Award of the EKI

[bjorn_rose]

What would the crew of a Zerstörer squadron flying Bf110s in August 1940 have to do to be awarded an EKI?

Clearly individual circumstances would come into play, but was there not some rule about being awarded the EKII and then the EKI for shooting down a certain number of enemy aircraft?

Finally, would both of the crew from a Bf110 be awarded the EKI if they had always flown as a team or just the pilot?

Bjorn

[VtwinVince]

There was no set criterion for award of the EK1, but generally if one was aircrew, a certain number of sorties or victories was taken into account. During the BoB the EK1 was not given out readily, so perhaps three or four victories was in order. And both members of the crew would be similarly decorated.

[Spanferkel]

Bjorn,

I’m not certain there was a set criteria outlining the awarding of the EK2 and EK1. It seems that a few different scenarios would result in the awarding of the EK1 or EK2.

I have a few Soldbuch and Wehrpas to ZG pilots who flew during the period you noted and both were awarded the EK1. One of the pilots Oberleutnant Hans Barschel was most likely awarded the EK1 for the three (3) victories he had scored. His actual award of the EK1 came in July 40. The other pilot Hauptmann Kurt Bruegmann was awarded the EK1 in August of 40 and likely received this decoration for a combination of ground attack and number of flights with contact over enemy territory.

I’m not 100% certain, perhaps others can confirm this, but if flight crews had served together up until this point (Aug 40) it is likely they would have received the same awards unless there were particular events that warranted one or the other only receiving the decoration.

Jeremy

[bjorn_rose]

Thank you gentlemen.

Bjorn