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Luftwaffe (Pokal) Group to a Naval\Combat Pilot (Battle of Britain) (Item LUFT 17-1) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is one of the best groupings we have ever had. It is in (silver) not Alpaka and is by the Great silver-smith Joh. Wagner & Sohn and is to a combat flyer not a ground technician or any non-combative role. This man was a Matrosen commercial (sailor) and later joined the Kriegsmarine. Then he joined the Luftwaffe and was decorated for his bombing missions in the Blitzkreig over England. We have his medals and Nuremberg documents chronicling his career in the Luftwaffe to include the award document for the “Ehrenpokal” the award goblet so earnestly sought after by the brave young “eagles” of the German Air Force. The mans’ name and rank is Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Falk. The goblet is in beautiful undented condition and the Wagner & Sohn making is accompanied with the moon, crown, 835 silver mark, and the eagle. At the bottom lip it says ‘Fur Besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg’ (For outstanding achievement in the air war). Above this is the hand engraved name of the recipient, in this case (Oberfeldwebel) Wilhelm Falk AM 18/3/42. Above the name is a band about an inch wide with a continuing strand of beautiful oak leaves. The central design of the goblet is a pair of fighting eagles and on the back the 1939 1st class iron cross. It was required of the airman receiving this award that he would already have won the iron cross 1st class. The award was instituted by Hermann Goring on Feb 27 1939 and it was an idea revived from the First World War when goblets were awarded to the illustrious pilots of that earlier conflict in the air. Goring actually personally awarded a large number of these goblets to the recipients In this case; the pokal was awarded posthumously since the Oberfeldwebel was already deceased due to an accidental airplane crash. This goblet is of course the most important price of the group but we also have the following important pieces that had belonged to him or were items of documentation concerning the life and death of this brave pilot.
You count the pictures at No. 12. This adds 15 more pieces making a total of more than 50 important items that comprise this prodigiously important group. The packet of pictures that we mentioned contains some very important views of the life of this brave young flyer every one of them shows him in Luftwaffe uniform or earlier ones showing him as a sailor on the Battle Cruiser Schliesen back in the 30’s. One of the pictures has the legend hand written on the back Andenken Sommer 1932 and he is shown wearing a Reichsmarine uniform. One picture is shown with him posing in sun glasses and swim suit with six comrades at the beach. Some great pictures of him and comrades also in 1932 dressed in their early flyer uniforms and a great picture taken after 1935 of him in Luftwaffe uniform with officers at a beer drinking event. Well, he was German wasn’t he?
The Papers. documents and letters that are important to the Falk grouping 1. The Letter envelope that contains:
A death notice for Oberfeldwebel combat flyer Falk, he died in a Berlin air crash July 16 1942.
He was taken from the hospital where he passed away and was buried with full honors at Nuremberg where he was born. PRICE: $12,500.00 (Traded - no longer available) |
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Paratrooper (“Fallshirmjager”) Cloth Award Patch (Item LUFT 17-2) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is one of the scarcer of the cloth patches of the German armed forces (Wehrmacht). Actually it is the actual award in cloth for wear on the combat uniform. They are scarce when “real” and this one is most assuredly “real.” Measures 2 ½ inches high by 2 inches wide. It bears the Luftwaffe eagle in a dive while surrounded by an oak leaf border. Nice condition but you can see its age (nice age!) getting very scarce for sure. PRICE: SOLD |
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Observers Badge of the Luftwaffe (Air Force) (Item LUFT 17-3) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is an extra fine example of the Beobachterabzeichen in beautiful mint condition. While the observers badge was not instituted until 26 March 1936 a great deal of preparation went into the eventual authorization of the award. An order published by the Reichsminister Der Luftfahrt on 27 November 1935 described the exact specifications for the badge. These specifications can be found on page 177 of John Angolia’s book “Fur Fuhrer und Fatherland”. The badge was awarded upon completion of two months qualifying service or after five operational flights in the capacity of an observer, navigator or bombardiers. The last known bestowal of the observers badge was made on 2 May 1944. The one we offer is of the early heavy construction and is a real jewel! It was struck by the Assmann firm and is so marked. Its detail is positively exemplary. We have never seen one this good in many years. You will be proud to add this to the finest collection. |
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Spanish Cross without Swords (Item LUFT 17-4) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is the medal of the Condor Legion of Spanish Civil War fame. It is the neatest looking medal of the Third Reich. We recently sold another one in the silver coloration. This one is in excellent plus condition. The detail is in a word (superlative)… a real beauty! It is an issue and has no company marking.
The eagles are beautifully presented with clearly cut out swastikas. The hour glass retaining pin is proper and the hinge arrangement is intact and tight. Just a beautiful example of this great badge. PRICE: SOLD |
Luftwaffe Silvered Large Medallion for Outstanding
Achievements in Technics “Medallie” fur Ausgezeichnete Leistungen Im Technischen Dienst Der Luftwaffe (Item LUFT 17-5 & GOR 10-6) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is the non-portable award that was given under the auspices of Hermann Goring's Reichsmarshal who was the Supreme Commander of the German air force.(Luftwaffe). It was given for special achievement in the field of air technology. It is 75 mm in size or 3 inches in diameter. It has the bust portrait of Hermann Goring on its obverse with the words "Der Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe" ( The Supreme Order giver of the Air Force). The reverse has the eagle peculiar to the Luftwaffe and the words seen at the top of this narrative concerning the awards purpose.
The medallion is in good shape and is considered quite rare. PRICE: $495.00 |
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A Pilot's Badge 1935- 1936 (Variation) Extremely Rare (Item LUFT 17-6) |
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DESCRIPTION: In the book “Combat Medals of the Third Reich” the author, Christopher Ailsby, says while the reason for this variation is unknown, he has a theory for its possible use but unfortunately he does not venture forth with his theory. Our own theories are two in number. It well could have been a prototype produced by one manufacturer and possibly the design was not accepted by the Luftwaffe. Another rejected by Ailsby is that due to the fact that it is so seldom seen it could have been for special Luftwaffe service; for instance, to give instant recognition to Luftwaffe pilots who were trained and came into service as Jet pilots and flew the Messerschmitt 262??? The badge is as described by Ailsby in his book. He says that all the examples that he has seen follow the construction that he has outlined and he assumes (rightfully) that his gives the assumption at least that they were all produced by the same manufacturer. The big difference in this badge, beyond the fact that it is round rather than oval, lies in the fact that it has a wreath that is ‘dished’ in the rear unlike the more standard pilot badges, plus the eagle is generally smaller overall. In the many years we have seen only three of these badges compared with the hundreds of the standard ones we have encountered. A real rarity in beautiful condition, unnamed as all of these badges are. The wreath diameter is 1 ½", the wing span is 2 ¼" long. A great addition to a serious collection. PRICE: SOLD |
Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge (Cased) (Item LUFT 17-8) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is a brilliant example of the ‘Luftwaffe Flugzeug Fuhrer Abzeichen’ or German Air Force Qualification Badge. The original institution for this badge came on 27 May 1935 although the badge was not brought into being by Hermann Goring until 12 August 1935. It was an oval, slightly convex silver plated wreath, the right half laurel and the left half oak leaves. The wreath had mounted on it an eagle in flight, oxidized and silver plated, clutching a swastika on its claws. The eagle is riveted to the wreath on each side. The badge was awarded on completion of flight training and when the pilot received his flying license and citation. The badge was issued in a case (included here) with the badge designation stenciled in gold block letters on its lid. The case that is with this badge is intact and in good shape but the letters are the worse for wear. The badge is in very good condition with the original oxidation intact. The feather detailing is wonderful with every feather of the eagle highly visible. A superior WWII badge that belongs in a fine collection. PRICE: SOLD |
Page Seventeen |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.