Assmann? Who needs Assmann?

[Matthew]

There's only one badge in there that's a combat badge, the flak. The rest are JUST qualification badges. Birds on a soft nest.

Robert

That might be true, then again the pilot is qualified to deliver the gunner who is qualified to light up enemy's flak positions and drop the paras who are qualified to sweep up the dust that might remain from previously mentioned flak positions
cheers
Matt

[Robert P.]

That might be true, then again the pilot is qualified to deliver the gunner who is qualified to light up enemy's flak positions and drop the paras who are qualified to sweep up the dust that might remain from previously mentioned flak positions
cheers
Matt

Very true,

But they earn the badges without doing any of this. The flak badge was not won by drilling, but by actual combat conditions. That's the real difference. Only those who earned the badge under combat conditions could wear it. It was won in the field, not at home while training.

The other badges are beautiful badges though, and worn with pride for passing the riggers of hard training. They were the mark of those who sucessfully and efficiently prepared themselves for future combat. The lowly flak crewmembers had nothing to show for his training. Every patch and badge he wore, other than rank, was combat-earned, just as our US artilleryman.

Robert

[Mike H]

Pilot badges ...

As a former military pilot, I cannot help but comment on Robert's post. He is entirely right, the Flak badge was earned under combat conditions -- a true "war" badge -- and the pilot's badge was a "qualification" badge.

I can tell you this, though. After 20 years in the US Air Force and reserves and having serving with many pilots and other crew members, it is the pilot's badge that we treasured the most. The Air Force even did surveys -- the wings were always worn on the shirt but most pilots would not bother with the ribbons. Generally, only non-pilots working in personnel wore racks of ribbons. Of course, we all had them on the Class A's. In other words, we were proudest of the fact that we are Air Force pilots -- the ribbons for various achievements (combat or not) came later.

I suspect it was the same with the Luftwaffe. The only pilot's badge I have left in my collection was given to me by an ex-Luftwaffe pilot who flew the JU-88's and ME-262's during the war. He ended up a prisoner of the Americans in 1945, thankfully, and went home in August of that year. He earned that badge in 1943 and carefully kept it until he gave it to me at a rather emotional dinner we had together in 2000 in Germany. He wanted to be sure it got passed on to someone who would honor and treasure it. It will be buried with me. It ain't mint -- and it's a BSW -- but it was worn by my friend for almost two years during the toughest time of the war for him.

Sorry for the long message -- but us military pilots feel very strongly about our wings.

Mike Heuer

[Mike H]

Back to badges ...

For your enjoyment.

[Mike H]

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[Mike H]

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[Robert P.]

Mike,

I had no idea you were a 20-year veteran and pilot. I respect that. I, like many others from 1967-68, qualified for my US Army helicopter aircrew wings after completing fixed wing and helicopter maintenance/crewchief and doorgunner school in Ft. Rucker, AL. We all were very proud of our sterling aircrew wings, especially the silver on OD cloth wings we wore on our field jackets, which are so very hard to find today. As tradition had it, we enlisted graduates would file over to the warrant officer pilot graduate ceremony, and catch a one-dollar bill with the 'WOC' collar insignia pinned to it as they would throw them out in the ranks of the enlisted crewmembers. I forgot what this all signified, but I caught one and kept it for many years. In short, we were all filled with pride as we pinned our new wings to our class A's over our National Defense Service ribbon. Our 'rack' grew with our overseas tours. For an aircrewmember in an Air Cav unit, the single-most notable 'achievement' I wore home were my two 1st Aviation Brigade patches I wore on both sleeves. This represented two tours. In our unit this was something to brag about - we had survived two tours. The patch on the right sleeve was worn with pride. That was many moons ago for this old man.

Robert

[Mike H]

Ang

A photo taken about 20 years ago. Gosh, it seems like a long time ... sorry to hijack this thread but it brings back memories.

Mike

[Robert P.]

Mike,

Are you a major, Lt. Col.? What bird are you sitting in?

I don't have a photo of me in my flight gear, but this is the 'Nighthawk' UH-1D I flew in. The starlight scope has been removed from atop the spotlight. The spotlight later gave way to 105mm howitzer 1-million candlepower aerial flares. The trick for the pilot was to miss the spent canister and chute.

Robert

[Mike H]

...

Robert,

I was a Major sitting in the KC-135E.

If there are guys I respect, it's the gunners on those helicopters. Thanks for your service.

Mike

[Robert P.]

Robert,

I was a Major sitting in the KC-135E.

If there are guys I respect, it's the gunners on those helicopters. Thanks for your service.

Mike

The very same to you Mike,

There was nothing like flying treetop level at insane speeds.

Robert