TRAUTLOFT Hannes ~NEW~ Oberst Trautloft, Hannes * 03.03.1912 Groß Obringen, Krs. Weimar/Thüringen + 12.01.1995 Bad Wiessee bei München Awarded Knights Cross: 27.07.1941 as: Major Kommodore JG 54 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hannes Trautloft Otto Hans "Hannes" Trautloft (3 March 1912 – 12 January 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and general in the postwar German Air Force. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 58 enemy aircraft shot down, including 5 in Spain, 8 on the Western Front and 45 on the Eastern Front of World War II. Born in Großobringen, Trautloft volunteered for military service in the Reichsheer of the Weimar Republic in 1931. In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, a covert military-training organization, and at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school. Following flight training, he served with Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" and was one of the first German volunteers to fight in the Spanish Civil War. From August to December 1936, he claimed five aerial victories. For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. Following his service in Spain, Trautloft held various command positions, and at the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, he was the Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 . He claimed his first aerial victory during the Invasion of Poland and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 20 which later became III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Trautloft was given command of Jagdgeschwader 54 . He led JG 54 in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. There, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1941. Trautloft continued to lead JG 54 on the Eastern Front until July 1943 when he was called to the staff of the General der Jagdflieger, assisting in the readiness, training,and tactics of the Luftwaffe fighter force. After the war, Trautloft joined the new German Air Force of West Germany in 1957. Serving as deputy Inspector of the Air Force and commander of Luftwaffengruppe Süd , Trautloft retired in 1970 holding the rank of Generalleutnant . He died on 12 January 1995 in Bad Wiessee. After the Second World War, Hannes Trautloft finally became Generalleutnant der Bundeswehr. Ended the war with a total of 560 combat missions to his credit as well as 57 aerial victories (45 in the East, 4 in Spain as part of the Condor Legion). Postwar signed photo measuring 3 1/2” x 5” Price: $20.00 Please contact us before ordering to confirm availability and shipping costs. Buy now with your credit card NEW~ "> other ways to buy