Pilot's Badge, hollow-embossed version by C.E. Juncker, lightly worn. Accompanied by an original presentation case, inside lid with manufacturer's designation “C.E. Juncker Alte Jacobstr. 13, Berlin S.W.”.
Also included is the large award certificate for the “Badge for Military Aircraft Pilot,” landscape format, issued as Gefreiter with Fl. Abt. A. 248, awarded “In the Field, September 7, 1917,” stamped and signed “Haehnelt - Kommandeur der Flieger der 1. Armee.” Folded, condition 2.
Pilot's Badge, manufactured by Paul Meybauer Berlin. Silver-plated non-ferrous metal, hollow construction, two ventilation holes on reverse, with very fine engraving “FlugzeugfÃ¼hrer Uffz. Meyer 9.9.17.” Meyer was apparently promoted to Unteroffizier only 2 days after the award of the Pilot's Badge.
Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class with ribbon and Wound Badge in Black. Four photographs have contemporary inscriptions on reverse, photocopies of the reverses included.
Six large photographs of Meyer among his comrades, standing before his aircraft, his aircraft with marking “67,” at the field airfield in front of the “Propeller Schenke” (the squadron's pilots' tavern), one photograph of the decorated military grave for several soldiers where Meyer was buried (his name not yet inscribed on the cross).
The newspaper clipping of the death notice dated Hannover, August 20, 1918, regarding the death of Kurt Meyer on November 22, 1917, and his brother Leutnant Hubert Meyer on August 15, 1918. Encased in plastic sleeve for protection.
The Meyer family had a hinged presentation case made for the fallen Kurt Meyer, dimensions when closed 45 x 50 cm, opened 103 x 50 cm. The decorations and certificate are placed in compartments and removable. The six large photographs are located in the closure flaps left and right and can be pulled upward.
The estate of a brave young Unteroffizier who was killed in action as a pilot after only 2 months at the front.

502602

German Empire World War I Aviation: Large Estate from the Possession of Pilot Unteroffizier Kurt Meyer, Flieger-Abteilung 248 (Artillery), Killed in Action November 22, 1917

The Militär-Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen (Prussian Military Pilot's Badge), also known as the Flugzeugführerabzeichen, represents the first official qualification insignia for military pilots in the Kingdom of Prussia. Kaiser Wilhelm II, King of Prussia and German Emperor, instituted this badge on 27 January 1913 in conjunction with his birthday. The award marked a significant milestone in the standardization of military aviation certification in the period immediately before World War I.

The badge displays a distinctive oval design featuring a Rumpler Taube monoplane, the first aircraft used by the German Army, flying over a hilly pastoral landscape with buildings. This central motif is surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves on the right and laurel leaves on the left, joined at the base by a ribbon bow. The Imperial Prussian crown sits at the top of the composition. Standard dimensions measure approximately 71-72 mm in height by 43-46 mm in width.

Manufacturing occurred in various forms and by several renowned Berlin firms. The firm C.E. Juncker (Alte Jacobstr. 13, Berlin S.W.) was particularly prestigious and described as “the Tiffany and Company of German badge production.” Another significant manufacturer was Paul Meybauer of Berlin. The badges were produced in different construction types: hollow embossed examples in silver (commonly 800 silver or 925 silver), silver-plated non-silver alloys such as brass or tombak, and solid one-piece massive versions. The reverse sides typically bore manufacturer markings and silver content marks. Hollow construction pieces characteristically included ventilation holes, and attachment was accomplished through a barrel hinge with round wire catch.

Award criteria were precisely defined: the badge was granted to officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men who successfully completed pilot training at approved military flying schools and passed two mandatory practical flight examinations. These comprised first an unassisted takeoff and landing, and second a long-distance or cross-country flight. Training included ground school, approximately 40-50 flight hours, and demonstration of various maneuvers. Recipients received a certificate of competency as military pilot (Befähigungszeugnis als Militär-Flugzeugführer) issued by the Inspectorate of Military Aviation and Motor Transport (Inspektion des Militär-Luft- und Kraftfahrtwesens). During World War I, criteria evolved to require some actual combat flying experience. The badge was worn on the left breast pocket, below the Iron Cross 1st Class, and all pilots regardless of rank were eligible.

The Imperial German Air Service (Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte, known as Die Fliegertruppen before October 1916) evolved rapidly during World War I from reconnaissance and artillery spotting roles to include fighter, bomber, and ground-attack operations. Units included Feldflieger Abteilungen (field flier detachments), later reorganized into specialized Flieger-Abteilungen for reconnaissance, Flieger-Abteilungen (Artillerie) for artillery cooperation, and Jagdstaffeln as fighter squadrons.

Among the most famous wearers of this badge were legendary fighter pilots including Manfred von Richthofen (the “Red Baron” with 80 victories), Ernst Udet (62 victories), Erich Löwenhardt, Werner Voss, Max Immelmann, Oswald Boelcke, and Hermann Göring. Approximately 391 German pilots were credited with five or more victories, while German aircrew casualties during World War I totaled 4,579 killed and 1,372 missing or taken prisoner.

The badge documented in this estate belonged to Unteroffizier Kurt Meyer of Flieger-Abteilung 248 (Artillerie), an artillery observation unit attached to the 1st Army. Meyer was awarded the badge on 7 September 1917 as Gefreiter, promoted to Unteroffizier two days later on 9 September 1917, and killed in action on 22 November 1917 after only two months at the front. The certificate in the estate bears the signature of Haehnelt, identified as Kommandeur der Flieger der 1. Armee (Commander of Aviation, 1st Army). Wilhelm Haehnelt (1875-1946) served in World War I aviation command roles. Tragically, Meyer's brother Leutnant Hubert Meyer also fell on 15 August 1918.

Following the war, badge production continued into the 1920s and 1930s, often as private commemorative purchases by World War I veterans. Construction characteristics changed during this period: badges from the 1920s-30s typically have needle pins instead of the wide drawn pins of World War I-era pieces. The badge was superseded by the Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge instituted on 26 March 1936 under the Third Reich. Imperial pilot badges remain highly collectible, though authentication requires detailed knowledge of manufacturer characteristics, materials, and construction techniques.