Luftwaffe Reconnaissance, Air/Sea Rescue Flying Clasp (G)
Price: $675
BUY / RESERVE THIS ITEMDescription: Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Gold. Constructed of gilt tombak, the obverse consisting of a circular laurel leaf wreath, overlaid by a leftward-facing eagle’s head, flanked on each side by nine detailed oak leaves, the reverse with a central rivet securing the obverse eagle in place, with a barrel hinge and horizontal pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 75 mm (w) x 25 mm (h), weighing 23 grams, a quality clasp in extremely fine condition.
Reference: The Reconnaissance, Air/Sea Rescue and Meteorological Operational Flying Clasp was introduced by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring January 1941, along with two other clasps, in a series of eight that were instituted at different points through-out the war to recognize the increasing number of operational flights achieved by specialized Luftwaffe personnel. All eight of the clasps were awarded in three grades of, Bronze for twenty operational flights, Silver for sixty operational flights, and Gold for one hundred ten operational flights. By mid-1942 many pilots and air crew were surpassing the number of operational flights required for award of the clasps, so in June 1942, Göring introduced a star burst pendant device to recognize operational flights of over one hundred and ten with a prescribed number of operational flights required for award depending on the type of clasp. In the case of the Reconnaissance, Air/Sea Rescue and Meteorological clasp three hundred operational flights were necessary for the award of the star burst pendant. Of Note: Due to the ever increasing operational flights achieved by Luftwaffe personnel Göring decided to replace the sun burst pendant April 1944 with a new numbered pendant. The numbered pendants began at “200” and went up as high as “2000” in increments of one hundred.
