The sign was established on January 19, 1935 by the Reich Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe German Goering. The badge was awarded exclusively to flight personnel as a flight operator, gunner and flight mechanic trained as an on-board gunner, but not earlier than a year after the start of basic training. During the course of the war, the award rules were changed. Thus, the badge could be awarded after 2 months or 5 enemy flights, or even when injured on enemy flights. In 12.12.1941, the Luftwaffe Gunner Sign was introduced without a thunderstorm bundle for gunner and flight mechanics. It was here that the original lightning bolts were subsequently removed. Badges with a black wreath without lightning were awarded by the end of the war to flight personnel without training as a boron shooter and without an Air Force license, but with at least 10 enemy flights or injuries. The operation was to be carried out by clear order. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen before 1945, vol. IV, 2001.
Punched zinc work badge. The eagle is minted separately and riveted to the wreath. The wreath is silver, the eagle is tinted. At the back is a vertical pin.
Front side:
Downside:
Photos of www.militaria-berlin.de
Front side: Sign of pilot-gunner without lightning beam
Reverse: Lightning Beam Free Pilot Gunner Badge
Awards of World War II