Description
Germany, Luftwaffe – Short-Range Night Fighter Clasp, Bronze Grade (Nahkampffliegerspange)
This is an authentic World War II German Luftwaffe Short-Range Night Fighter Clasp, bronze grade, a combat qualification decoration instituted on January 30, 1941, by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring.
The bronze grade was awarded to Luftwaffe aircrew who completed 20 operational combat flights in short-range night fighter operations. The clasp was worn above the left breast pocket of the Luftwaffe uniform and denoted sustained operational service rather than a single act of bravery.
This example is constructed of blackened and silvered zinc, consistent with wartime manufacture. The obverse features a central blackened circular laurel leaf wreath, joined at the base by a swastika, enclosing a bronzed winged arrow pointing upward, the recognized symbol of fighter aviation. The wreath is flanked on each side by nine oak leaves, identifying this as the short-range variant of the clasp.
The reverse shows a centrally visible rivet securing the obverse arrow, along with a barrel hinge, tapering horizontal pinback, and flattened catch. The clasp is unmarked, which is correct and typical for many period-produced examples.
A historically significant Luftwaffe combat award, the Short-Range Night Fighter Clasp represents the demanding and dangerous nature of nocturnal aerial warfare. This bronze-grade example is well suited for collectors of WWII Luftwaffe insignia and flight-related decorations.
