:
Imperial German Army & Navy
and other Imperial German References on CD |
Royalty
& Nobility (Imperial German):Personality Items,
Swords & Daggers, Portraits, Memorabilia |
Shoulder Boards |
Signed Photos, Documents & Autographs of the
German Military, Nobility and Royalty |
Stickpins |
Swords
& Edged Weapons |
Table
Medals |
Uniforms & Related Accessories |
Vivat Ribbons |
Wooden
Display Products (Helmet & Visor Stands) |
Zeppelin & Balloon Memorabilia |
|
Der
Rittmeister Content Pages:
Click here
for our Home Page
Click for the Order Information Page 
Click here for Our Biography Page
Click here to Meet the late, great Jack Hunter