L/ codes and Flight Badges

[Rich G]

Here's something that I'm not sure has been discussed before...

The only flight badge I can think of with a L/ code is the L/64 marked FJ badge.

The topic for discussion therefore is this:

Why are L/ codes not found on flight badges?

Rich

[Darrell]

How about the L/11, L/12, L/13, L/15, L/16 and L/52 Spanish Crosses?

[Rich G]

How about the L/11, L/12, L/13, L/15, L/16 and L/52 Spanish Crosses?

Simple... they are not flight badges

[skip]

Rich,

you are right. I can also not think of any other except the Assmann Para.

Strange indeed but I can not come up with any possible explaination for this. Maybe the makers considered the Luftwaffe stuff to be the flagship of production and always wanted there name or at least symbol put on it.

Skip

[Gene]

Interesting topic. While a para badge isn't a flight badge (but I know what you mean Rich) the only other close example are some flight clasps, namely the Schlachtflieger, that are marked 20. I can't say I've ever seen an L marked badge that was genuine.

[Giel VW]

L/58 Souval

[skip]

Interesting topic. While a para badge isn't a flight badge (but I know what you mean Rich) the only other close example are some flight clasps, namely the Schlachtflieger, that are marked 20. I can't say I've ever seen an L marked badge that was genuine.

Now that could be another topic of discussion Gene.

Is a Para Badge a Flight Badge?

Skip

[Scott C.]

I've wondered the same thing. Perhaps Skip is right: Luftwaffe flight badges were some of the first TR Wehrmacht badges produced - several years before L-numbers were introduced. We know that Assmann used just a '2' on some of their later-war flight badges, but that wouldn't count here.

Scott

[ERIC S.]

Although not a 'flight badge' either, remember that Assmann marked some Flak Badges as well with their L/64 code. It seems that the Assmann firm was the only manufacturer that did this on a few of their Luftwaffe Badges. Why no L/ designations are found on any other Luftwaffe Badge is a puzzle to me as well. Perhaps Skips' assesment is the best at the moment.
ERIC

[Gene]

Is a Para Badge a Flight Badge?

No, I don't think so. It's a qualification badge in the design of a flight badge (like a Flak badge) but since the topic was flight badges themselves, I don't see them included in this description.

[Rich G]

I was thinking perhaps as flight badges (pilot, P/O, Observer, RO/AG) were not combat related and not a bravery award - i.e. qualification only (which would include the FJ badge??- then they didn't fall in the same category as other awards? Did LDO regulations only apply to combat related??

BTW although Luftwaffe orientated, I would not include the flak badge in the same category as it was wartime introduced and no qualification was required.

[Frank Heukemes]

Hi guys,

As weird as it may seem, it is pretty simple. No Luftwaffe badges were sold by the LDO outlets before January 1945. They had been solely sold by the Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe in Berlin before. Assmann's last production series can probably be dated after January 45 for that reason, as it carries a L/64 mark to be sold in LDO outlets.

[Rich G]

Hi guys,

As weird as it may seem, it is pretty simple. No Luftwaffe badges were sold by the LDO outlets before January 1945. They had been solely sold by the Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe in Berlin before. Assmann's last production series can probably be dated after January 45 for that reason, as it carries a L/64 mark to be sold in LDO outlets.

Well, that is that minor mystery solved!

Frank, do you know why? Was it something to do with Goring? So, what if some guy is stationed as far away from Berlin as possible, yet still in Germany... how would he have bought a replacement badge?

Rich

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Rich,

I guess the units ordered them in bigger numbers from Berlin. I guess it definitely was a Göring thing, to show his men were literally "above" the others!
However, there is documented, contemporary published proof of what I said in the above post. Only after January 45 Luftwaffe badges were available in LDO outlets.

[Richard]

Is this also possibly a reason that no other series of badges from other branches are normally found in as nice a case as the flight badges/clasps (other than the Blockadebrecher from the KM)?
Richard V