EXTREMELY RARE RUSSIAN MILITARY PILOT BADGE, 1916
Bronze insignia of the air forces officer - a pilot of the Russian Imperial Army. The badge has the Russian Imperial double headed crowned eagle and a shield with the crest of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Between the eagle's claws there is a sword and propellor. The Imperial Air Service existed from 1912 up to 1917 (Russian revolution). Extremely RARE Russian Pilot Badge. These Badges were issued in Russian Empire following the order number '306' of the War Department of Defence of June 13, 1916. Made of silver-plated brass. Solid construction - more rarest than hollow construction. See additional photo - sample of wearing this badge (photo is not for sell).
DIMENSIONS: 40 x 28 mm (1 5/8 x 1 1/8 inches).
REFERENCE: V.Kempf. Regimental Badges of Imperial Russia, Catalogue, 2008, item 6.5.20, Un - please see the screenshot (Catalogue is selling on lot 035928).
ESTIMATE PRICE: $1,000 - $3,000.
NO RESERVE: More than 90% of all items in the auction have NO reserve price. Others have a very reasonable reserve.
OFFER: If an item is NOT SOLD, you can still give us a reasonable offer - please save the link of this page.
PAYMENT: Payment can be made with PayPal, Credit Card (via PayPal), Zelle, Wire transfer, Check or Money Order.
PAY in PARTS: You can pay for any item during 3-6 months. Just make a 10% deposit and the item will wait for you. We have been offering a possibility of deferring a payment for more than a year now and many people like it and have taken advantage of it.
FREE SHIPPING: Domestic shipping for this particular item is FREE.
WELCOME: We welcome NEW bidders. We will send the item according YOUR instruction.
PLEASE NOTE: If you want to buy this item, please make a bid now. Any offer is welcome. Some lots, that do Not Have any Bids on them, WILL be CLOSED before the auction is started and will not be included in it. Now, there are 700+ items for preview, but there will be ONLY 450 items in the Live Auction.

WIKIPEDIA: The Imperial Russian Air Service was an air force founded in 1912 for Imperial Russia. The Air Service operated for 5 years. It only saw combat in World War I before being reorganized and renamed in 1917 following the creation of Soviet Russia. It formed what would later become the Soviet Air Forces. At the beginning of World War I, Russia's air service was second only to that of France (263 aeroplanes and 14 airships), although the bulk of its aircraft were too outdated to be of much use. Initially, Russia used aviation only for reconnaissance and coordination of artillery fire. Later, several aeroplanes were armed with steel flechettes to attack ground targets (columns of enemy infantry and cavalry, campsites, etc.). Later, aeroplanes were armed with air-dropped bombs. On 8 September 1914, the Russian pilot Pyotr Nesterov performed the first aerial ramming aircraft attack in the history of aviation. Later, Lt. Vyacheslav Tkachov became the very first Russian pilot who shot down an enemy aircraft with a handgun. He attacked a German 'Albatros' and shot the enemy pilot. In 1916 the size and force of naval aviation was increased, the Black Sea Fleet had two seaplane carriers and fourteen M-9 seaplanes. During World War I, 269 Russian aviators were awarded the St. George military decorations (St George Sword, Order of St. George or Cross of St. George), 5 aviators were awarded the Chevalier's National Order of the Legion of Honour, 2 aviators were awarded the Military Cross, 2 aviators were awarded the Order of the White Eagle and many others were awarded medals. 26 aviators became flying aces of Russian Empire. The most successful Russian flying ace and fighter pilot was Alexander Kazakov, who shot down 20 enemy aeroplanes. After the February Revolution of 1917 the Imperial Russian Air Service was reformed.

Used