|
~SOLD~MÖLDERS Werner
Oberst
Mölders, Werner
* 18.03.1913 Gelsenkirchen
+ 22.11.1941 bei Breslau
Awarded Knights Cross: 29.05.1940
as: Hauptmann Kommandeur III./JG 53
Awarded Oakleaves as the 2nd Recipient : 21.09.1940 as Major Kommodore JG 51
Awarded Swords as the 2nd Recipient : 22.06.1941 as Oberstleutnant Kommodore JG 51
Awarded Diamonds as the 1st . Recipient: 15.07.1941 as Oberstleutnant
Kommodore JG 51
Werner Mölders (18 March 1913 – 22 November 1941) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was highly decorated for his achievements. He was instrumental in the development of new fighter tactics which led to the finger-four formation. He died in an air crash in which he was a passenger.
Mölders joined the Luftwaffe in 1934 at age 21. In 1938, he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion, which supported General Francisco Franco's Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War, and shot down 15 aircraft. In World War II, he lost two wingmen in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, but shot down 53 enemy aircraft. With his tally standing at 68 victories, Mölders and his unit, the Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51), were transferred to the Eastern Front in June 1941 for the opening of Operation Barbarossa. By the end of 22 June 1941, the first day of Barbarossa, he had added another four victories to his tally and a week later, surpassed Manfred von Richthofen's 1918 record of 80 victories. By mid-July, he had 100.
Prevented from flying further combat missions for propaganda reasons, at the age of 28 Mölders was promoted to Oberst, and appointed Inspector General of Fighters. He was inspecting the Luftwaffe units in the Crimea when he was ordered to Berlin to attend the state funeral of Ernst Udet, the World War I flying ace. On the flight to Berlin, the Heinkel He 111 in which he was travelling as a passenger encountered a heavy thunderstorm during which one of the aircraft's engines failed. While attempting to land, the Heinkel crashed at Breslau, killing Mölders and two others. The German Wehrmacht of the Third Reich and the Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany both honoured him by naming two fighter wings, a destroyer and barracks after him.
Brief bio on this exceptional fighter ace from From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following excerpt and photos taken from the book “Wolfgang Willrich War Artist Kriegszeichner” by Klaus J. Peters
Willruch remembered his portrait of the pilot hero,Mölders,as follows:”As I was drawing him in his plane,on an advanced airfield on the Channel coast,Mölders pose was interrupted on several occasions by alarms and start signals. During one of these alarms,Mölders shot down his fiftieth opponent and then sat again for a while until the longed-for order “Freie Jagd!” was issued. I saw him return from this “Freie Jagd”. Completely alone,he had gotten stuck in the midst of the English fighters,he said. Luckily,he had not been recognized and had been able to escape. As we stood around his plane after he had landed,he told us about his mission. Set against the evening sky, with his bare headand tangled hair,looking somewhat disheveled-what a wonderful mural that would make…”
This is what I believe is termed the “poster” version, not the card. Measures 5” x 7”. I have seen only two others in my years of collecting. I will consider trade or part cash trade for items I need for my own collection
Price: $0.00
Please contact us before ordering to confirm availability and shipping costs.
Buy now with your credit card
other ways to buy
|
