(Frontflugspange)

Date Instituted

* Day fighters (Tagjäger) instituted 30 January 1941


* Night fighters (Nachtjäger) instituted 14 August 1942


* Long-range day fighters (Zerstörer) instituted 13 May 1942


* Air-to-Ground support (Schlachtflieger) instituted 12 April 1944


* Long-range night fighters and night intrudes (Fernnachjäger) instituted 14 August 1942


* Heavy, medium and dive-bombers (Kampf- und Sturzkampfflieger) instituted 30 January 1941


* Reconnaissance, air/sea rescue, meteorological (Aufklärer, seenotflieger, wetter-erkundung) instituted 30 January 1941


* Transport and glider (Transport und Luftlandeflieger) instituted 19 November 1941

Requirements

3rd Class - 20 operational flights
2nd Class - 60 operational flights
1st Class - 110 operational flights

Number Awarded

?

Award Documents

Bomber - Feldwebel Ernst Recke


Reconnaissance - Oberleutnant Joachim Peeck

Known makers/markings

RK, B.W.S, R.S & S, S & S, F & BL, M. KUNSTOFF, BSW, BWL, JMME & SOHN


Oberst Hannes Trauloft

(Courtesy of D.W. Paul)

Feldwebel with Operational Flying Clasp

(Courtesy of David Vercruysse)

Oberfeldwebel Richard Heller

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3 0 Germany)

Comments

On 26 June 1942 a pendant with a gold star was authorized for the following number of flights:
* Fighter and transport - 500
* Dive bomber and long range fighters - 400
* Bombers, air/sea rescue and meteorological - 300
* Reconnaissance and night figher - 250

On 29 April 1944 a box with the number of flights was authorized as pendant.
The pendant was awarded for 200 flights and upwards in increments of 100, example: 400 flights

It was designed by Professor von Weech.

Photo courtesy of Rusfront, Kevin Rosemann, N & T Global Trading & Johnson Reference Books and Militaria

Sources used

Christopher Ailsby - A collectors guide to the Luftwaffe
Christopher Ailsby - World War 2 German medals and political awards
John R. Angolia - For Führer and Fatherland: Military awards of the Third Reich
David Littlejohn - Orders, decorations, medals and badges of the Third Reich