A Fine First War German Naval Land Pilot's Badge, with Insignia & Photographs
Item #G26548
Badge in solid gilded brass, upper part of crown not cut out, unmarked, but with typical reverse set up of maker "H. Schaper", 46.34mm x 71.8mm, it weighs 48.3 grams, slightly worn, in extremely fine condition, and an excellent example. (For similar badge see C. Baldes, Aircrew Badges and Honor Prizes of the Flying Troops" page 454).
Imperial German Naval Visor Cap badge, in gilded bullion wire on top of heavily padded black wool, excellent quality, very fine condition; a very rare German Naval Pilot's arm insignia, in gilded tombac, partially enameled propeller, on top of dark blue wool, edged with twisted bullion wires, 45mm x 80mm (or1 3/4 3 1/4 inches), in worn condition, and very rare.
A collection of postcards from the time of the First World War, showing the naval aviation base in Holtenau and its planes. Holtenau is a district of the northern German city of Kiel. The Fort Holtenau was built to defend from a sea invasion in the late 1880s. It was razed after the First World War. Holtenau was the birthplace of the first Imperial naval aviation base on July 1, 1913. During the First World War, it was mostly used for reconnaissance flights controlling the Baltic Sea, making sure that no British ships would enter it undetected. Young pilots were trained here, and it was used to research new technologies, among them bomber planes and torpedo bombers. For actual participation in the fights it was too far away from the front. During the time of the First World War, the base grew ever more important. Initially it had started out with only about 200 men and 35 planes, but these figures grew to 2,500 planes and 78 airships in the course of the war. Personnel numbers reached 16,000.
Photographs & Picture Postcards:
On the back, the card has been dated to 1917.
Two pictures (11.7x8.8mm and 11.8x8.9mm) of a hydro bi-plane with floats, identification number 695. They were taken mid flight from another plane.
Verunglücktes Wasserflugzeug (crashed hydroplane) (13.9x8.9mm).
The card is dated to possibly Summer 1918.
Leuchtturm (lighthouse) Friedrichsort (picture taken by W. Krüger, Rüstringen) (13.6x8.6mm).
Friedrichsort is another district of the city of Kiel, slightly north of the district of Holtenau.
An aerial view of the Seeflugstation und Forts Holtenau (Naval Airbase and Fort Holtenau) (13.8x8.8mm).
The card is dated to possibly Summer 1918.
Kasernen der I. Seeflieger-Abteilung in Holtenau (Barracks of the 1st Naval Aviators Detachment in Holtenau) (13.9x8.8mm).
The card is dated to possibly Summer 1918.
Die abgebrannte Flughalle Holtenau (burned down hangar Holtenau) (13.9x8.7mm).
The card is dated to possibly Autumn 1918. However, the hangar actually burned down in February of 1918 because of an accident. 16 planes were destroyed in the process.