A Third Reich Period German War Merit Medal Archive he joined the Luftwaffe as

he joined the Luftwaffe as a flak gunner with the 96th division in Dortmund in January 1942

William McCracken of Brussels

Between April and August 1916

Footnote: the medal was awarded to members of the Heimwehr Austrian Home Defence Force (Heimwehr)

large bronze button positioned in the button hole at the neck end

A Third Reich Period German War Merit Medal Archive he joined the Luftwaffe asA Kriegsverdienstmedaille; in bronze; on loop for suspension; with a mint and unused period original ribbon; the obverse of the circular medal depicting a War Merit Cross; the reverse inscribed Fr Kriegsverdienst 1939 (For Wartime Merit 1939); measuring 32. 10 mm in diameter; weighing 13. 0 grams; better than fine condition.