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Luftwaffe Silver Bomber Clasp by Unknown Maker

Condition: Excellent

Maker: Unknown

Metal: Zink

SKU: C11350 Category: Tags ,

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Product Description: This Luftwaffe Silver Bomber Clasp is a beautiful example, with great original finish. The clasp is zink construction with soldered on set up and riveted bomb device.  On this clasp, some of the original silvering remains on the wreath and outer oak leaves, with some light, pleasant age patination and toning. The central winged bomb motif has great original darkening, giving it beautiful contrast. It is unmarked and was made by an unknown maker. The hardware setup is functional and shows no sign of repair, and features a soldered barrel hinge and flat wire catch, and a broad pin. The reverse shows only light age, matching the front. This Luftwaffe Silver Bomber Clasp has a great look and remains in excellent condition overall.

 

 

Historical Description: To acknowledge and recognize the achievements of Luftwaffe flight personnel who had taken part in missions against the enemy, the Luftwaffe in 1941 introduced a series of flight clasps, to be worn as awards on the uniform. The German term for this clasp was “Frontflugspange,” literally “Front Flight Clasp”; these are known to collectors as Flight Bars, Operational Flying Clasps or Squadron Clasps. The clasps took the form of a central emblem, set in a wreath of laurel leaves, and flanked on both sides by sprigs of oak leaves. On most designs, the German national swastika emblem was set at the bottom of the laurel wreath. The central emblem varied depending on the type of missions for which the clasp was awarded. An upward-pointed winged arrow was for Short Range Day Fighters, while a downward pointing winged arrow was for Long Range Day Fighters and Air to Ground Support (support crews later had their own crossed swords emblem). Bomber crews had a winged bomb emblem, a Luftwaffe eagle was chosen to represent Transport and Glider Squadrons, and an eagle head was worn by Reconnaisance, Air-Sea Rescue and Meteorological Squadrons. The clasps were produced in various grades to indicate the number of missions flown- Bronze for 20 flights, Silver for 60 flights and Gold for 100 flights. For personnel who surpassed the number of missions required for the Gold clasp, small pendants were produced, starting in 1942, to recognize the greater and greater numbers of missions being flown. There was a “star” pendant, that was given for certain numbers of flights beyond 100 missions (depending on the type of clasp, between 250 and 500 missions were required to earn the star). There were also numbered pendants, beginning with 200 missions, and increasing in increments of 100,. As with all Third Reich military awards, Luftwaffe flight clasps are highly sought after collectibles today.

 

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