Civil pilot and radio operator badge

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Graphic representation of the civil aircraft and radio operator badge

The civil aircraft and radio operator badge was donated on April 1, 1936 by Hermann Göring . According to his foundation decree, this clasp was only awarded to the civilian flying personnel of the German Air Force .

prehistory

After the founding of the German air force on 1 March 1935, was on March 14, 1935 for their pilots pilot badge and eventually the board members for radio operator badge with and without thunderbolt introduced. However, the Air Force also employed civilians in its ranks:

  • Pilot (test, acceptance or transfer pilots),
  • Flight operations manager,
  • Aircraft captains,
  • Main flight instructor,
  • Flight and auxiliary flight instructors,
  • Location and navigation teacher,
  • News teacher,
  • Meteorologists
  • Radio operators

In order to honor these people with a visible symbol, the civil aircraft and radio operator badges were finally donated.

Implementing provisions

Conditions for the award

The award provisions were in extracts as follows:

Civil pilot badge

Civil pilots employed in the Air Force and working as such could be awarded the civil pilot badge if they were in possession of the B 2 including K-1 (flight license) and were employed pilots for one year after acquiring the aforementioned licenses in the Air Force, Flight instructors etc. were used.

Civil radio operator badge

Airborne radio operators or mechanics who work in the Air Force and who are paid from Reich funds can be awarded the civil radio operator badge (board mechanic badge) if they have a 1st class aircraft or an on-board attendant's ID and have been working in the Air Force continuously for one year since then .

Application award

The applications for the award had to be submitted to the RLM for the first time on April 15, 1936, according to a sample form, using the usual official channels to the command of the flying schools and the departments directly subordinate to the Reich Aviation Ministry. In the following period on the 1st of each month. A corresponding award certificate was issued about the award. In the case of meteorologists, possession of the special flight radio certificate was sufficient if they had been employed in practical meteorological service for at least one year without interruption.

Withdrawal and return

The badges could be left on "honorable" resignation from the air force, but could no longer be worn visibly. An exception to this was in the event of departure due to an aircraft accident through no fault of your own. Likewise, the badge had to be discarded when the entrusted transferred to active personnel in the Air Force. Incidentally, stripped badges and award certificates were to be returned to the departments that had awarded them at the time.

Appearance, texture and way of wearing

Civil aviator badge

The civil aviator's badge is made of tombac and shows a two-winged clasp, the wings of which are enamelled in blue. The wingspan of the pair of wings is approx. 80 mm, its height 16 mm. In the center of the crossing wings you can see a golden swastika standing on its head . The same badge was also available in embroidered form in the same shape and size as the metal version. However, here the pair of wings were blue and the swastika in gold embroidery. The contours of the wing bones, the feathers themselves and the outer border were edged with gold thread.

Civil radio operator badge

The civil radio operator badge is silver-plated and resembles the pilot badge in its external layout, but is a bit longer with a length of approx. 62 mm. The height is approx. 80 mm. The outer edges of the pair of wings are also polished. The execution in embroidered form was made with light aluminum web.

Carrying method

Both badges were attached to the jacket on the left breast pocket directly below the opening with a hinge pin soldered onto the back, along with a counter hook. It was allowed to wear the embroidered form on the flyer combination .

literature

  • Militaria magazine. 05/2009 pp. 222–226, author: Klaus D. Patzwall.
  • Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1936, item 420.
  • André Hüsken : Catalog of the orders and decorations of the German Reich 1871 to 1945.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, Item 420, Item 1 Paragraph 1 of the provision.
  2. ↑ a b Militaria magazine. 05/2009, p. 225, author: Klaus D. Patzwall .
  3. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, Item 420, Item 1 Paragraph 2 of the provision.
  4. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, item 420, item 2 of the provision.
  5. ↑ Militaria magazine. 05/2009 p. 225f, author: Klaus D. Patzwall.
  6. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, Item 420, Items 4, 5 and 6 of the provision
  7. ↑ a b c d Militaria magazine. 05/2009 p. 226, author: Klaus D. Patzwall.
  8. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, Item 420, Appendix 3, Item 1 of the provision.
  9. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, Section 420, Appendix 3, Number 2 of the provision.
  10. ↑ Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet of April 6, 1940, Item 420, Appendix 3, Section “Headquarters” of the provision.