Today I play the Romanian campaign. I already have 3 kills (1xI-16, 2xLaGG-3) and today we have to escort our bombers (He-111) to Maryanskaya (Crimea). Mission is flown in 9 August 1942, I fly a Bf-109 E4, flight time - 43 minutes. I manage to kill 3 P-40's, and I'm promoted to sLt. and I also receive the 'Virtutea Aeronautica' Gold Cross class with one bar (Ordinul Virtutea Aeronautica Cruce de Aur cu o bareta). My folks seem to be so kind, I only have 6 kills...
Still, I'm so proud of my achievement, so I can't help but posting my award here... with my cursor on it.
A few things about 'Virtutea Aeronautica' (Aeronautical Virtue) Order. It has been created by King Carol II of Romania in 1930, being the first order in the world designed specifically for pilots. It had four classes: Gold Cross (strangely, it was the smallest class), Knight, Officer and Commander. Each class had two variants: 'whithout swords' (in peace time) and 'with swords' (in war time).
After Carol II abdicated in September 1940, the badge of the order was slightly modified, in the sense that Carol II's cipher was replaced by King Michael I's.
In the year 2000, the order has been restored, mainly for historical considerations, i.e. for being the first order in the world awarded to pilots only.
i didn't know it was the first order in the world awarded to pilots only. Romanians seem to me the first to be very proud of their pilots. Way ti go, Beta4good!!
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