Ehrenpreis der Marineflieger
The Ehrenpreis der Marineflieger (English: Honor Prize for Naval Fliers or Honorary Award of Naval Aviation) was a special award for German naval aviators (See- or Marineflieger) of the Imperial German Navy commemorating their first confirmed aerial victory (Luftsieg) as well as the destruction of an enemy airship or naval vessel in World War I.
History
The Ehrenpreis der Marineflieger was established with the daily order (Tagesbefehl) of 3 January 1917. Previously (and very rarely afterwards), successful naval aviators could also be awarded the Honour Goblet for the Victor in Aerial Combat (Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampf) of the Fliegertruppe.
Eligibility
Pilots and observers would be eligible if they have shot down an enemy aircraft, or damaged it enough to where it was captured, or sank or damaged an enemy ship to where it was abandoned or captured. By the end of the war, German naval aviation had shot down around 270 aircraft, as well as two airships, two Russian destroyers, three submarines, four speedboats, numerous merchant ships and other vehicles. The actual number of honorary awards given was around 182 (90 as of 31 December 1917), other sources report fewer than 130 due to a lack of financial resources.
Design
Sculptural bronze depiction of two dueling eagles, as also depicted on the honorary cup of the air force. The two-part bronze is mounted on a black octagonal wooden base, with a dedication plaque on the front stating e.g.:
- Dem Sieger im Luftkampf ("the victor in aerial combat")
- Für Vernichtung eines [...] ("for the destruction of a [...]")
Luftschifferpokal
There was also another, even rarer German award, the Ehrenbecher für erfolgreiche Angriffe aus der Luft (English: Honour Goblet for successful attacks from the air / from above). This was only awarded very rarely, for example to members of the crews of Zeppelin bombers (therefore also known as Luftschifferpokal) or for certain successful attacks, e.g. the bombing of London 0n 31 May 1915 or the attack on Mudros in the night from 20 to 21 March 1917 by Germans airship crew members (LZ 101) on behalf of the Ottoman Air Force. The silver goblet, which stood on ball feet, showed, in addition to the occasion of the honour, a depiction of the Germanic god Thor with a swinging hammer based on the model of the Munich sculptor Fritz Behn (1878 – 1970).
