BACKGROUND: On entering Luftwaffe service EM/NCO personnel were assigned and trained for a specific trade or military function. On successful completion of the appropriate training, personnel were issue a distinctive trade specialty badge to be worn on the lower left sleeve of the service tunic and the flight and field blouses as identifying insignia with a couple of exceptions. The original trade badges were introduced in May 1935 and were supplemented with additional badges prior to and early in the war. In all the Luftwaffe utilized no fewer then thirty-nine assorted trade specialty badges. Some select trade badges were piped with twisted grey or silver/aluminum braiding to denote NCO’ s ranks while some were piped with twisted gilt braiding to denote outstanding performance in the particular trade. When a trade badge was allocated with the outstanding performance, gilt braid, piping it came accompanied with an award certificate. Originally qualified Flight Technical Personnel wore the trade badge as introduced in the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband Fliegerschaft, (German Air Sports Association, Pilot Base), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe, until a new pattern badge was introduced on May 13TH 1935. The 1935 pattern, Flight Technical Personnel’s trade badge was utilized through-out the war with the only modification being the introduction of gilt wire trim on June 30TH 1941 for issue to personnel for outstanding maintenance performance.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The second pattern, (Circa 1935-1945), badge consists of a Luftwaffe blue/grey wool construction base with ornate scalloped edging. The base features a machine embroidered, five cylinder, radial engine to the center, flanked by stylized wings to either side and encompassed by an oak-leaf wreath all in silvery/grey cotton threads.