Hi there I'm trying to perform research on a medal grouping and I was wondering if non-recon squadron personnel be awarded with recon clasps if that was their role. i.e. Can bomber/fighter squadrons have recon pilots in there to the point there they could earn the recon gold clasp with pennant?
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It is not a dumb question but to the best of my knowledge the designation of a unit decided the type of clasp awarded. I have aircrew logbooks that show reconnaissance aircraft undertaking 'armed reconnaissance' carrying bombs and bomber aircraft undertaking 'weather reconnaissance' and 'reconnaissance'; I even have one example from 5./KG 53 of a Heinkel 111 crew hunting Russian bombers by night and shooting down several over a period of time. Although the activity might suggest bomber, reconnaissance and fighter the photo evidence of the men involved clearly shows them wearing the clasps appropriate to their unit designations - i.e. In the above examples: reconnaissance, bomber and bomber.
The only time I have personally seen a change in clasp is when a man transferred units. I have documents for one man awarded the Gold Reconnaissance Clasp, who from photo evidence clearly swapped his Gold Reconnaissance Clasp for a Gold Bomber Clasp when he transferred to KG40 later in the war. I do not believe he held any certificate other than that for the Gold Reconnaissance Clasp.
As the Germans had specialist units for each task I think it is pretty certain the clasps reflected the unit designation: reconnaissance, bomber, transport, fighter. A reconnaissance Staffel could for example be assigned to support a bomber Gruppe but it always remained a reconnaissance Staffel.
Hope this helps. -
Thanks Tim for the really detailed answer, until now I've not seen any award criteria that specifically states what kind of personnel gets what kind of clasp. Your empirical evidence has helped me to narrow down my research.Comment
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