Prussian Air Gunner Badge

The Air Gunner Badge is probably the hardest of the Imperial Flight Badges to find. Instituted in 1918, it was only awarded for a few, brief months before the war ended. The issue Prussian Badge was multi-part construction and made by Juncker in Berlin. 3-pieces of silvered, stamped tin were used. One piece for the wreath, a backing plate and the bird/target itself. The whole affair was held together with rivets. Exceptionally hard to find and heavily reproduced.... here's an example of an authentic badge. These were issued in plain, paper envelopes, with no title or maker marks on the packet. The official issue badge was stamped for Juncker.




The Private-Purchase Silver Badge... is even rarer. I've had exactly 3 issue (stamped) badges over the years, exactly one authentic Bavarian Air Gunner and only one Prussian Private Purchase Badge in silver. While not maker-marked, this badge exhibits all the die characteristics and quality of a Juncker, Pre-1920 badge. 2-part silver construction for the wreath with a 3rd piece for the bird/target. Note that the crescent and 800 stamp are consistent with 800 (Juncker) marked badges. Also note the identical rivets/rivet pattern on this badge with the previously shown stamped example, marked for Juncker. The catch is repaired, but this is a badge I don't expect I will see again anytime soon!

Here's another example of the issue badge, identical to the first one I posted.


Here's an example sold by Detlev Niemann, in Hamburg, Germany. Again note the characteristics as compared to the previous badges, including the silver one. This one passed through my hands but is now in a Private Collection in California.

[Rick]

Stogieman,

Vzfw. Unvericht was a member of Schusta 7 from at least March 1917. On the 16th of that month, he, along with his pilot, Vzfw. Weber obtained their first, and as far as I can determine, only victory, an FE 2b over Arras-Neuville. Thanks for the correct spelling of his last name. Do you have any idea what his first name was?? R.

..... I only had the one pay document, nothing else. Never researched the fellow as at that rank, it would have been impossible to trace him through the usual sources.

Here's an additional example of the stamped issue badge. Everything about this badge is identical to the previous postings, except that the cross atop the crown has been very neatly filed away! No one knows for sure, but a number of rumors float as to why this was down to some badges.




One rumor is that the cross was filed off in protest of the Kaiser's abdication of the throne. Just as some military personnel turned their EK2's around, or had their swords mounted upside down on some awards.
As with so many other details, I'm afraid the correct answer has been lost to time, with only our speculation and educated guesses to puzzle over remaining....

Stogieman-
Very nice examples of badges! Thank you for taking the time to share the photos and your observations with us! My collection of WW1 badges and decorations lacks any original award docs. Any recommendations for dealers who turn these up? I have seen some on Der Rittmeister.... HF

... I'm sure Ken Greenfield gets them from time to time. Detlev Niemann has had one a couple of times this past year or so. Do't recall seeing one anywhere else though.

Roger that and I'll keep my eyes open! HF

[Soderbaum]

Hello

Do someone knew the rules for converting your gunnery badge to an observer badge...?

Did the "new" observer badge receive the original issue date as the gunnery badge had...?


Gunnar

I know for the pilot Badge a certain number of flights had to be completed. It was not an automatic award upon completion of flight school. I did not know that air gunners could be "upgraded" to Observers... The Air Gunner Badge wasn't even instituted until 1918, very late in the war... I've never seen any specs or statutes pertaining to any of the badges for flight, as opposed to the statutes that you can find for other medals.