Our Awards

Orders, Awards, Decorations and Medals are earned by pilots during campaigns. Ground targets destroyed and successful recons (ground missions) are scored separately from aerial victories, except as noted.
Certification Badges
	Prussian Observers Badge Observers of the German Air Service (GAS) usually received this badge for regular duty. Awarded to a Trainee/Recruit upon successful completion of their Intermediate Pilot Training along with the Flieger designation.
	Prussian Pilot's Badge The pilots of the German Air Service usually received the Pilot's Badge after completion of Training and gaining experience in aerial combat. Awarded upon successful completion of Advanced Pilots Training; promotion to Gefreiter rank is concurrent with receiving this badge..
Campaign Service Awards
	Campaign Ribbons Pilots scoring points during a campaign are awarded ribbons.
	Gold Long Service Award This award was issued for length of service. Awarded in recognition for participating in EVERY mission during a Campaign.
	The Breast star of the Ernestine House Awarded in recognition for the highest number of victories scored by a Jasta pilot during a Campaign. One award each is given for both aerial and ground targets.
	Wound Badge The Wound Badge was established on 3 March 1918 by Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia. German military personnel were awarded the Wound Badge in one of three classes. The Black Wound Badge was awarded for less than three wounds. The Silver Wound Badge was awarded for three or more wounds. The Golden Wound Badge was awarded for severe wounds that permanently injured or disfigured the recipient. Julius Buckler may have been the only German ace to receive the Golden Wound Badge. Awarded to a pilot that is wounded in combat and successfully returns to base and repairs without being being killed. A black shall be awarded for one or two occurrences during a single tournament match. The silver class shall be awarded for three or more occurrences during a single tournament match. The gold class will be awarded should a pilot retire from the Jagdstaffeln for medical reasons.
	Kaiser Wings These badges are awarded to pilots who have satisfactorily and consistently flown and contributed during an online MMP Campaign. Presented in recognition for participation in each campaign.
Jasta Service Awards
	Black Long Service Award This award was issued for length of service. Awarded in recognition for participating in EVERY practice during the preceding 3 month period.
	Gold Long Service Award with Crown This award was issued for length of service. Awarded in appreciation of one year of ACTIVE service.
	Letter of Commendation A letter of Commendation shall be issued to a pilot that performs duties above and beyond the call of duty, and for acts or services for the greater good of the Jagdstaffeln.
	Carl Eduard Medal As a military award, the Oval Silver Duke Carl Eduard Medal with Crown and Sword Clasp, may be included in the same category as the Prussian Iron Cross, as it was awarded without regard to rank. However, there were other limitations that made the award much rarer. Among them, the recipient was to have already received the Iron Cross 1st Class and whichever grade of the Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Merit Cross or Merit Medals he would have been eligible for based on his rank. These requirements were occasionally waived, however (the medal's most famous recipient, the Red Baron, Manfred Freiherr von Richtofen, had no special connection to Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and had not yet received the Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order when he was decorated with it). Awarded in acknowledgment of demonstrated loyalty or service to the Jasta.
	Carl Eduard Kriegskreuz (War Cross) The Carl Eduard War Cross was founded on July 19, 1916 as a single class pinback decoration for bravery and military merit, awarded without regard to rank. Eligibility requirements were similar to those for the Oval Silver Duke Carl Eduard Medal with Crown and Sword Clasp. Awarded in recognition for earning the trust of fellow pilots through continued loyalty and service to the Jasta.
	Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, Hospitalers- There were (more-or-less) independent branches of the order in several countries. By the time of the Great War, the Order bestowed awards for outstanding humanitarian aid or hospital work. Awarded in recognition of humanitarian acts during time of war.
	Wilhelm Ernst War Cross Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst founded the Wilhelm Ernst War Cross on June 10, 1915. It was awarded without regard to rank, but otherwise had strict requirements: the recipient must have already received the Iron Cross 1st Class. Awarded in appreciation and acknowledgment for services and acts which significantly benefit all of the Jagdstaffel.
	Orden Pour le Merite for the Arts Awarded in appreciation for skills and contributions in the arena of arts and technology which significantly enhance the gaming experience for all of the Jagdstaffel.
	Order of Military Merit - Officer's Cross with Swords Awarded to officers who have obtained the trust of their fellow pilots and their commanding officers.
	The Order Brabant Instituted on 14th of June, 1914, in 12 classes for welfare, and social matters by Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig Larva. The name of the order was given because of his ancestor the first Duke of Hessen, Heinrich, from the family line of Brabant. Awarded to a pilot who exemplifies the spirit of the Teutonic Knight. Honor, Chivalry, Courage, and respect are some of the traits that are typical of those to whom this award is granted.
	Order of Ludewig - "Gott Ehre Vaterland" Awarded to Jasta 5 officers who have proved their longstanding loyalty and demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities.
	House Order of Vigilance or the "White Falcon" One of the older German state orders, the Order of the White Falcon was originally established on August 2, 1732 by Duke Ernst-August I. It was renewed by Grand Duke Carl August on October 18, 1815, just a few months after the he was elevated to grand duke. It served as the house order and was awarded for civil and military merit. Swords were authorized on September 22, 1870 to distinguish bravery and merit on the field of battle. Awarded to those who have proven themselves to be an exemplary pilot of Jasta 5. Characteristics necessary to receive this rare commendation are honor, dedication, leadership and loyalty in addition to a demonstrated respect for the command and other pilots of Jagdstaffel 5.
	Star of the House Order of Vigilance Awarded to officers who have already received the medal of the White Falcon and who continue to exhibit the same qualities of distinction.
	The Prussian House Order of Hohenzollern - Knights Eagle Issued in 1851, the House Order of Hohenzollern always had a special position among the Prussian orders. The highest grade was awarded to bearer's of the Prussian Black Eagle Order only. They have almost only been awarded to either citizens in teaching positions or priests. The eagles were more or less given to retirees for their dedicated and honorable service to the Prussian state. Upon retirement from the Jagdstaffel, to pilots who have made significant and lasting contributions to the development and training of other pilots.
Bravery Medals
	Austro-Hungarian Empire Bravery Medal Classes: Four; the Gold, the Silver in first and second class and the Bronze. The Bravery Medal (Tapferkeits Medaille) was awarded to military personnel for acts of bravery in combat. For each subsequent act of bravery, recipients were awarded a bar in the appropriate class. Awarded to a pilot for acts of valor in combat.
	Bavarian Bravery Medal Awarded for acts of bravery in combat. Awarded to a pilot for repeated acts of valor in performing bombing or reconnaissance missions in combat.
	The Golden Military Merit Cross Prussia's highest award for non-commissioned officers. Often regarded as equivalent to the Blue Max for officers, it was bestowed upon enlisted personnel for bravery in combat. Awarded to a pilot who displays repeated acts of bravery in combat.
	Hanover Commander's Cross The Hanover Commander's Cross was a Prussian order of the state of Hanover. Only bestowed upon officers. Awarded to officers for repeated acts of bravery in combat.
	King Ludwig Bavarian Knights Cross During World War I, the Bavarian Military Merit Cross was Bayern's highest award for officers. Often regarded as equivalent to Prussia's Blue Max. It was awarded for excellence in combat. Only bestowed upon officers. Awarded to officers for repeated acts of bravery in combat.
Bombing, Reconnaissance and Spotting Victory Awards
	Austro-Hungarian Empire Order of the Iron Crown Established in 1805 by Napoleon I, King of Italy, the Coronne de Fer was awarded in three classes: Grand Dignitary, Dignitary and Knight. In 1815, the order was adopted by Austria after regaining control of Northern Italy. Re-established on 1 January 1816 by Emperor Franz I of Austria, it became known as the Order of the Iron Crown (Orden der Eisernen-Krone) and was awarded in three grades to noblemen. During World War I, the Order of the Iron Crown was bestowed upon military officers for acts of bravery. Recipients could receive the order more than once for additional acts of bravery. Awarded for completing 20 air to ground missions.
	Bavarian Military Merit Cross During World War I, the Bavarian Military Merit Cross was Bayern's highest award for non-commissioned officers. Often regarded as equivalent to Prussia's Iron Cross. It was bestowed upon enlisted personnel for excellence in combat. Awarded upon completion of a pilots 35th air to ground mission.
	Knights Cross from Saxonia Coburg Gotha Awarded upon completion of a pilots 50th air to ground mission.
	The High Order of the Black Eagle with Sash Awarded to any pilot who completes 100 air to ground missions during the course of their career.
Balloon Busting Medals
	Balloon Badge Awarded to a pilot upon successful completion of their first balloon busting mission.
	Balloon Badge with Oak Leaf The Oak Leaf decoration will be added to a pilots Balloon Badge upon successful completion of their 10th balloon busting mission.
	Balloon Badge with Crown A crown decoration will be added to to a pilots Balloon Badge upon successful completion of their 20th balloon busting mission.
Aerial Combat Victory Awards
	Ehrenbecher (Cup of Honour) A special award given from the Rittmeister himself, the Ehrenbecher was designed by Manfred von Richthofen. This award is to be ceremoniously given to each pilot that scores his first kill. Awarded in recognition for the first confirmed aerial victory.
	Iron Cross 2nd Class The Iron Cross was awarded in three Classes: the Grand Cross ("Grosskreuz") for senior commanders (only 5 awarded), 2nd Class for individual merit in combat (5 million), and the 1st Class for acts of heroism or bravery in combat (1 million). The Eisernes Kreuz all looked the same, it's where you wore them that told the difference: Grand Cross around the neck, 1st Class pinned to the left side of the tunic about two inches above the belt, and for the 2nd Class, you merely wore the ribbon looped through the second button hole in the front of the uniform. The Iron Cross has the distinction of being one of the few Prussian awards handed out to both officers and enlisted men equally - probably because of it's long history as an award for valor. The Iron Cross, 2nd Class, usually came after a few successful missions (for 2-seater pilots) or the first few "kills" for a Kampflieger. Awarded to a pilot that has scored 2 aerial victories.
	Iron Cross 1st Class The Iron Cross was originally established on 10 March 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III. It was reestablished in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war and again on 5 August 1914 by Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia. Issued in three classes, the 1914 Iron Cross was awarded without regard for nationality or social class to combatants and noncombatants for acts of heroism, bravery or leadership. Although the medals of each class were identical, the manner in which each was worn differed. Employing a pin or screw posts on the back of the medal, the Iron Cross First Class was worn on the left side of the recipient's uniform. Awarded to a pilot that has 5 Victories.
	Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration This Austrian award was roughly equivalent to the Prussian award of the same name, and was awarded for conspicuous acts of bravery. It also appears to have been awarded to many German fliers. It lies somewhere between the Knight’s Cross and the Blue Max in stature Awarded to a pilot upon achieving 10 aerial victories.
	The Military Order of St. Henry Awarded to serving officers, either for conspicuous personal bravery on the battlefield or, more frequently in the case of officers of higher rank, for merit in positions of great responsibility. The Military Order of St. Henry was the highest Saxon decoration bestowed upon members of the German Air Service and was most often awarded to pilots and observers of Flieger, Feldflieger and Bomber Abteilungen. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 15th aerial victory.
	Prussian Order of the Crown Instituted in 1861, the Order of the Crown was Prussia's lowest ranking order of chivalry, although it still held considerable status. As with most European orders of the time, it could only be awarded to commissioned officers (or civilians of approximately equivalent status), but there was a medal associated with the order which could be earned by non- commissioned officers and enlisted men. This order was not frequently awarded for combat actions during the war, although awards "with swords" were made in great numbers to military personnel, for general merit. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 20th aerial victory.
	Knights' Cross of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern Established 23 August 1851 by Frederick William IV, The Knight's Cross of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern was a Prussian order only bestowed upon officers. For acts of bravery in combat, the decoration was adorned with crossed swords. It was most often awarded to recipients who had already received the Iron Cross 1st Class. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 25th aerial victory.
	Orden Pour le Mérite (The Blue Max) Established in 1667 by Margrave Frederick (later to become King Frederick I), it was originally known as the Order of Generosity. Reorganized by Frederick II in 1740, it became the Order for Military and Civil Merit (pour le mérite). It was again reorganized in 1810 by Frederick William III and became the Order of Military Merit. In 1842, Frederick William IV added a civil class for scholars, painters, sculptors, and musicians. During World War I, Prussia's highest military award, the Orden Pour le Mérite, was awarded for repeated and continual gallantry in action. It was never awarded posthumously. Recipients were required to wear the medal whenever they were in uniform. Following the armistice of 1918, it was never again awarded for military service. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 30th aerial victory.
	Order of King Leopold An Austrian decoration, this appears to be a Commander’s Cross – The Knights Cross (technically the "kleinkreuz" – small cross – was minus the crown) was awarded to the most outstanding Austrian fliers. Consider it an Austrian Blue Max. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 35th aerial victory.
	The Order of Albert 31 December 1850 by King Friedrich August II to honor the memory of Duke Albrecht the Brave, founder of the Albertine Dynasty. The military variation of the decoration was established in 1866.The Order of Albert was originally awarded to "all those who render useful service to the state, or who distinguish themselves through merit, who have earned a claim to Our recognition." Beginning in 1866, the Order of Albert was bestowed upon military personnel for merit in the field and to indicate this, a pair of crossed swords were added to the medal. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 40th confirmed aerial victory.
	Bavarian Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Josef Established 1 January 1806, by Maximilian-Joseph upon his ascent to the throne of the Kingdom of Bavaria. The Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maximilian-Joseph was bestowed upon Bavarian soldiers for bravery in combat. A knighthood entitled the recipient to a lifelong pension and the right to append "Ritter von" to his surname. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 50th aerial victory.
	Orden Pour le Merite mit Eichlaub (Oak Leaves) The Oak Leaf decoration is added to the Blue Max in recognition of the 60th confirmed aerial victory.
	Order of the Red Eagle 3rd Class with Crown and Swords An award given for over-all meritorious service to junior officers in Prussian service, it was seldom awarded in WW1. Only one German flyer ever received it: Manfred vonRichthofen – and that mostly because the AOK had run out of awards to give him! This medal is awarded in recognition of the 70th aerial victory.
	The Orden Pour le Merite with Crown The Crown Order of the Blue Max is awarded in recognition of the 80th confirmed aerial victory.
	Grand Cross of the Iron Cross The Grand Cross was of the same design as the Iron Cross 1st class, but physically larger and worn at the neck. In 1916, the grand cross was augmented with a breast star, which was bestowed upon only one recipient - Field Marshall Von Hindenburg. The Grand Cross is suspended from a black and white ribbon. There were only five recipients of the Grand Cross, including Hindenburg, and of course, the Kaiser himself. This medal is awarded in recognition of the 90th confirmed aerial victory.
	The High Order of the Black Eagle Prussia’s highest order of knighthood and chivalry which conferred hereditary nobility on the recipient (and his posterity). Only royalty or the highest ranking officers ever received this exceptional order. This medal is awarded in recognition of the100th confirmed aerial victory.

Jasta 5 Decorations and Medals