PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE IN THE OFFICE Through TUESDAY 09/16,
AFTER That Date, We Will Be OUT OF THE OFFICE from WEDNESDAY 09/17 until TUESDAY OCTOBER 7th!!
Ron Will Be OUT OF THE OFFICE from WEDNESDAY 09/10 until FRIDAY OCTOBER 10th!!
So there MAY be SHIPPING DELAYS on MILITARIA Orders Placed AFTER 09/10 through 10/10!!
BUT We Will DEFINITELY Be ABLE TO SHIP Orders Placed Through TUESDAY 09/09,
And MIGHT Be ABLE TO SHIP ORDERS Placed through MONDAY 09/15, But After That we CANNOT SHIP Until TUESDAY 10/07!!
Update 09/09/25: WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH non-PayPal CREDIT CARD PURCHASES!!
BIG WEBSITE CHANGES are in the works and this Issue WILL BE CORRECTED sometime in OCTOBER!!
If you would like to PAY for an Artifact valued at OVER $100.00 with a CREDIT CARD, please email and I will get an invoice emailed to you ASAP!
We are HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR ORDERS during this time, and we will promptly SHIP MOST orders within ONE Business Day of Receipt of Payment!
And, as always, if you would like to fund your $100.00+ order through a Bank that offers ZELLE, ASK ABOUT our ZELLE DISCOUNT!!
That DISCOUNT also applies to PayPal GIFT (Fee-Free), Check, and Money Order payments!!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
We look forward to serving your collecting needs, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
This is an Extremely Rare Early 1945 SAAF SALM South African Air Force # 42 Air Observation Post Squadron Badge with flaming bomb Artillery Emblem in 2-D nickel at center, with blue wings behind, on a yellow triangle bordered green.
Reads L. O. P. 42 A. O. P. AOP stands for Air Observation Post, LOP means the same, but in Afrikaans, not sure what the actual wording would be.
The 42 squadron was first formed in Bari, Italy during World War II on 23 January 1945. Many of the pilots were selected from the South African Air Force and given extra training to prepare the pilots for their artillery-spotting duties. The flight flew Auster aircraft in Europe. The flight relocated often as they moved from base to base in Europe as the German forces retreated from Italy until the end of the war. At the end of the war, 42 AOP Flight and their Auster aircraft were shipped back to South Africa and were based at Potchefstroom, home of the SA artillery.
VINTAGE:
Circa Early 1945.
SIZE:
Approximately: 13/16" in height x 1-15/16" in width.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Enameled brass with silver plating.
ATTACHMENT:
Vertical safety-style pin with circular saddle.
MARKINGS:
N/A.
ITEM NOTES:
his is from a foreign Militaria collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. KAJGV07 LGGEX09/14/24 SGJJX09/24
CONDITION:
7+ (Very Fine): The badge shows minor wear and small chip on left side wing. Overall, it is very fine condition.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
