Cased JMME Pilot Badge

Product Description: This cased JMME Pilot Badge is a very nice set. The badge is virtually pristine, and an entirely textbook piece, made by Juncker and of Juncker parts. Both the eagle and wreath are the type known to collectors as the “J2” style. It’s a very appealing badge, with a great look, and no evident wear. The burnished eagle retains all of the original burnished finish, with sharp and exquisite details. The wreath retains nearly all of the original electroplating, with nice burnishing remaining in areas, and only a very mild, pleasant patina. The reverse of this badge has textbook hardware, and is marked behind the eagle with “JMME.” There is no sign of cleaning or repair. This lovely badge is housed in a correct case, which is fully functional, and shows only very minimal handling wear, with minor scuffs. The designation of the badge is embossed on the lid, and the blue exterior shows great color. The inside of this very nice case shows slight age, and displays the badge beautifully. This is a choice example of a cased JMME Pilot Badge, that remains in outstanding, near mint condition. It would be hard to upgrade.

Historical Description: The Luftwaffe Pilot Badge was instituted by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring on August 12, 1935. It was among the earliest badges introduced in the German Wehrmacht and was worn by all qualified pilots in the German Air Force, similar to the “wings” worn by some other armies. The design of the badge featured a large, swooping eagle clutching the German national swastika emblem, surrounded by a wreath of oak and laurel leaves. The badge was normally presented in a blue hinged case. It was worn on the upper left uniform pocket, and a cloth version was also authorized for field use. In the nearly ten years from the introduction of this badge, to the end of WWII, the manufacturers of these awards made many changes in the features of the designs. Some companies, like Juncker, Assmann, and Deumer, had early first pattern badges which looked completely different from later pieces by the same manufacturers. Pilot badges were made of aluminum, nickel silver, plated Tombak, and zinc. The eagle was always a separate piece, riveted to the wreath, with different manufacturers using different rivet designs. As the war progressed, and dies wore out, many makers produced badges with subtle changes. All of these changes, over time, opened up a large spectrum of variation collecting for Luftwaffe badge collectors.

We are the leading team of military antique specialists. We have specialized in military antiques for over 25 years.

Epic Artifacts offers free evaluations and the highest prices available for your collectibles.

We purchase single items, entire collections, or family estates.

Feel free to email us directly: info@epicartifacts.com