- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Institution: 1 August 1974
- Country: Germany (GDR DDR German Democratic Republic)
The Meritorious Military Pilot of the GDR (or Verdienter Militärflieger der DDR in German) was the highest honorary title awarded to military pilots of the East German National People’s Army. Instituted on August 1, 1974, by the Council of Ministers of the GDR, this prestigious title was bestowed in the form of a medal and was awarded until the dissolution of the GDR in 1990.
Award Criteria
This honorary title was granted to military pilots who demonstrated:
- Distinguished performance, with outstanding results in both political and military duties.
- Exceptional contributions to the development and combat readiness of the National People’s Army (NPA).
- A Class I performance level.
- An incident-free aviation record. The number of recipients was limited to 10 military pilots per year.
The Pilot of the GDR (DDR) Medal Design
The golden medal was shaped like a pentagon, measuring 31.5 mm in width and 41.5 mm in height. At the bottom tip, the emblem of the NPA, featuring the enameled flag of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was displayed. The medal’s main design included a MiG-23 or MiG-21 aircraft ascending steeply against a bright rising sun, with a laurel branch on the left and the inscription “VERDIENTER MILITÄRFLIEGER” on the right. The reverse side of the medal was glossy and plain.
Versions
- 1974–1976: Made from gold-colored nonferrous metal, varnished, with a size of 40.5 × 30 mm including an arched eye. It was mounted on a small medal bar measuring 14 × 25 mm.
- 1976–1989: Similar to the previous version but with a round eye, mounted on a pentagon bar with a gibbon bar measuring 14 × 25 mm. This version was also brass-plated, and the reverse side featured additional ornamentation.
