It's a been bit quiet here, so let me share with you a small 'bauble' that I recently added to my collection of WW1 medals, orders and badges:



It's an Austrian type 1913 field pilot's badge. This type of badge was the first official pilot's badge adopted by the Austro-Hungarian air force in 1913. It bears the cypher of Kaiser Franz Joseph I on a shield. The badge (and its variants with certain differences in design) was awarded until the death of the old emperor in late 1916 necessitated a change in design, which was adopted in early 1917 and bears the cypher of Kaiser Karl I, the last Habsburg emperor.

The badge is relatively rare, as the Austro-Hungarian air force always had fewer pilots than Germany. However, quite a few examples were also awarded to non-Austro-Hungarian aviators as a sign of recognition. Many famous German aces were such recipients.

The badge in my collection has suffered some small damage to the enamel and the cross of the crown on top of the wreath is slightly bent, but otherwise it's in excellent condition. I'm quite happy with this acquisition, especially because I think that this particular design is the most beautiful of all WW1 pilot badges.

This is a forum dedicated to WW1 aviation, so I thought it appropriate to share this bauble with all the like-minded people here.

Beautiful, Hasse! I've never seen this one before. You have a wonderful collection.

Beautiful!
Would not have noticed any flaws if you hadn't mentioned them.

I agree with the previous posters. It is an excellent quality award and in the hands of one who appreciates it!

Thanks gents! My collection keeps growing but is still very modest compared to what the real pros have. But it's never all about owning certain items; the background research and reading is equally fun, at least to me!

It's also always interesting to think about who may have been the original owner of a gong (sadly it's known only rarely in most cases) and what kind of a story is connected to the item. You do get a feeling of a special connection to the events of the past through these baubles. If only they could speak, what stories they could tell!

Hasse, compared to this badge, all others I know are looking simple or dull.
I know, that every medal can be happy, if it comes to you, or to RAF_Louvert -
because you both have a real deep interest in the meaning and the stories
behind these items - congratulations for this purchase!

Wow... where the heck do you two guys find these things!?!

That's a beautiful piece and surely has to be an honor to own it.

Great find!

OvS

We have our sources.



Thanks! However, I like to think that the honour belonged to the person who actually earned the badge. It was no small feat in those dangerous days of early aviation, and in wartime to boot! I'm just making sure the badge is well taken care of and later passed on to future generations, preferably in the same condition that it came into my possession.

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Hasse, all I can do is repeat what has already been said about this badge - beautiful. It has found a perfect home in your collection Sir. And I agree with you about the honour belonging to its original recipient. For we collectors, to have temporary custodianship of such treasures, it is a privilege.

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