Pilot's badge

One more dubious-looking badge on eBay (from the same seller):

Does this pilot badge appear genuine?


Source: Internet auction

Yes it looks original.

The pilot's badge in my collection has a thin round pin on the back.
This doesn't mean, of course, that other models don't exist.

Gen. Dénes

Dénes, can you post images of your badge (for reference). Thanks.

As per your request, Carol, I scanned the front and rear sides of the ARR pilot's and observer's badges I have in my private collection.

Gen. Dénes





This post has been edited by Dénes on October 12, 2005 10:58 pm

Thank you very much, Dénes. They are quite interesting as reference images for genuine badges.

Do the two badges appear to be engraved "HORIA AGARICI"? Is there any story behind the engravings?

I bought the pair of badges from a trusted person, who is unfortunately a bit secretive. He wouldn't reveal the original owner, so I have no further information. Interestingly, however, alongside these two badges I purchased two decorations as well, both shown on the photos I have of Lt. av. Horia Agarici...

Gen. Dénes

Thanks Dénes. So, unless it all is a long chain of coincidences, there is a good chance that the badges had belonged to the Horia Agarici.

Was he _both_ a pilot AND an observer...?



Hmmm...

Pardon my ignorance, what's the difference between the brass and the silver pilot badges? Is the brass one simply a medal which has lost its silvered gilt?

Best, and merry Xmas.

Manuel

This post has been edited by iravedra on December 13, 2009 12:53 am

Nothing unusual. There are cases, seen on photos, when an airman wears both the pilot's and the observer's badge.

Gen. Dénes

Thanks, in the USAF you use either one or the other.

Any info on my question regarding the brass badge?

One of my patients in Ohio gave me a dagger and a pilot's badge. He told me he had been a "nigger", (he was small, european and blue eyed!) in the (Rumanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian?) AF during WWII, a mechanic. But that he had served in both the Army and Air Force. That while he was servicing his fighter, he found beneath the seat a badge, lost by its owner long time before, and that he was allowed to keep it. I believe the pilot himself told him that.

He also said he eventually became a pilot and flew the Bf-109. That they called it "the mule" because it was very exacting to steer on the ground and to fly, but that once you got the hang of it, nobody ever wanted to fly any other plane. He also told me had met Spanish pilots that flew the Bf-109.

All this started when he saw a calendar I had in my cubicle at the clinic, showing a picture of a Bf-109. I have had a fatal attraction to the 109 ever since I can remember, that is, since I was 4 or 5 years old. I don't know how to explain it.

I found his gift recently, between other knick-knacks of that period, and started checking the items out, it seems the dagger is a small. childlike M1930, and the badge is as described., so I guess he was Rumanian.


Best, and merry Xmas.

M

WW2 Romanian pilot badges were all silvered brass made.

Merry X-mas

You are right. The badge is silvery on its obverse, and it also has some letters scratched like the other two in this thread: LTDENCIU. Its beaten up, obviously having seen better days, and little remains of the shield colors.
The shiny brass looks appealing, though. Makes for a nice decoration.
Best

Manuel