Criteria for flight crews to receive medals during 1939/1940

[Thomas H]

Hi all,

Probably not really the right forum, but think the best place to get answers

What were the criteria during 1939/1940 for receiving the EKII, EKI and Ehrenpokal for bomber- and fighter crews? Number of missions flown or for special events/personal merits?

In 1941 the clasps/Spangen came. Would someone retroactive receive 1, 2 or 3 clasps? Or just the highest one according to his current number of missions flown?

I have seen groups were the EKII and EKI were received with few days apart. This could not have always been done by flighing a lot of missions in a short period of time.

Regards, Thomas

[Brian R]

Hi Thomas. You will see various examples of criteria met for the EK1 and EK2, and it often depended on the type of aircraft. Number of sorties was a key determination but this wasn't as much the case with fighters, relative to bombers or recon, for instance. A certain number of kills could get a certain class of award but a number of key sorties over the North Sea in the interest of spotting British shipping could also meet criteria. A key mission to bomb a certain target or city could offset a minimum number of sorties, and even more, getting wounded could automatically get a flier an EK.

So, the criteria varied. But, I think it is safe to say that sorties was a key factor and other events could supersede minimums (depending on the aircraft and unit, of course).

[Thomas H]

Thank you for your information Brain!

Could someone also shad some light on the awarding of clasps to flight crews that already had high numbers on sorties flown before the introduction of the clasps?

Regards, Thomas

[Tim O.]

Hi Thomas

As Brian says, the EK could be awarded for many reasons. Single acts of bravery could win the EK II and EK I (if the EK II was already held) or a series of lesser acts could accumulate to achieve an award. Mass awards to units also occurred for example after the Polish campaign, Battle of France and Battle of Crete.

When the clasps were introduced in 1941, recipients received the clasp they were qualified for at that time. I have documents to a man who flew with transport units and converted to bombers. The first clasp he received was the Bomber Clasp in Gold. He later got the Star Pendant too. I have documents to two other bomber crew whose first clasp was Silver grade (both later received Gold before they were sadly killed). I have documents to several others who became active in 1940 and received bronze, silver, gold and gold with pendant as they accumulated missions.

On receiving a higher grade of clasp, the recipient was meant to hand in his previous grade. These were then awarded to others. There is plenty of evidence that soldiers kept all their clasps but only the highest grade held was authorised to be worn at any time.

Best wishes
Tim O.

[AFF96]

Well done Brian & Tim. As a small comment on clasps; as the different clasps were introduce through-out the war, most air crew were immediately qualified to receive the higher level silver, gold because of the late introduction of the specific clasp. That's why, as an example the air-to-ground clasp introduce late in the war, the bronze clasp is significantly more valuable than the silver & gold.

[Thomas H]

Hi Tim,

Thank you for explaining the awarding of clasps to the flight crews who were already active before the introduction of the clasp.

@ Gregory,

You are right. after I wrote my second post I thought about the air-to-ground clasp.

Best regards, Thomas

[AFF96]

Hi Tim,

Thank you for explaining the awarding of clasps to the flight crews who were already active before the introduction of the clasp.

@ Gregory,

You are right. after I wrote my second post I thought about the air-to-ground clasp.

Best regards, Thomas

As an example & for the heck of it here are my air-to-ground clasps.
DSC00528.JPG

[Tim O.]

As an example & for the heck of it here are my air-to-ground clasps.
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If you have it, flaunt it…. Very nice too!

[drlemans]

One Example :Ofw.Otto Wiese got the EK I (May 5. ,1941) for his first air victory ,because it was the first air victory in Long range night fighting. He got the EK I from Kammhuber personally.
In 1942/43 nighfighters got the EK I for 3-5 Air victories ,8 were needed for the honor goblet ,15 needed for the German Cross in Gold ,25 - Knights cross ,and 50 needed for Oak leaves.

[Tim Calvert]

Doc Lemans, speaking of Ofw Otto Weise.....I dont suppose you have any more info or photos of him?

[AFF96]

I just read a relatively new book by a German night-fighter pilot who told of a Goring visit to their group. When Goring saw his black wound badge, asked how/when it was earned; after his explanation "reached in his pocket & handed him an EK I". Then when he asked the next 3 aircrew & found out that they were downed & wounded by flak, exploded at the flak general present but didn't hand the 3 the EK I.
As many know Goring liked to personally spur of the moment hand out awards.

[Brian R]

A few examples of the scenarios we are talking about... most of these are in my book but here they are for those who haven't seen it.

First is these two citations to a Recon NCO (then officer) with Aufklärungsgruppe 122. He won his EK2 for flying long range reconnaissance missions over the North Sea in the fall of 1939. It's possible his crew was involved in the specific sighting of a ship that was ultimately attacked, but I'm guessing his award was for multiple sorties against the enemy. He went on to win the EK1 for service during the Battle of Britain. Again, it is my opinion that this award was for multiple recon missions against the enemy in support of the bombing campaign and not for a specific act.

Interestingly, he was awarded the Recon Flight Clasp in Bronze in April 1941. I would imagine he had enough for the Silver at this time but got the Bronze. He went on to be a school instructor and it appears he never actually got a higher Clasp.

[Brian R]

In this case, the EK2 is likely the result of the Polish campaign (as Tim noted above many awards were made after the victories over Poland and France). Roerborn was decorated with the EK2 in November 1939 and it is quite likely that various members of his unit were honored for their various bombing missions as well as an overall successful campaign. A year later, he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class. KG4 was involved in the Battle of Britain and the Blitz so it is likely that Roerborn saw a number of sorties against the British. In this case, his award came the day after the Luftwaffe's devastating raid on Coventry. So, it is likely this award was a culmination of various sorties against the enemy as well as the big raid of November 14, 1940

[Brian R]

This set is undoubtedly related to a wound. III Gruppe of KG 77 was involved in attacking London in late October 1940. Lukasch was an Observer and his plane was hit over England but managed to limp across the English Channel. It crashed in Abbeville, just over the French border, killing the gunner and badly wounding the pilot. Lukasch escaped with relatively minor injuries and was award the EK2 six days after the crash.

[Brian R]

And for fun, here is a late war citation for the Air to Ground Flight Clasp. It is my sense that these are quite rare as there were not too many Stuka Pilots flying Air to Ground Missions at this stage of the war who had survived long enough to amass enough flights to qualify. I have his Bronze and Silver Clasp citations too but they are, as expected, traditional Bomber Clasps.

Beneking flew on the Russian Front in the spring of 1944 with Rudel and Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelman". He transferred to Nachtschlachtgruppe 8 in Finland and later flew missions against the Russians on the Oder Bridgehead in April 1945.