Germany, Luftwaffe. A Pilot’s Badge, Late-War and Field-Repaired Example GTRexclude was bestowed posthumously

was bestowed posthumously

His two brothers were later to follow in his footsteps

which is likely the reason the inner felt liner was removed to conserve the document itself

April 1944)

Germany, Luftwaffe. A Pilot’s Badge, Late-War and Field-Repaired Example GTRexclude was bestowed posthumously(Flugzeugfhrerabzeichen). Constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel and oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, overlaid by a swooping Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, the revere with one original rivet securing the eagle in position, with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from circular plate, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture