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Description
Short Range Day Fighter Gold Clasp, with 500 Operational Flight Pendant. Gilded circular wreath with a Swastika at the bottom. Extending from either side of the wreath are gold coloured sprigs of oak leaves. Voided within the wreath is a silver winged-arrow pointing upwards. Suspended from the bottom of the wreath by two ring-hooks, is a gilt pendant in the form of star, with a spray of laurel leaves on either side.
History / Summary
The Short Range Day Fighter Gold Clasp was one of a series of flying clasps (Frontflugspange) originally instituted at the beginning of 1941 to reward aircrew who had flown a large number of operational sorties. A bronze clasp was awarded for 20 missions, silver for 60 and gold for 110. The following year, a pendant device of a gold star with sprays of laurel leaves on either side, was instituted to recognise larger numbers of operational flights completed - 250, 300, 400 or 500 depending upon the branch of service. By mid 1944, this pendant had been replaced by a new variety containing a boxed numeral marked in increments of 100 from 200 to 2000, indicative of the greater pressure now being placed upon Luftwaffe aircrew.
