WW1 Imperial Russian Pilots Badge Hallmarked with Backing Plate

The WW1 Imperial Russian Pilots Badge Hallmarked with Backing Plate is a military decoration awarded to qualified pilots of the Imperial Russian Air Service during the First World War. The badge typically features a silver double-headed eagle, the emblem of the Russian Empire, surmounted by the imperial crown. The badge is hallmarked, indicating official state production and guaranteeing metal content. This example includes the original backing plate, used to secure the badge to a uniform. Issued from 1914 to 1917, the badge represents the early development of military aviation in Russia. Recipients were often members of the officer corps who completed pilot training courses. Surviving examples are notable for their detail and quality of craftsmanship. Such badges are significant artifacts from the period, reflecting both the traditions of the Russian military and the emergence of air power in twentieth-century conflict. The backing plate is an important functional component, often missing from surviving badges.