Mattyboy

Hi, Well I believe it dates from spring/summer 1918. The picture was part of a photo-album of Flieger Abteilung 27 during their time in the Ukraine. I think the first two awards on this guy's ribbon are the EK and HHO3X, but I'm a beginner in this field so I could be well off the mark...

This is the best I could do

Check out the ribbon-bar on the guy in the front row, 2nd from the left !

Hi all, A bit late, but here is another photo of von Knoerzer and his staff. You can view more photos like this by typing 'Der Vormarsch der Flieger Abteilung 27 in der Ukraine' and clicking on the second link from the top. (You can use the zoom function to view the photos at close range whilst still retaining the excellent image quality).

Hi Dave, I'll do that, thanks.

Hi Dave, Thanks for your detailed answer. I see that different states have different abbreviations for the same award, so if I were discussing a Bavarian officer should I be using the Bavarian abbreviations or converting them into the Prussian equivalent when discussing him on here? Thanks, Matt.

Hi, If you were awarded the Grosskreuz of the Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael, would the abbreviation for this be BMGKr? Or were there two classes of the Grosskreuz (BMGKr1 and BMGKr2) ?? Thanks, Matt.

Hi Dave, Got it, thanks!

Hi Pierce, Ok, so they are the same medal, just one has swords..... Thanks a lot Matt.

Hello, I am having difficulty deciphering the awards being shown on my Bavarian rank-list of 1914. On page 11 there are two symbols for the 4th class of the Military Merit Order - but what does the difference between the symbols signify? An example on page 113 is a Hptm Rudolf Erhard, who has been awarded both decorations. I believe the second symbol is the Military Merit Order 4th Class - but what is the first one? Thanks, and please excuse my ignorance. Matt.

Hi Poulton, Thanks a lot.

Hi all, I have another photo which I would like your input on - can anyone identify the awards on the ribbon bar of this man in the centre? Thanks, Matt.

Hi all, I was wondering if any eagle-eyed member can tell me what medals the guy on the right is displaying? Thanks & regards, Matt.

Hi Alex and Dave, Thanks for your replies - it gives me something to work with. It looks like the guy in the front row, second from the right (arms crossed and looking away from the camera) is not a Prussian as the lower button on his feldmutze is not white and black....

Hi Alex, If you could furnish me with the names of the eight observers that Dave mentioned I might be able to disqualify some of them. As Dave stated, it wouldn't exclude the people that may have joined the Fliegertruppe AFTER winning the medal, but it's a step in the right direction... Thanks, Matt.

Hi Dave, Thanks for your reply. Does your source give the dates of the award? If you could provide me with the names of the recipients and their units (if provided) that would be great.

Hello all, I saw this on ebay a little while ago, and since then have been trying to find out more about the date and place that the picture was taken, as well as the names of the officers in the photo (please ignore the date on the image - I have a feeling that the real date is somewhere around 1915-1916). I posted this picture on another forum, and a keen-eyed member stated that the guy leaning over at the back of the group appears to wearing the Lippe-Detmold War Cross for Heroic Deeds (I think that this is abbreviated to LKEK ?). If this is the case, does anyone know whether a roll exists that gives the names of individuals that were awarded this rare decoration? Perhaps an expert on here can find his name from the medal he is wearing? Thanks & best regards, Matt.

Hi Dave & all, Thanks for confirming - great investigative work!

Hi all, Glenn has found me out, so I have to come clean. I saw the item on ebay and wanted to check with you guys if the awards matched the name. For some reason I cannot put the hyperlink on this reply, but you can go to ebay.de and type 'Hammer Portrait 1.WK' if you want to see the photo in more detail.

Hi all, Saw this photo online and thought I would share it. Can anyone identify the awards and/or the name of this man? I'm not very good at medals / uniforms etc. Thanks & regards, Matt.

Dear all, I'm also having a problem with this signature from Kofl 8. Can anyone make out the name please? Thanks, Matt.

Hi Gunnar, Good to know. Thanks for the name too. Regards, Matt.

Hi Gunnar, Thanks for the added info. I thought I'd ask because I saw a document from AFP 8 (attached), signed by a Hauptmann a.D. But this was the only one that I have seen which was not signed by an active officer, or a d.R. Unfortunately I can't make out the name of this Hauptmann a.D. Best regards, Matt.

Hi Daniel, Sounds like a very interesting medal grouping / combo. Thanks a lot!

Hi Glenn & Gunnar, Great info. I had no idea that his connection with the air-force went back so far. Was his date of promotion to Hauptmann the same as the date of his retirement? He may have been assigned to the command of an Armee-Flugpark or a Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung after leaving AFA 214. I wonder if there was any stipulation about the maximum age of a FFA leader during the war....? Thanks for bringing this interesting character back to life. Matt.