Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a lovely example of the German WWII Observer's Badge (Beobachterabzeichen), manufactured in the early war tombak alloy with the correct "oxidized" central eagle. The plating and oxidized coating are very well retained, without the usual patination and wear that we see. The back is maker marked P. MEYBAUER / BERLIN on the the eagle, and it really is in great shape. It still retains the original pinback with catch, and the attached eagle is held in place securely by two rivets.

Offered in excellent condition, with a great lightly aged patina!

The German WWII Observer's Badge (Beobachterabzeichen) was a German military decoration that was awarded before and during World War II to members of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). They qualified for the badge after completing two months of qualifying service and five operational flights in the role of observer, navigator or bombardier; also, it could be awarded after a member of the German Air Force was wounded while acting in the capacity of an observer during a qualifying flight. It was worn on the left breast tunic pocket of an air force or political uniform tunic. A citation was issued with the awarded badge. Thereafter, Luftwaffe service personnel who had already been awarded the Pilot's Badge and Observer's Badge could qualify for the Pilot/Observer Badge. After 31 July 1944 the regulations were changed and the recipient had to have held both qualification certificates for at least one year to qualify for the Pilot/Observer Badge.

The badge was approved in November 1935 and first issued on 26 March 1936. It was made by C. E. Juncker, P. Meybauer and several others. The badge was oval in shape and had a silver-plated oakleaf wreath around the outside. The middle of the wreath had an "oxidized" national eagle "in a watching attitude", clutching a NSDAP swas in the middle of the outside wreath.