Including: Air Gunner, Flak, Glider, Pilot, Observer, Clasps and Spanish Cross. The Luftwaffe pilot badge was awarded upon completing flight training.
Front Flying Clasp for BombersAwarded by TypeEligibilityMilitary personnelCampaignStatisticsEstablished30 January 1941Front Flying Clasp for Air to Ground Support FightersThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe (German language: Frontflugspange) was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft.
Front Flying Clasps were issued for missions completed in the following Luftwaffe aircraft:. Day Fighters. Night Fighters. Long Range Day Fighters.
Air to Ground Support Fighters. Bombers. Reconnaissance. Transport and GliderThe different Clasps were inaugurated by on. 30 January 1941 for the Front Flying Clasp.
26 June 1942 for the Pennant to the golden Front Flying Clasp. 29 April 1944 for the Pennant with number of mission. Contents Bronze Front Flying Clasp20 flown missions were needed to qualifySilver Front Flying Clasp60 flown missions were needed to qualifyGold Front Flying Clasp110 flown missions were needed to qualifyPennant to the Golden Front Flying Clasp. Day Fighters and Transport Units: 500 missions. Air to Ground Support Fighters: 400 missions. Bombers, Air Sea Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance: 300 missions. Reconnaissance and Night Fighters: 250 missionsPennant with the number of MissionsThe numbering scheme was 200, 300, 400, 500, etc.References.
To acknowledge and recognize the achievements of Luftwaffe flight personnel who had taken part in missions against the enemy, the Luftwaffe in 1941 introduced a series of flight clasps, to be worn as awards on the uniform. The German term for this clasp was “Frontflugspange,” literally “Front Flight Clasp”; these are known to collectors as Flight Bars, Operational Flying Clasps or Squadron Clasps. The clasps took the form of a central emblem, set in a wreath of laurel leaves, and flanked on both sides by sprigs of oak leaves. On most designs, the German national swastika emblem was set at the bottom of the laurel wreath. The central emblem varied depending on the type of missions for which the clasp was awarded. An upward-pointed winged arrow was for Short Range Day Fighters, while a downward pointing winged arrow was for Long Range Day Fighters and Air to Ground Support (support crews later had their own crossed swords emblem).
Bomber crews had a winged bomb emblem, a Luftwaffe eagle was chosen to represent Transport and Glider Squadrons, and an eagle head was worn by Reconnaissance, Air-Sea Rescue and Meteorological Squadrons. The clasps were produced in various grades to indicate the number of missions flown- Bronze for 20 flights, Silver for 60 flights and Gold for 100 flights. For personnel who surpassed the number of missions required for the Gold clasp, small pendants were produced, starting in 1942, to recognize the greater and greater numbers of missions being flown. There was a “star” pendant, that was given for certain numbers of flights beyond 100 missions (depending on the type of clasp, between 250 and 500 missions were required to earn the star). There were also numbered pendants, beginning with 200 missions, and increasing in increments of 100. As with all Third Reich military awards, Luftwaffe flight clasps are highly sought after collectibles today.