Editing Aviator badge (section)

==Germany==

===1913-1920===
Several badges were donated to German aircrew prior, during or after the [[World War I|First World War]]. The most notable were:<ref>{{Cite book|title=Katalog der Orden, Ehrenzeichen und Auszeichnungen des Kurfürstentums Brandenburg, der Markgrafschaften Brandenburg-Ansbach und Brandenburg-Bayreuth, des Königreiches Preußen, der Republik Preußen unter Berücksichtigung des Deutschen Reiches / 3, Ehrenzeichen, Auszeichnungen und Ehrengaben 1888-1935.|last=André Hüsken|date=2001|publisher=Hauschild|isbn=3897571382|location=Bremen|oclc=314298345}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945 / 4 Württemberg II - Deutsches Reich.|last=Nimmergut, Jörg.|date=2001|publisher=Zentralstelle für wiss. Ordenskunde|isbn=3000013962|location=München|oclc=163184635}}</ref> <gallery widths=180>
File:Marineflugzeugführerabzeichen von Seeflugzeugen II.jpg|badge for navy pilots from seaplanes 1913
File:Militär Beobachterabzeichen 1914.jpg|badge for observation officers from airplanes 1914
</gallery>
The [[Prussian Military Pilot Badge|Military Pilot Badge]] was donated on January 27, 1913 by Emperor Wilhelm II. It could be awarded to officers, NCOs and crews who, after completing the two required tests for pilots and after completing their training at a military air base, acquired the certificate as a military pilot issued by the military air and land transportation inspection (Inspektion des Militär-Luft- und Kraft-Fahrtwesens). A similar badge for military pilots was donated on 4 February 1913 by Prince Ludwig from Bavaria.

The badge for navy pilots on seaplanes ([https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/abzeichen-fur-marine-flugzeugfuhrer-auf-seeflugzeugen-1913.html Abzeichen für Marine Flugzeugführer auf Seeflugzeugen]) was donated on 31 May 1913 by King and Emperor Wilhelm II, for all officers and soldiers, who successfully completed the training on a naval aircraft station and thus received a certificate of qualification as a naval pilot.

The badge for navy pilots on land planes ([https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/erster-weltkrieg/abzeichen-fur-marine-flugzeugfuhrer-auf-landflugzeugen-1915.html Abzeichen für Marine Flugzeugführer auf Landflugzeugen]) was donated on 23 February 1915 by emperor Wilhelm II for pilots of the Navy, who completed their service in the war on land planes.

The badge for observation officers from airplanes ([https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/abzeichen-fur-beobachtungsoffiziere-aus-flugzeugen-1914.html Abzeichen für Beobachtungsoffiziere aus Flugzeugen]) was donated on January 27, 1914 by emperor Wilhelm II. Prerequisites for the award were: 1. a distance traveled of at least 1000&nbsp;km in an aircraft, 2. a successfully completed technical assistance examination on an aircraft, 3. pass of at least one retake, 4. accomplished exploration missions, and 5. a certification as an observation officer. A similar badge was donated by King Ludwig III. on 3 March 1914 for the Bavarian army.

The airgunner badge ([https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/abzeichen-flugzeug-fliegerschutzen-1918.html Abzeichen Flugzeug-Fliegerschützen]) was founded on January 27, 1918 by emperor Wilhelm II. The soldiers had to demonstrate in-depth knowledge in engine construction and operation, in flight training, in map reading, in the tactics of aerial combat, in theory of bombing, and skills in the operation of machine guns on the ground and in aerial combat.

The commemorative badge for airship crews ([https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/erster-weltkrieg/erinnerungsabzeichen-fur-besatzungen-der-heeres-luftschiffe.html Erinnerungsabzeichen für Besatzungen der Luftschiffe]) was donated in 1920 by Reichswehr Minister Otto Gessler. There were two versions for Army and Navy airships. Upon request, it was awarded to officers, deck officers, NCOs and crews of former airship crews, who during the war had at least one year of activity on front aircraft.

===1935-1945===
[[Image:Flugzeugführerabzeichen.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Pilotenabzeichen - Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge]]
The ''Pilotenabzeichen'' (Pilot's Badge) of the former [[Luftwaffe]] had been instituted by [[Hermann Göring]] on 12 August 1935. It came in distinct types; [[nickel silver]] (changed to zinc during the war) and a variant made of gold.{{sfn|Ailsby|2003|pp=59, 60}} It depicts a silver eagle perched atop a [[swastika]], wings open in a landing pose, and surrounded by a wreath with laurel on the right side and oak branches on the left side, respectively.{{sfn|Ailsby|2003|p=59}} It was worn in the center of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, underneath the [[Iron Cross]] 1st Class if awarded.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=162}} The badge was awarded after one completed flight training and the flying licence and citation were received.{{sfn|Ailsby|2003|p=59}}

===After 1955===
[[File:Militaerluftfahrzeugfuehrer Bundeswehr.jpg|thumb|German Aviation Badge in Bronze]]
In the ''[[Bundeswehr]]'' the aviation badge (''Tätigkeitsabzeichen Militärluftfahrzeugführer'') comes in three grades: bronze (Standard Pilot), silver (Senior Pilot) after 1200 flight hours and gold (Command Pilot) after 1800 flight hours. It depicts the ''[[Coat of arms of Germany|Bundesadler]]'' surrounded by an oak leaf wreath between two wings. It is worn above the right breast pocket. A total of two ''Tätigkeitsabzeichen'' may be worn, one of which can be foreign in which case the foreign one would be worn below the German one.<ref>ZDv 37/10 ''Anzugordnung für die Bundeswehr''</ref>
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