German WWII Cased Pilot’s Badge by BSW-This is a handsome example with a mostly intact finish on the wreath and shows spectacular detail. It is a zinc example. There is a verdigris to the zinc eagle that gives this an interesting blue/green hue that actually looks quite interesting against the blue flocking in the case. It looks nice against the gold of the wreath. This badge is very nicely marked on the back with the BSW logo for Bruder Schneider A.G. The hardware consists of a needle pin, barrel hinge and round wire catch. The case is in very good condition. The outside shows only light wear, and the inside blue silk under the lid, and the bottom blue velvet is very clean and also damage free. The clasp works as intended. A super example!
History: The badge was officially adopted by the Luftwaffe on March 26th, 1936, by order of Hermann Göring. The Pilot’s Badge was awarded on an individual basis to personnel who had successfully completed the appropriate theory and flight training and had achieved their pilot's license. As with other flyer’s specialty badges, a cloth version of the Pilot’s Badge was authorized for wear on the flight blouse, with a machine embroidered pattern for EM/NCOs and a hand embroidered pattern for Officers. The two-piece badge is in the form of a vertically oval wreath with a separate burnished silver finished, stylized, spread winged eagle in flight, clutching a swastika mounted on the wreath. The eagle is attached to the wreath by two small dome headed rivets which are visible to the reverse. The vertically oval wreath features embossed laurel leaves to the left side and oak-leaves to the right side.