Germany, Luftwaffe. A Mint Pilot’s Badge, Type 1, by Gebrüder Wegerhoff Hold above a silvered banner bearing

above a silvered banner bearing a black Cyrillic inscription of “ВВМУ”

Handley Pages

USS Franklin was dead in the water

including adverse weather conditions and poor visibility

Germany, Luftwaffe. A Mint Pilot’s Badge, Type 1, by Gebrüder Wegerhoff Hold above a silvered banner bearing(Flugzeugfhrerabzeichen). Constructed of nickel silver, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel and oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, overlaid by a swooping Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, the reverse with two visible rivets securing the eagle in position, with a narrow barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, maker marked with the logo of Gebrder Wegerhoff, Ldenscheid, measuring 62. 88 mm (w)