Luftwaffe Awards of Honor Goblets

[Luftmensch]

Hi,

I have a thread going in Luftwaffe Awards with pictures of an HG that may have been awarded not to an individual but to a squadron, JG 51, about the time it was given its designation "Molders". I was told the squadron may have received an Ehrenpokal from Hitler instead of another type of presentation silver because Moelders never received his Honor Goblet. Can anyone shed light on this?

Specifically,

1. Did Moelders receive an Honor Goblet while he was alive?

2. Were aircrew awarded HGs for kills in Spain or in 1939 retroactively? Or did the early aces not get cups?

3. Is August 1942 significant (the date engraved on the cup)? What month was JG 51 awarded the designation / cufftitle "Molders" ?

Any information would be appreciated.

Rgds

John

Edited September 29, 2005 by Luftmensch