Heer Officer wearing Observer Badge?

[vonStubben]

Can anyone fill me in on what kind of combined Luftwaffe/Heer flying unit this might be?

[vonStubben]

Observers badge

[Sebastien T]

I guess he was in the Luft and switch to the Heer and kept his badge. There's some example also who some went to the KM. Some good example here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=633114&page=3

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Chuck,

I notice the guy doesn't have a single combat award, not even an EK2. No ribbons, nothing. My feeling is that he probably trained as an Obverser in the LW, but then transferred the Heer as the need was greater for field soldiers as the war progressed.

Tom

[vonStubben]

The group photo shows both Heer and Luftwaffe Officers gathered for a possible briefing so it seems that they were working in unison.

Unfortunately the photo of the Heer officers shoulder board unit cyphers can't be made out so that doesn't help.

[vonStubben]

Hi Chuck,

I notice the guy doesn't have a single combat award, not even an EK2. No ribbons, nothing. My feeling is that he probably trained as an Obverser in the LW, but then transferred the Heer as the need was greater for field soldiers as the war progressed.

Tom

That could very well be but the photos in this grouping (which came from a large lot of varying documents from a wife or family member) are dated either 41 or 42, if this helps any.

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Sometimes officers were cross trained to promote better understanding of the capabilities between Heer and Luft as they needed to work hand in glove.

[Tim O.]

In the early days of the war a lot of short range reconnaissance observers were army men, just as observers in the coastal units were navy men. The army men had expertise the Luftwaffe did not possess at this time, such as spotting for artillery. Aircraft would probably be Henschel 126 and the unit designation would contain an H in brackets for Heer (army) cooperation unit. Later in the war all army and navy fliers were absorbed into the Luftwaffe and changed uniforms accordingly. I suggest this could be an Army Cooperation reconnaissance unit.

[vonStubben]

In the early days of the war a lot of short range reconnaissance observers were army men, just as observers in the coastal units were navy men. The army men had expertise the Luftwaffe did not possess at this time, such as spotting for artillery. Aircraft would probably be Henschel 126 and the unit designation would contain an H in brackets for Heer (army) cooperation unit. Later in the war all army and navy fliers were absorbed into the Luftwaffe and changed uniforms accordingly. I suggest this could be an Army Cooperation reconnaissance unit.

Thanks Tim. This is the info I was looking for as I believed the same thing given that none of them seem to be sporting any awards plus one or two more factors.

Thanks for the breakdown of how they worked together.

Chuck