|
Re: Analysing survival rates among Luftwaffe air crew in 'Steinbock' and other operations
Crikey this is going deeper than I would ever have thought! I should say that EKI and EKII were commonplace and not much indication of experience while the wound badge was not an award per se but recognition of what one had experienced in combat. Frontflugspange are a better means of judging experience but the mention of the Manowarda crew is a good example of how imprecise this can be. Manowarda, who I knew well, first flew operationally in October 1940 and his logbook (copy of which I have to October 1943) gives a good idea of what Frontflugspange he wore (albeit photos I have of him only show him with the EKI & EKII). EKI and EKII were awarded to him early on and it would appear he only received the Ehrenpokal the day he was shot down. Perhaps it was because he was Austrian and according to members of his staffel with 1./KG 6 that he spoke his mind. Don't forget also that some POWs received decorations after their capture
Last edited by Chris Goss; 28th April 2022 at 18:46.
|