Nice period photos (all jackets except A-2's)

[Emchisti]

My French great-grandfather, Lucien. He was an aerial observer during the First World War, seconded by the French army to the Serbian army. He is holding a photo of my great-grandmother, whom I knew (but not him, even though he survived the war).
I have his military pilot's logbook with his war missions (aerial photography missions of the front).

That's utterly fantastic.

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Col. Sink

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

 

[ZuZu]

View attachment 164065View attachment 164067View attachment 164069

No one ever came close to their top guys.

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

 

[B-Man2]

I have a question…. All of the pilots pictured above won the “Knights Cross” some with oak leaves, some with swords and oak leaves, some with oak leaves, swords and diamonds, which I think was the highest award given .
Were there specific numbers of aircraft that they had to shoot down to qualify for each award? I assume that there were. Does anyone know what those numbers were?

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Werner Molders , awarded his knight cross, after he became a triple ace (ww2 score ), awarded oak leaf with swords and diamonds after his total score over 100 (ww2 score).

Eric Hartmann , as another example, awarded Iron Cross 2nd class, after he scored his 15th victory. Awarded Knight Cross after his 150th victory. Awarded his diamonds after 250th victory.

 

[B-Man2]

Werner Molders , awarded his knight cross, after he became a triple ace (ww2 score ), awarded oak leaf with swords and diamonds after his total score over 100 (ww2 score).

Eric Hartmann , as another example, awarded Iron Cross 2nd class, after he scored his 15th victory. Awarded Knight Cross after his 150th victory. Awarded his diamonds after 250th victory.

Doesn’t seem like there was any consistency with regard to numbers of aircraft shot down. Molders gets the Knights Cross for being a triple ace ( 15 kills) Hartman has 15 kills and gets the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Thats a very big difference in awards .

 

[Lorenzo_l]

I have a question…. All of the pilots pictured above won the “Knights Cross” some with oak leaves, some with swords and oak leaves, some with oak leaves, swords and diamonds, which I think was the highest award given .
Were there specific numbers of aircraft that they had to shoot down to qualify for each award? I assume that there were. Does anyone know what those numbers were?

I understand that there was a points system, whereby different enemy aircraft types (fighters, multi-engine, reconnaissance, etc) were allocated a certain number of points. Each decoration was worth a number of points.
So pilots had to shoot down aircraft and accrue points that would entitle them to certain and specific decorations.
But as ZZ Top would sing, "but I might be mistakeeennn! Hao, hao, hao, hao..."

 

[B-Man2]

I understand that there was a points system, whereby different enemy aircraft types (fighters, multi-engine, reconnaissance, etc) were allocated a certain number of points. Each decoration was worth a number of points.
So pilots had to shoot down aircraft and accrue points that would entitle them to certain and specific decorations.
But as ZZ Top would sing, "but I might be mistakeeennn! Hao, hao, hao, hao..."

Thanks for that info Lorenzo.

 

[Lorenzo_l]

Thanks for that info Lorenzo.

My pleasure, Burt.
Apparently, the points system was only used in the western front, as the Germans believed it was easier to shoot down Soviet aircraft than aircraft in the western front. More information here:

Luftwaffe Score System