Description
You are bidding on an AMAZING and 100% ORIGINAL WW1 Austro-Hungarian K.u.K. Luftfahrtruppen Cigarette Case! This was a wartime 1917 Christmas Presentation piece, gifted to members of Fliegerkompanie 22 (Flik 22)!
Fliegerkompanie 22 (Flik 22) was an Austro-Hungarian aviation company that primarily conducted reconnaissance and bombing missions on the Eastern and Italian Fronts during World War I. The unit operated two-seater aircraft such as the Hansa-Brandenburg C.I and the Lloyd C.V. Its mission focus on scouting and tactical bombing was vital to Austro-Hungarian military efforts, which suffered heavy losses during the war and grew increasingly dependent on German assistance. Flik 22 is notable for being the first combat posting of Frank Linke-Crawford, who would go on to become one of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s most famous air aces. After serving as an observer with Flik 22 on the Russian Front from March to September 1916, Linke-Crawford retrained as a pilot and was later transferred to other squadrons, including the elite fighter unit Flik 41J. Other records indicate that Flik 22 was stationed at the Rohozna airfield in October 1917, during which time it was equipped with Lloyd C.V biplane.
Made of brass, this art-deco style Presentation Cigarette Case is am AMAZING piece of history! Complete with the original box, it was commissioned by a member Fliegerkompanie 22, and features the inscription:
Weihnachten 1917
Flieger 22
The reverse features 7 engraved signatures of many notable Flik 22 members, including:
Oblt. Stefan Metzey
Oblt. Wilhelm von Pichs
Oblt. Johann von Stefanelli
Oblt. Ernst von Pfiffer
Oblt. Edmund Binder
Oblt. Werner Genz
More research can certainly be done. The hinge functions PERFECTLY, and all the inner elastics to retain the cigarettes are also present (one has come un-stitched, but it does not detract). Measuring approx. 5″ x 5″, it is one of the NICEST WW1 Presentation Cigarette Cases I have ever seen! I have shown some images of FliK 22 aircraft in the last photos. Would make a SUPERB addition to any collection or display!
