Luftwaffe Silver Fighter Clasp, Long Range Day Fighter(1941 frontflugspange für Zerstörer u. Schlachtflieger)
Price: Sold
Description: Silvered fine-zinc Luftwaffe LRDF Clasp; unmarked retaining approximately 90% of its original finish; An uncommon flight clasp in superb condition; $595.
Background: The Long Range Day Fighter & Air-to-Ground Support Operational Flying Clasp was introduced by Göring on January 30th 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. Besides the original three clasps five more Operational flying clasps were introduced between November 1941 and April 1944, and by mid-1942 many pilots and air crews were surpassing the number of Operational flights required for award of the clasps, so on June 26th 1942, Göring introduced a starburst pendant device to recognize operational flights 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 Heavy, Medium and Dive Bombers Clasps the star burst pendant device signified four hundred operational flights. On April 29th 1944 a numbered pendant was introduced as personnel’s operational flight numbers even exceeded the prescribed number required for the star-burst pendant. The numbered pendants began at “200” and went up as high as “2000” in increments of one hundred.
