Description
Product Description: This Luftwaffe Bomber Clasp in Gold is an interesting piece. This Bomber Clasp in Gold is produced in tombak, with much of the gold plating remaining intact. Minor signs of wear to the high relief areas. Black galvanized central bomb motif with similar signs of wear to the high reliefs as well. Interesting repair, with a long piece of tombak metal across the reverse. The catch hook remains originally attached to the badge, but we cannot discern fully if the hinge assembly is repaired, as there is solder spill over from the tombak plate addition. An interesting Luftwaffe Bomber Clasp in Gold, that is priced right!
Historical Description: In 1941 the Luftwaffe introduced a series of flight clasps to recognize the achievements of Luftwaffe flight personnel who had taken part in missions against the enemy. The German term for this clasp was “Frontflugspange,” which translates literally to “Front Flight Clasp”. The clasps took the form of a specific central emblem, surrounded by a laurel wreath, and flanked on both sides by oak leaves. Most designs featured the German national swastika emblem 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 flying Luftwaffe eagle was chosen to represent Transport and Glider Squadrons, and an Eagle Head with Large Eye was used to symbolize 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.
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