Radio Operator Badge

The Radio Operator & Airgunner's Badge (Fliegerschützenabzeichen für Bordfunker) was a German military decoration awarded to radio operators, air gunners and mechanics (flight engineers) who were members of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) after they completed two months training or had taken part in at least five operational flights. If one were wounded during an operational flight, the badge could be awarded 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 badge was oval in shape and had a silver plated outside wreath around the rim. The middle of the wreath had an in flight national eagle clutching in its claws two crossed arrow-head lightning bolts. The polished eagle was also silver-plated but made of "oxydized 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 The badge was originally made of aluminum, however, in the latter stages of the war it was made only of a simple metal alloy. There was also a cloth version of the badge. The Luftwaffe officer's cloth version was made of "silver bullion".

On 22 June 1942, a separate Air Gunner's and Flight Engineer's badge (Fliegerschützenabzeichen für Bordschützen und Bordmechaniker) 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.