Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Can anyone tell me the difference between such a badge with an eagle holding the bundle in its tallons but with and without a crown?

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Look at the pictures

The first is the pilot's Badge of Regia Aeronautica (before 8th Sept 1943);
the second is the badge of Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana,without crown 'cause Repubblica di Salò was a "Republic" and not a monarchy.The 3rd shows the badge of the pilots of South Italy,flying with the Allies, with the English crown (and without fasci evidently):wink:.
Regards
Alessandro

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

It's a good question Chris. I always wondring why Hans Assi Hahn have this badge "Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana" (firts picture of Alessandro) during the summer 1940?
Fredo

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Sorry, i would like to say wondering the Badge of Regia Aeronautica
Thanks
Fredo

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Are you sure Fredo? Do you have any image? I'd like to see this badge!!
Ciao

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

I think the second is for civil pilot in military service.

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

The second is the pilot badge untill november 1944,when appeared this one:
http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/italy/...pilotfrtlg.jpg

but only 300 pieces were issued.
Check this site: http://www.ww2wings.com/main.shtml

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

So is the middle one of the 3 relatively rare as I have managed to obtain one?

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Of course Alessandro !
What do you think ?
Fredo

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

IMHO, "Assi" Hahn wore that Regia Aeronautica's pilot badge either because he had exchaged it with an Italian pilot of the Corpo Aereo Italiano based in Belgium during the second half of 1940, or he was offered with one when visiting one of such units.

A third possibility could be that Hahn spent some time in Italy before the war (several dozens of Luftwaffe pilots effected flying courses in Italy by that time) and obtained the eagle there.

Wearing two pilot badges certainly was peculiar, but not so inexplicable, I guess...

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

The photo of Hahn was taken late BofB but before mid-Nov 40 so he would have had plenty of time to interact with his Italian counterparts. I also have a photo of Hogeback who also sports the same badge-didn't Marseille also have the 2?

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Hello,
The Italian Pilot Badge its nothing to wear as a gift like a staffelnadel or so. It was formally awarded by the Italian Air
Ministery 'Ad Honorem' to foreign pilots.
Here are one of such documents awarded to a german hauptmann. Sorry I can't disclose the name because the item isn't mine.
Regards

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Significant number of Hungarian pilots wore that badge (the first one) as well and not just the ones, who were trained in Italy before the war started. So I guess, it was not so rare at the Luftwaffe as well. BTW my Hungarian aces book contains the foreign pilot badges as well (some Hungarian aces wore the Italian, or Bulgarian or Croat pilot badges too) I have some nice pictures about Hungarian pilots with foreign pilot badges as well.

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Nice document, fran, I have official docu copies to Hungarian pilots too (who were trained in Italy)

Re: Italian Pilot's Badge
 

Hello,
Here you are a italian pilot volunter in the Spanish Civil War (note the spanish Foreign Legion embroided badge)
so the photo is obviously taken before before 8th Sept 1943 and he's wearing the wings without the crown.
What's the explanation? I was told that pilots members of the 'Black Shirts' militia broke off the crown as a rupture gesture
with the monarchy.
Regards
Fran