Luftwaffe Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge

Instituted on. 22nd June 1942

Rarity – Scarce
Known Makers.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Semi segmented Swastika - Obverse.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Solid Swastika - Obverse.

This badge was instituted on the 22nd June 1942 and was constructed as an oval metal badge, which was slightly convex, and which was silver plated, and comprised the right half of laurel leaves and the left of oak leaves.  In the centre of the wreath, at the bottom, was a Swastika.  This is found in three forms of Swastika cut-out, that is to say;

"a" Fully segmented

"b" Semi segmented     
"c" Unsegmented

The early, or first version, which we could nominate as type "a" has a fully segmented Swastika.  The second, which can be nominated "b" a semi segmented Swastika, and the last version to be nominated "c" being a totally unsegmented Swastika.  These three types hold true for all the badges, which were of this wreath design.

In the centre of the wreath is an eagle in flight.  The eagle is flying from right to left of the badge, in a downward direction.  The projecting areas of the badge are highly polished and the reverse is flat, with a vertical pin the eagle being held on to the wreath by two rivets, one coming from each wing tip.  Again, the changes through a, b and c change with the period of construction.  The badge initially was found in nickel silver, or aluminium and later in monkey or pot metal.

A cloth version of the badge was instituted for officers in silver bullion and for N.C.O.'s in cotton thread in colours to correspond to those found in the metal badge.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Cloth - Blue Grey backing - Obverse.

The qualification criteria for the badge were the same as for Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge and it was awarded with a Citation and flying book, in a blue box with blue silk lining and blue velvet base.  The name again was stencilled on to the lid of the box in silver block capitals.