Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII early Tombak Luftwaffe Pilot Badge, or Flugzeugführerabzeichen, manufactured by Brüder Schneider A.G. of Vienna. It features the maker’s distinctive delicate eagle and wreath design, a two-rivet assembly, a non-magnetic vertical pin, long barrel hinge, bent wire catch, and the full BRÜDER SCHNEIDER WIEN marking on the reverse of the eagle.

The badge appears to be of early wartime Tombak alloy construction. The separately applied swooping eagle is secured to the wreath by the usual two rivets and retains a dark burnished or blackened finish.

The eagle has the compact, somewhat squat profile associated with Brüder Schneider production. Its proportions, lighter construction, and finely detailed execution give the badge the delicate Austrian appearance often noted on Vienna-made examples.

The surrounding wreath retains an excellent silver colored finish. Light wear is visible along the edges and raised details, but the overall finish remains very well preserved. The eagle also retains much of its original darkened finish, particularly on the reverse. The contrast between the blackened eagle and silvered wreath remains especially attractive. The reverse of the eagle is marked:

BRÜDER SCHNEIDER WIEN

This full-length marking was used by Brüder Schneider A.G. of Vienna. The company also used a separate BSW trademark within a clover-shaped device on some badges.

The reverse is fitted with a non-magnetic vertical pin, a long barrel hinge, and a bent wire catch. This hardware configuration is characteristic of badges attributed to Brüder Schneider. The attachment system remains complete and functional.

Overall condition is very good to excellent. The badge shows only light evidence of wear, with the original finishes retained to a particularly high degree on both the eagle and wreath.

With its early Tombak construction, full BRÜDER SCHNEIDER WIEN maker mark, delicate squat eagle, strongly retained burnished finish, bright silvered wreath, two-rivet assembly, and distinctive long barrel hinge, this is an especially attractive example of a Luftwaffe Pilot Badge by a desirable Vienna maker. The light wear to the edges and raised areas is fully disclosed. It would display particularly well in a Luftwaffe qualification badge, Brüder Schneider, Vienna-made insignia, early Tombak award, or advanced WWII aviation collection.

The Luftwaffe Aviator / Pilot Badge (Flugzeugführerabzeichen or Pilotenabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe service personnel who completed flight training, receiving their flying license and citation. It was instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring. It came in distinct types; nickel silver (changed to zinc during the war) and a variant made of gold. It depicts a silver eagle (Silberner Adler) perched atop a swas (hook cross), wings open in a landing pose, and surrounded by a wreath with laurel (Lorbeer) on the right side and oak leaf (Eichenlaub) branches on the left side, respectively. It was worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, underneath the Iron Cross 1st Class if awarded.

The design is two part, with the eagle attached to the wreath by two rivets. The badge can be distinguished from the very similar Pilot/Observer Badge by the wreath; the Pilot's Badge has a silver wreath, while the Pilot/Observer badge has a gold wreath.