The Aircrew Badge () was a German military decoration awarded to members of the

German Air Sports Association The German Air Sports Association (''Deutscher Luftsportverband'', or DLV e. V.) was an organisation set up by the Nazi Party in March 1933 to establish a uniform basis for the training of military pilots. Its chairman was Hermann Göring and its v ...

(''Deutscher Luftsportverband'' or DLV e. V.), an organisation set up by the

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...

in March 1933 to establish a uniform basis for the training of military pilots. The German Air Sports Association was a cover organization for the future German Air Force (

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

). Its chairman was the future Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe

Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German politician, military leader and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1 ...

and its vice-chairman Ernst Röhm. Since the

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles (french: Traité de Versailles; german: Versailler Vertrag, ) was the most important of the peace treaties of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June ...

officially forbade Germany from building fighter planes of any sort, the German Air Sports Association used gliders to train men who were still officially civilians for the future Luftwaffe. It was the first qualification badge recognized by the Luftwaffe.

Description

The badge came into existence in 1933. To be placed on the lower part of the left breast pocket, it was worn by pilots and observers. It had the national eagle clutching a Nazi swastika at the top and a wreath around the outside rim. The left side of the wreath was composed of oak leaves and the right side of laurel leaves. The wreath pattern was reversed in 1935. The badge was made of silver and was grey in appearance. The Aircrew Badge became the official Pilot/Observer Badge for the Luftwaffe on 19 January 1935. However, it was replaced by a newer

Pilot/Observer Badge The Pilot/Observer Badge (german: Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe service personnel who had already been awarded the Pilot's Badge and Observer Badge. It was instituted ...

instituted by Göring in 1936. The original badge was then removed from circulation and retired. For that reason, it is considered a rare badge of the Luftwaffe.

Notes

References

* * {{Subject bar , portal1=Military of Germany , portal2=World War II Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany Hermann Göring Awards established in 1933 1933 establishments in Germany Military gliding Gliding in Germany