Luftwaffe Need help identifying A Luft. medal

[sftrooper86]

Hello all,

This is not a cast medal but has very crisp details. It reads, "1942" on top of the Luft. eagle and "LUFTSPERRABTEILUNG 2/101", On the reverse there is a tied down balloon with a bat in the center of a crest with oakleaves on both sides. The medal is attached to a standard piece of Herr blue ribbon.

I have been collecting for many years and have not seen anything like this before

Gentlemen, your opinions, Please!

Thank you,

Vince

Edited July 23, 2006 by sftrooper86

[Paul R]

Hi Vince,

I have never before seen anything like it, either. It seems to be some sort of unit commemorative medal on a Long Service Ribbon(but this is just a guess).

Regards

Paul

[Gene]

Very intriguing medal; can you post straight on shots of the front and back of it?

[sftrooper86]

Very intriguing medal; can you post straight on shots of the front and back of it?

Hello,

I have re-edited my origonal post w/new images.

Thank you very much for your help.

Vince

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Gentlemen,

I think its connected to Observation Balloon crews, if the use of these ballons was limited during the war then maybe the "service" medals were only issued in small numbers as a commemorative issue.

I have never seen then being worn in any photographs though

Kevin in Deva

[sftrooper86]

Hallo Gentlemen,

I think its connected to Observation Balloon crews, if the use of these ballons was limited during the war then maybe the "service" medals were only issued in small numbers as a commemorative issue.

I have never seen then being worn in any photographs though

Kevin in Deva

It is not for observation balloons but barrier balloons. These were balloons that held cables of wire up in the sky to prevent planes from flying in certin areas. Seen mostly used in and around London, England during the blitz. The German word "Sperr" mean a barrier. In this case an air barrier.

I learned this from speaking to a WW2 German veteran today at a local gun show. He served in the Waffen SS and knew only that this was not a sucessful program in Germany and was short lived. Sooooooo, I was hoping someone had seen one of these before.

Thank you for your input!

Vince

[Christophe]

This seems to be a commemorative medal for the members of the "Luftsperrabtlg. 2/101" (Luftsperrabteilungen 2/101 - Air Defence Unit / Barrage Balloons Unit No.2/101) to commemorate their service in 1942.

Ch.

[sftrooper86]

This seems to be a commemorative medal for the members of the "Luftsperrabtlg. 2/101" (Luftsperrabteilungen 2/101 - Air Defence Unit / Barrage Balloons Unit No.2/101) to commemorate their service in 1942.

Ch.

Sounds reasonable to me and any idea of a value to the right collector?

Thank you again!

Vince