Luftwaffe Pilot's badge(Luftwaffen Flugzeugführerabzeichen).
Maker marked Brüder Schneider Wien.
This is an early badge, the later badges were marked with BSW inside a clover.
Excellent looking badge in tombak/buntmetal(both eagle and wreath).
Difficult to take photos that show the true beauty of this badge.
Eagle is blued as they should be, the wreath is very nice with a lot of the original frosting remaining
Working needle and catch.
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HISTORY:
The pilot’s qualification badge was originally introduced on January 19TH 1935 for award to personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband Fliegerschaft, (German Air Sports Association, Pilot Base), the clandestine, civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, (Air-{Weapon}, Force), who had achieved their pilot’s licence. The badge was officially adopted by the Luftwaffe on March 26TH 1936, by order of Hermann Göring. The pilot’s badge was awarded on an individual basis to personnel who had successfully completed the appropriate theory and flight training and had achieved their military pilot’s licence. As with other flyer’s specialty badges a cloth version of the pilot’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 pilot’s badge was only authorized for wear by Officers ranks until regulations of November 18TH 1937 extended the authorized wear of the cloth versions to EM/NCO’s. Further regulations of May 8TH 1942 discontinued production of the cloth versions although they continued to worn through-out the war.
