,
Bundeswehr Military History Museum Although Göring considered the "Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe" to be his "personal creation", it was not an original idea. It was based on a
World War I aviation award, the
Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampf, or Honor Goblet for the Victor in Air Combat. This award was generally given upon one's first victory in aerial combat (although the actual award bestowal might come some time after the victory). It has been reported (although the late aviation historian Neal O'Connor, was unable to confirm it before his death), that the requirement for aerial victories may have increased later in the war, since air combat became more common. The total number of awards presented is unknown, but it was fewer than its World War II successor. Among notable recipients of the
Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampf were: •
Oswald Boelcke – 24 December 1915; One of Germany's top aces of World War I; also received the
Pour le Mérite. •
Otto Deßloch – award date unknown; later a
Colonel General in the Luftwaffe; he also received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves. •
Hermann Göring – 15 April 1916; later
Reichsmarschall; received the
Pour le Mérite, Baden's Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order,
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross and numerous other decorations. •
Georg Ritter von Hengl – 17 July 1918; knighted with the Bavarian
Military Order of Max Joseph in October 1918; later became General of Mountain Troops and commanded the 2nd Mountain Division and XIX Mountain Corps. •
Max Immelmann – 24 December 1915; German World War I ace whose early exploits and fame led to the nickname for the
Pour le Mérite as the "Blue Max"; also received the Knight's Cross and Commander's Cross of Saxony's Military Order of St. Henry. •
Bruno Loerzer – award date unknown; the 8th ranking German ace of World War I; also received the
Pour le Mérite; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe. •
Theo Osterkamp – 18 April 1917; naval aviator and
Pour le Mérite recipient; also flew in World War II and rose to
Lieutenant General in the Luftwaffe. •
Manfred von Richthofen – award date unknown; top ace of World War I; also received the
Pour le Mérite, Saxony's Military Order of St. Henry, Württemberg's Military Merit Order and numerous other decorations. •
Kurt Student – award date unknown; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe and commander of German airborne troops. •
Ernst Udet – 17 August 1916; second highest scoring German ace of World War I; also received the
Pour le Mérite; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe. The Imperial German Navy had its own aviation forces in World War I, and created its own non-portable award for victory in aerial combat. This was the
Ehrenpreis für Vernichtung eines feindlichen Flugzeugs, or Honor Prize for the Destruction of an Enemy Aircraft. This was not a goblet, but a trophy of two eagles engaged in a mid-air fight. There was also another, even more rare, Imperial German award, the
Ehrenbecher für erfolgreiche Angriffe aus der Luft, or Honor Goblet for Successful Attacks from the Air. This was apparently only bestowed a very few times to members of bomber or Zeppelin crews for successful attacks. == Citations ==