Authorisation to Wear Combat Clasps

[Tim O.]

Hi Guys

I have just started researching an award certificate grouping for a Luftwaffe Hauptmann - there are lots of papers, flying logs and photos so it will take a long time! He started the war flying with the coastal units of the Kriegsmarine and got transferred to the Luftwaffe when it took over control of all military flying.

The man in question was awarded bronze, silver and gold Recce clasps while serving in a flying boat unit (Heinkel 115) but in the middle of the war he transferred as a Staffelkapitan to KG 40 (flying FockeWulf 200 Condors), i.e. he transferred from Recce to Bombers.

Early photos show him wearing Recce clasps but later ones show him wearing a Bomber Clasp in Gold. I can understand the credibility of wearing a Bomber clasp if you are commanding a bomber squadron but my question is whether he was authorised to obtain a Gold Bomber clasp against the Gold Recce clasp certificate I now have, or whether this would be unofficial.

I have seen where men switched branches and subsequent clasps awarded reflected the new branch but I have not seen a case where an existing clasp (already awarded) was exchanged for the same grade representing the new branch.

Does anybody know the rules on this?

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Tim,

That is an excellent question. I am in the middle of researching the actual award regulations myself, but haven't gotten everything I am looking for yet. But what I know right now, I think the answer to your question would depend on WHEN your recipient switched his Recon Clasp to a Bomber Clasp.

As you probably know, the regulations of April 1941 stated that when a man switched trades, he would be allowed to wear the clasp that reflected his new trade. This is certainly true as he gained missions, but not really sure if he was allowed to simply switch a gold bomber for his gold recon clasp if all his 110 missions were already complete as a recon flier.

However, I think this point become mute with the regulations of November 1943, which stated that the recipient must wear the type of clasp which represented a MAJORITY of his missions (i.e., if he gained most of his missions for the recon clasp, he would have to wear the recon clasp and couldn't switch it for the bomber).

So my thought is that if your recipient had 110 missions for the recon clasp, then he couldn't switch it for the bomber. If he did, then it was either done BEFORE November 1943 or it was done against regulations after this date.

Tom

[Tim O.]

Hi Tom

I knew you would have the answer!

My man was awarded the Recce Clasp in Gold in November 1941 while serving with 1./106. He records his first flight with KG40 on 22nd June 1942. He flew a number of aircraft types with KG40 in a non-combatant role but his first fiendflug was in a FW 200 Condor on 14th July 1942.

This therefore fits your interpretation very well.

A lot more to research on this man.

Thanks for the information.

Best wishes
Tim O.