The Radio Operator & Air Gunner's Badge () is a commonly accepted title for the ''Luftwaffen-Fliegerschützen-Bordfunker-und Bordmechanikerabzeichen'' (Combined Air Gunner, Radio Operator and Flight Engineer Badge). It was a German military decoration awarded to

radio operator A radio operator (also, formerly, wireless operator in British and Commonwealth English) is a person who is responsible for the operations of a radio system. The profession of radio operator has become largely obsolete with the automation of ra ...

s, air gunners and mechanics ( flight engineers) who were members of the German Air Force (

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

) after they completed two months training or had taken part in at least five operational flights. If wounded during an operational flight, the badge could be awarded and worn earlier. Later in June 1942, a separate badge was introduced for air gunners and flight engineers. That badge had the same qualifications.

Description

The badge came into existence in 1935. It was to be placed on the lower part of the left breast side of the tunic, below the

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

. The badge was oval in shape and had a silver-plated outside wreath around the rim. The middle of the wreath had a national eagle "flying from left to right in a downwards direction"; clutched in its claws were two crossed arrow-head lightning bolts. The polished eagle was also silver-plated but made of "oxidized old-silver" giving it a different shade of color than the polished wreath. The right side of the wreath was composed of laurel leaves and the left side of oak leaves. A Nazi swastika was at the bottom middle of the outside wreath. The badge was originally made of aluminum, however, in the latter stages of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

it was made only of a simple metal alloy. There was also a cloth version of the badge for Luftwaffe N.C.O.'s. The officer's cloth version was made of "silver bullion". On 22 June 1942, a separate Air Gunner's and Flight Engineer's badge () was introduced. It was awarded after an air gunner, mechanic (flight engineer) or aircrew meteorologist completed the same criteria which was required for this badge.

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References

* * * {{Subject bar , portal1=Military of Germany , portal2=World War II Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany Awards established in 1935