Romania, Kingdom. An Air Force (RoAF) Civilian Pilot Badge, c.1935

(Forțele Aeriene Românei). Insignia in bronze gilt with azure blue enamels and bearing the monogram of King Carol II, mounted to a silver wings base, unmarked, measuring 65.8 mm (h) x 20 mm (h), horizontal pinback, intact enamels, very light contact, near extremely fine.

Footnote: Carol II (born October 3, 1893, died April 4, 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until his forced abdication on September 6, 1940. He was the eldest son of Ferdinand I and became crown prince upon the death of his grand-uncle, King Carol I in 1914. He was the first of the Hohenzollern kings of Romania to be born in the country; both of his predecessors had been born in Germany and only came to Romania as adults. As such, he was the first member of the Romanian branch of the Hohenzollerns who spoke Romanian as his first language, and was also the first member of the royal family to be raised in the Orthodox faith.