{{Use shortened footnotes|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox award |name=Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe<br>''Frontflugspange'' |image=Frontflugspange.jpg |image_size=250px |caption=Front Flying Clasp for Bombers |presenter=[[Nazi Germany]] |type=[[Medal bar|Clasp]] |eligibility=Military personnel |awarded_for=number of operational flights flown |campaign=[[World War II]] |status= |description= |clasps= |established=30 January 1941 |firstawarded= |lastawarded= |total_awarded= |total_awarded_posthumously= |total_recipients= |individual= |higher= |same= |lower= |related= |image2=[[File:Strike fighter clasp luftwaffe.jpg|250px]] |caption2=Front Flying Clasp for Air to Ground Support Fighters }} The '''Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe''' ({{langx|de|Frontflugspange}}) was a [[World War II]] [[Nazi Germany|German]] military decoration awarded to aircrew and certain other [[Luftwaffe]] personnel in recognition of the number of operational flights flown. It was instituted by ''[[Reichsmarschall]]'' [[Hermann Göring]] on 30 January 1941. It was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with an upgrade to include diamonds possible. [[Pennon|Pennant]]s suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|pp=222–223}} Front Flying Clasps were issued for missions completed in the following Luftwaffe aircraft:{{sfn|Angolia|1987|pp=222–223}}
*Day Fighters *Night Fighters *Long Range Night Fighters *Heavy Fighters *Air to Ground Support Fighters *Bombers *Reconnaissance *Transport and Glider
The different clasps were inaugurated on: *30 January 1941 for the Front Flying Clasp{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=222}} *26 June 1942 for the Pennant to the Gold Front Flying Clasp{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=223}} *29 April 1944 for the Pennant with number of mission{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=224}}
==Design== [[File:Frontflugspange der Luftwaffe version 57.jpg|thumb|upright|Denazified versions 1957]] All badges are formed of a central device (usually blackened) encircled by a wreath of laurel leaves set between two stylized wings of oak leaves with a swastika located at the base of the wreath. Clasps measure approximately {{convert|7.5|cm|inch|0|abbr=on}} by {{convert|2.5|cm|inch|0|abbr=on}}. The various designs of the central device was determined from the type of aircraft flown. The clasp pennant was instituted as additional recognition for the increased number of operational missions/flights, which grew as the war continued.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|pp=222–223}} As part of the post-war program of the German [[Denazification]], in 1957 these clasps were made available for wear with their [[Swastika]] emblems removed.
==Criteria for qualification== * Bronze - 20 flown missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=222}} * Silver - 60 flown missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=222}} * Gold - 110 flown missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=222}}
Pennant to the Gold Front Flying Clasp *Day Fighters and Transport Units: 500 missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=223}} *Air to Ground Support Fighters: 400 missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=223}} *Bombers, Air Sea Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance: 300 missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=223}} *Reconnaissance and Night Fighters: 250 missions{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=223}}
== Notes == {{reflist}}
== References == *{{cite book | last = Angolia | first = John | title = For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich | publisher = R. James Bender Publishing | year = 1987 | isbn = 0912138149 }}
{{List of military decorations of the Third Reich |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Front Flying Clasp Of The Luftwaffe}} [[Category:Awards established in 1941]] [[Category:Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany]] [[Category:1941 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Luftwaffe]] [[Category:Hermann Göring]]