Reproduction of the Luftwaffe Observer badge.
Made of old silver metal, with riveted eagle.
Dimensions 5,3 x 4,2 (eagle 5,5) cm
High-quality craftsmanship.
Made in the Philippines.
Registered postage included.
The Observer Badge (in German, Beobachterabzeichen) is a German military decoration of the Third Reich, introduced on January 19, 1935 by Luftwaffe Commander-in-Chief Hermann Göring, and awarded to members under certain conditions.
To qualify for the observer's badge, personnel had to meet one of the following conditions:
- Two months' on-board observer training
- Five operational flights as a navigator or bomber spotter
- Injury during an operational flight as a navigator or bomber spotter.
The badge was made in nickel or silver-plated tombac, later in alloy or zinc. A few early models were made in aluminum before the shortage of raw materials.
Oval in shape, 53 mm high, 42 mm wide and 2.5 mm thick, the badge depicts an eagle in 3/4 orientation, with its head to the right and its wings outstretched (due to the 3/4 view of the eagle, the feathers of the left wing are practically invisible), holding in its talons a Swastika (swastika) resting on its lower part on the inside of a wreath composed of a half-wreath of oak leaves on the right and a half-wreath of laurels on the left.
There is also a version embroidered on fabric in the color of Luftwaffe clothing: blue-gray with rank distinction. For officers, the crown is in silver thread, the eagle in oxidized silver thread and the swastika in aluminum thread. For lower ranks, the badge is made of grey wire.
The insignia is worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, under the Iron Cross 1st Class if the latter is awarded.
