PERSONAL GROUPING OF 11 DECORATIONS AND DOCUMENTS BELONGING TO WORLD WAR II GERMAN LUFTWAFFE STUKA PILOT AND GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD WINNER LIEUTENANT HEINZ SCHMITT

LUFTWAFFE FLIGHT OFFICERS (LIEUTENTANT'S RANK) SHOULDER BOARD

Pictured to the left is a photo of the front (top) view of the Luftwaffe Flight Officers Shoulder Board in a Lieutenant's rank that is part of this lot. As is clearly demonstrated by the photos, the board is a slip on type which shows some level of wear. Despite this, it is in excellent condition and does not exhibit any rips, moth holes or other deficiencies that would negate its presence as part of any Luftwaffe World War II era insignia collection on its own merits.

It should be further noted that there is no evidence, either via existing holes through the board, and/or by impression on its silver brocade surface, that there were ever any pips or unit markings of any kind that were ever connected to this board. As an aside, this is consistent with the standard practice utilized by Luftwaffe Flight personnel to avoid wearing any insignia or other items in the event of death or capture behind enemy lines that would provide unnecessary intelligence regarding their unit or themselves.

LUFTWAFFE BOMBER PILOT OPERATIONAL FLYING CLASP (FRONTFLUGSPANGE)

To identify those personnel who served in combat conditions for protracted periods of time, the Luftwaffe instituted a series of operational flying clasps on the anniversary of the NDSAP coming to power on 30 January 1941. While the original listing of service bars and qualification standards were changed several times during the course of the war to accommodate various deficiencies in the original institution of this award, the concept of the decoration itself remained relatively unchanged. Specific to that point, while separate bars were created for Day Fighter Pilots, Night Fighter Pilots, Air to Ground Support Squadrons, Bomber Formations and Reconnaissance activities, they all were awarded in a gold, silver and bronze class respectively based upon the following service formula:

On 26 June 1942, an upgrade was authorized to recognize the level of service of those who had surpassed the 110 flight criteria originally established for award of the first class bar. This additional award was a numbered pendant designed to hang from the center bottom of the first class bar and awarded as follows:

Fighter/Transport (500 flights), Bomber/Air Sea Rescue (300 flights), Long Range Fighters (400 flights) and Reconnaissance/Night Fighter (250 flights).

As Lt. Schmitt's father was a Luftwaffe Major, it is probably no coincidence that he made note of his son's "ALMOST" 300 mission status in his family statement, which almost qualified him to receive this highest of combat service awards.

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