Wilhelm Frankl 2nd Class Iron Cross

[mp409mm]

I saw this photo of Wilhelm Frankl who was a WW1 pilot, if I am not mistaken it seems that his 2nd class Iron Cross is a non combatant type, or it is a ribbon for another Medal unknown to me.

He was awarded an Iron Cross First Class on 10 May 1915 for shooting a French Voisin with his carbine. So he must have got his second Class early in the war.
What are your opinion about this photo.

Alf.

[Claudius]

Looks like the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross ribbon -it would make sense as he was born in Hamburg.

[mp409mm]

Looks like the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross ribbon -it would make sense as he was born in Hamburg.

Thank you for the information
Alf

[römischIX]

Frankl was a pilot - he never would have been awarded with the "white" ribbon

[Erickn]

from Wikipedia

Looks like the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross ribbon -it would make sense as he was born in Hamburg.

Frankl began his career of aerial victories early in the war, before the concept of the synchronized machine gun firing safely through the plane's propeller became a practical reality.<SUP id=cite_ref-5 class=reference>[5]</SUP> On 10 May 1915, while flying as an observer in Feldflieger Abteilung 40 (FFA 40), he used a carbine to shoot down a French Voisin.<SUP id=cite_ref-6 class=reference>[6]</SUP> He was awarded an Iron Cross First Class for this feat.<SUP id=cite_ref-Lines108_2-1 class=reference>[2]</SUP>
It took exactly eight months for his second triumph. On 10 January 1916, while flying a Fokker Eindekker with KEK Vaux, he downed another Voisin; this one was armed with a 37mm Hotchkiss cannon.<SUP id=cite_ref-german31_3-2 class=reference>[3]</SUP> By 1 February, his victory total stood at four. Three months later, on 4 May, he finally became an ace. On 16 May, he was promoted from Vizefeldwebel into the officer's ranks as a Leutnant. He scored once more on 21 May. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern during late May, followed by the Hanseatic Cross.<SUP id=cite_ref-Lines108_2-2 class=reference>[2]</SUP> By this time, Frankl was one of only eight aces in the German flying service.<SUP id=cite_ref-7 class=reference>[7]</SUP> Frankl's gallantry earned him the Pour le Merite after his eighth confirmed victory; the Blue Max was awarded on 16 July 1916.<SUP id=cite_ref-Lines108_2-3 class=reference>[2]</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
<SUP>Later during the Third Reich era, his name became absent from the PLM winners list due to his Jewish ancestry. Frankl,s name before Goering. </SUP>

[mp409mm]

Thank You guys.
It seems that Claudius theory is the most factual. Thank you all for your feedback.

Alf