Hi all
I am trying to better understand how the Long-Range Day Fighter crews wore their Operational Flying Clasps. We have seen before that they wore the standard Day Fighter Clasps upside down. I think a specific Long-Range Day Fighter Clasp was officially authorised on 13th May 1942 but the photos I have, although not very clear, suggest the original Day Fighter Clasps were still being worn upside down in 1943-44.
Things are confused even more by the unit I am currently researching, which was re-designated through its history from II./ZG 1 to III./ZG 76 in June 1940 to II./SKG 210 in April 1941 and back to II./ZG 1 in January 1942. When the clasps first appeared in 1941, the unit was awarding Bomber clasps to its crews as members of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210, even though they were actually fighter-bomber crews. Clasps awarded after January 1942 and the re-designation back to ZG 1 are Fighter clasps!
I attach the clearest blow-up I can muster from my files. Not my original image so I have cropped it to obscure the recipient - sorry to be cryptic! This man was awarded the DKiG in April 1943 and is wearing it in this image so it is definitely spring 1943 or later and he is wearing his Gold Fighter Clasp upside-down (awarded 15th July 1942).
Does anyone have insight and evidence as to when the specific Long-Range Clasps were actually being issued?
Thanks and best wishes
Tim O.
I am trying to better understand how the Long-Range Day Fighter crews wore their Operational Flying Clasps. We have seen before that they wore the standard Day Fighter Clasps upside down. I think a specific Long-Range Day Fighter Clasp was officially authorised on 13th May 1942 but the photos I have, although not very clear, suggest the original Day Fighter Clasps were still being worn upside down in 1943-44.
Things are confused even more by the unit I am currently researching, which was re-designated through its history from II./ZG 1 to III./ZG 76 in June 1940 to II./SKG 210 in April 1941 and back to II./ZG 1 in January 1942. When the clasps first appeared in 1941, the unit was awarding Bomber clasps to its crews as members of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210, even though they were actually fighter-bomber crews. Clasps awarded after January 1942 and the re-designation back to ZG 1 are Fighter clasps!
I attach the clearest blow-up I can muster from my files. Not my original image so I have cropped it to obscure the recipient - sorry to be cryptic! This man was awarded the DKiG in April 1943 and is wearing it in this image so it is definitely spring 1943 or later and he is wearing his Gold Fighter Clasp upside-down (awarded 15th July 1942).
Does anyone have insight and evidence as to when the specific Long-Range Clasps were actually being issued?
Thanks and best wishes
Tim O.
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