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Re: Analysing survival rates among Luftwaffe air crew in 'Steinbock' and other operations
Hi Simon
As Chris mentioned in a previous post, if experience is what you want to assess it would be better to look at the Frontflugspange (FFS - Operational Flying Clasps). These tend to be a reasonably accurate way of assessing experience rather than EK 2, EK 1, etc. as there are so many variables around why EKs were (or were not) awarded. The FFS were issued from spring 1941 so work for your period of interest.
Two extreme examples from my collection of why this is a better method:
1. An Oberfeldwebel Bordfunker with 5./KG 54. Awarded his first FFS on 23 June 1941. The award was new at this time so his first award was in Gold as he had been in action in Poland and Norway and had completed 131 Frontflüge by that date. Unusually he was not awarded the EK 1 until 4 July 1941 - he had completed 144 Frontflüge by then.
2. A Feldwebel Bordschütze with 8./KG 55. Awarded the FFS in Bronze on 13 May 1941. He only flew over Britain and had completed 24 Frontflüge when he was shot down over Britain and made a POW on 12 May 1941. He had already been awarded the EK 1 on 11 May 1941 with 'just' 22 Frontflüge completed.
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Best wishes
Tim O.
Looking for any information or documents relating to:
Alfred Schmittka 5./KG 54; Josef Harmeling 4.(Schlacht)/LG 2; Wilhelm Gaul 1./106, 2./906 & III./KG 40; Karl-Herman Lion III./StG 1; Werner Breese 5.(F)/122
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