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WWII GERMAN BADGE - LUFTWAFFE UNQUALIFIED AIR GUNNER -
This is a WWII Luftwaffe Un-qualified Air Gunner badge. Instituted on June 1942. This badge
was issued to individuals who participated in at least 10 missions under the role of Air Gunner.
Note that individuals who received this award were not officially trained as air gunners.
The official air gunner badge was given to individuals who went to school for
that role. The badge was essentially the same but the metal construction was reversed.
The unqualified gunner badge was issued to individuals in recognition of their field experience.
The design of the badge consists of an oval shape structure. One half of the oval is adorned with
oakleaves while the other is a wreath. A swastika is placed at the bottomn of the oval.
An eagle in attack position is placed secured as a second piece to the oval. The quality of
construction
for the eagle is excellent. Great detail to the feathers and head. The eagle is attached to
the oval via the use of two rivets.
A vertical pin is provided to allow the
badge to be affixed to the tunic.
The pin is hinged at the top. A catch is provided at the opposite end to secure it shut.
The badge would be affixed to the uniform by running the pin through a series of loops (two or more)
sewn to the jacket.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
badges in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The following are the qualifications required to earn the Luftwaffe Air Gunner badge.
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The manufacturer's
logo
has been stamped on the back of the eagle. It is important to note that not all badges were marked.
Note the shape of the rivets securing the eagle to the body of the badge. They have a "domed" appearance.
This is one of the parts that reproductions tend not to get correctly.
This award is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality
of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style
and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in
order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.
If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our
WWII German Badges and Awards
identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and
Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.
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