Tudor Greceanu's 800 missions bagde

I spoke once about an interview with Tudor Greceanu, a year before his death in the "Memorialul Durerii" series. I saw the interview once more and there is an 800 missions badge among Greceanu's awards. In his book about the Romanian aces, Denes wrote that he flew about 300 war missions, witch is very far from the 800 shown by the badge. But maybe all these missions were not only wartime missions???

Thanks;
bm

Never heard of an ARR pilot with over 700 miss.

Even 700 combat missions is much too high for a Rumanian aiman. Only the Germans (and perhaps the Soviets) flew that many (if they survived long enough).
Wasn't that clasp awarded for 250 combat missions?

Gen. Dénes

P.S. Compare these numbers with the number of missions needed for a US airman to fulfill his tour before returning home: 25.

The badge has the same shape with Serbanescu's badge. (Cf; Serbanescu's photo in his G6 copckit in the small biography at the end of the "Romanian aces"). Under the badge (in gold - at least the color is gold) it is written 800. If he couldn't flew so many missions... you suppose that it is a fake?

bm

Could it be 800 missions flown by the entire 7th Fighter Group?

Could it be 800 hours in flight?

Interesting topic, can someone please post the foto in question ? Perhaps seeing it may ring some bells, and spur some new ideas.

Many thanks,

Al

According to "Uniforms and Insignia of the Lufwaffe, Volume 2: 1940-1945" by Brian L. Davis, the clasp worn by Serbanescu is called "Operation Flying Clasp - Fighter". This came in three grades:
- bronze clasp for 20 operational flights
- silver clasp for 60 operational flights
- gold clasp for 110 operational flights.
An operational flight was counted as one which penetrated to a minimum of 30 Km behind enemy lines or one in which the enemy had been engaged.

By the summer of 1942, it became evident that the number of operational flights were exceeding those allowed by the three grades and these were supplemented by the addition of a small gold pendant comprising of a gold star between clusters of laurel leaves which was to be suspended beneath the wreath of the Gold Clasps. This was added after a minimum of 500 operational flights for fighters.


Linked from this website http://www.johnnyg.westhost.com/germanmedals-part15.html

On 29 April 1944 a new system was introduced in the form of a golden tablet (bar) on which were displayed numerals representing the appropriate minimum number of operational flights made by the recipient. These ranged between 200 and 2000 in increments of 100.
The pendant bearing the number 2000 was awarded to Ulrich Rudel.


Linked from this website: http://www.soldat.com/soldat_combat_badges.htm

Hope this helps,
Radu

This post has been edited by Radub on February 02, 2009 05:34 pm

I am trying to find the picture you are talking about.
I presume yopu are talking about Denes' book on the "Rumanian Aces".

In the book, there is a propaganda photo of Serbanescu sitting in the cockpit of a 109 and the Operation Flying Clasp is visible, but there is no bar under it. It is hard to ascertain the colour of the clasp.

Please post a scan of this photo, it sounds very interesting.

Radu

LATER EDIT: Now I understand what you mean.
Greceanu has a clasp with a 800 mission bar.
I thought you meant that Serbanescu had such a clasp in that photo. My mistake.
Radu

This post has been edited by Radub on February 02, 2009 07:54 pm

Yes you are right. That's the good photo. In the same book, Dicezare had the same badge. The bar under Greceanu's badge has the number 800. On the photo with five badges, Greceanu's is like the second on the left. I'll try to put a photo here, but latter.

Bm

This post has been edited by Bernard Miclescu on February 03, 2009 08:00 am

the quality is not great, but at least you will have an idea.



NB In the interview G-ral Greceanu claimed 800+ war missions (misiuni in teritoriu inamic).

bm

This post has been edited by Bernard Miclescu on February 04, 2009 10:12 am

a photo with a part of Greceanu's awards.
You can see an USAAF pilot badge among them. A trade maybe?
bm



This post has been edited by Bernard Miclescu on February 04, 2009 10:15 am