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Luftwaffe, Air-crew & Operational Badges |
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The
Pilot badge (Flugzeugfuhrerabzeichen) was an aircrew qualification badge
introduced in March 1936.
The badge was awarded on the successful completion of the Luftwaffe pilot training course, at which time a citation and pilot's license were also granted. |
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The
Wireless-Operator / Air Gunner Badge (Fliegerschutenabzeichen fur
Bordfunker) was an aircrew qualification badge introduced in March
1936.
To qualify for the badge, the recipient was required to have successfully completed two months flying service with a non-operational unit, or to have undertaken a minimum of five operational missions as an air gunner or radio operator. Qualification was automatic if the recipient was wounded in the course of any of these flights. |
| OVERVIEW. To recognize the
type and number of operational flights undertaken by aircrew and certain
other Luftwaffe personnel, the FRONTFLUGSPANGE (literally "Front
Flight Clasp") was progressively introduced from January 1941. Commonly referred to by collectors as Flight Bars, Operational Flying Clasps or Squadron Clasps, these badges consist of a central device encircled by a wreath of laurel leaves set between two 'wings' of oak leaves. In most designs, the ubiquitous swastika is set at the base of the wreath. Clasps measure around 7.5cm x 2.5cm (3" x 1"). |
| Long Range Day Fighter Badges | |
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Long
Range Day Fighter Gold Clasp,
with 400 Operational Flight Pendant |
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Long
Range Day Fighter Silver Clasp,
for 60 Operational Flights |
| The Long Range Day-Fighter Gold Clasp was one of a series of flying clasps (frontflugspange) originally instituted at the beginning of 1941 to reward aircrew who had flown a large number of operational sorties. All varieties consisted of a circular laurel wreath, with a spray of oak-leaves on either side, the symbol in the centre of the wreath and the colour of the badge indicating the arm of the service and the number of operations flown. A bronze clasp was awarded for 20 missions, silver for 60 and gold for 110. The following year, a pendant device of a gold star with sprays of laurel leaves on either side, was instituted to recognise larger numbers of operational flights completed - 250, 300, 400 or 500 depending upon the branch of service. By mid 1944, this pendant had been replaced by a new variety containing a boxed numeral marked in increments of 100 from 200 to 2000, indicative of the greater pressure now being placed upon Luftwaffe aircrew. The central symbols of the clasps were: a winged arrow pointing upwards for day- or short range fighters, and downwards for long-range and ground attack fighters (ground attack units later received a distinct badge with a pair of crossed swords). A winged bomb pointing downwards indicated heavy-, medium-, or dive-bombers, an eagle's head facing left showed reconnaissance, air/sea rescue and meteorological crews, and an eagle holding a swastika, and flying to the right, was the symbol of transport and glider crews. Long-range night fighters and night intruders featured a winged arrow pointing downwards with the surrounding wreath oxidised black, and short-range night fighters a winged arrow pointing upwards within the black oxidised wreath. | |
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Short Range Day Fighter Badges |
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Short
Range Day Fighter Bronze Clasp,
for 20 Operational Flights |
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Short
Range Day Fighter Silver Clasp,
for 60 Operational Flights |
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Short
Range Day Fighter Gold Clasp,
for 110 Operational Flights |
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Short
Range Day Fighter Gold Clasp with
200 Operational Flight Pendant |
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Short
Range Day Fighter Gold Clasp, with
500 Operational Flight Pendant |
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Night Fighter Badges |
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Long
Range Night-Fighter Gold Clasp, with
250 Operational Flight Pendant |
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Short
Range Night-Fighter Gold Clasp, with
250 Operational Flight Pendant |
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Short
Range Night Fighter Silver Clasp for
60 Operational Flights |
| The Long Range Night-Fighter Gold Clasp was one of a series of flying clasps (frontflugspange) originally instituted at the beginning of 1941 to reward aircrew who had flown a large number of operational sorties. All varieties consisted of a circular laurel wreath, with a spray of oak-leaves on either side, the symbol in the centre of the wreath and the colour of the badge indicating the arm of the service and the number of operations flown. A bronze clasp was awarded for 20 missions, silver for 60 and gold for 110. The following year, a pendant device of a gold star with sprays of laurel leaves on either side, was instituted to recognise larger numbers of operational flights completed - 250, 300, 400 or 500 depending upon the branch of service. By mid 1944, this pendant had been replaced by a new variety containing a boxed numeral marked in increments of 100 from 200 to 2000, indicative of the greater pressure now being placed upon Luftwaffe aircrew. The central symbols of the clasps were: a winged arrow pointing upwards for day- or short range fighters, and downwards for long-range and ground attack fighters (ground attack units later received a distinct badge with a pair of crossed swords). A winged bomb pointing downwards indicated heavy-, medium-, or dive-bombers, an eagle's head facing left showed reconnaissance, air/sea rescue and meteorological crews, and an eagle holding a swastika, and flying to the right, was the symbol of transport and glider crews. Long-range night fighters and night intruders featured a winged arrow pointing downwards with the surrounding wreath oxidised black, and short-range night fighters a winged arrow pointing upwards within the black oxidised wreath. | |
| Reconnaissance / Air-Sea Rescue / Meteorological Badges | |
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Reconnaissance
/ Air-Sea Rescue / Meteorological Bronze Clasp, for
20 Operational Flights |
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Reconnaissance
/ Air-Sea Rescue / Meteorological Silver Clasp, for
60 Operational Flights |
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Reconnaissance
/ Air-Sea Rescue / Meteorological Gold Clasp, for
110 Operational Flights |
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Luftwaffe bomber badges |
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Bomber badge with 1500 operational flights clasp |
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The Transport and Glider Squadrons |
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Air to Ground Support Squadrons |
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