Warsigned
Hitler Youth Cards
Collecting the autographs of heroes was a very popular and profitable propaganda tool in World War II Germany. Hitler’s official photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann, would take portraits of each of Germany’s heroes and would publish postcard size cards what are known as Hoffmann Portrait cards.A few would be given to each hero and others were sold throughout the country. The citizens would then get the heroes to sign these cards. Many youngsters in the Hitler Youth could not afford the few phenning each of these Hoffmanns cost, so they would make their own cards using cut card stock and then affixing a magazine or newspaper picture to the card. There were adults in most Hitler Youth groups whose job was to help the youngsters build their collections of autographs. Today these Hitler Youth Cards (HYC), also known as “clippings,” are highly collectible by both collectors and by militaria artists who will affix one of the signatures to the matboard of one of their signed and numbered limited edition paintings making that painting signed by both the artist and the subject. Artists like these because the signatures are all made on a plain background rather than on a photo. This special catalog contains only our warsigned Hitler Youth Cards - all at discounted prices. The only additional discount we are able to offer off these prices is 10% if a buyer purchases the entire lot.
Most of the descriptions on this page come from the superb research site Aces of the Luftwaffe.
A pdf file of this catalog is in the works and when finished it can be downloaded by clicking here.
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HYC001 $195.00 |
Wilhelm Balthasar - Oakleaves -
Wilhelm Balthasar was born on 2 February 1914 at Fulda in Hessen. He
served in an Artillery Regiment from 1933 but transferred as a Leutnant to
the Luftwaffe in 1935. In November 1936, Balthasar joined the Condor Legion
serving with the Aufklärerkette of Kampfgruppe K/88. He gained his first
victory of the Spanish Civil War when, while on a reconnaisance mission, he
shot down a Republican I-16 on 20 January 1937. On 15 March 1937, he joined
Aufklärungsgruppe A/88 flying He 112s. He joined Jagdgruppe J/88 in
September 1937. He gained a futher six victories with this unit including
four SB-2 bombers shot down in one mission on 7 February 1938. He returned
to Germany on 23 March 1938. In the 17 months he served in Spain, Balthasar
had flown 465 combat missions. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit
Schwertern und Brillanten in recognition of his feats there. At the
beginning of World War 2, Balthasar was Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 1 and
participated in the invasion of Poland. With the Blitzkreig of the
low-countries and France, Balthasar was soon making his mark shooting down
three Belgian Gladiator biplane fighters and a French Morane fighter on 11
May 1940. He claimed five French victims on 5 June, to record his 20th
through 24th victories, and claimed a further four on 6 June (25-28). On 14
June, Hauptmann Balthasar was awarded the Ritterkreuz, only the second
fighter pilot, behind Werner Mölders (115 victories, RK-Br, killed in flying
accident 22 November 1941), to be so rewarded. In addition, he claimed 13
aircraft destroyed on the ground. He was considered the most successful
German fighter pilot of the French campaign. On 5 July, 1./JG 1 was renamed
7./JG 27. On 1 September 1940, Balthasar was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of
III./JG 3. On 4 September, he was seriously wounded in leg over Canterbury
in England in aerial combat with Spitfire fighters from 222 Squadron RAF.
Despite the severity of his wounds, Balthasar was flying operationally 14
days later. On 23 September he shot down two Spitfires with only 88 bullets
from cannons and MG`s. He claimed a further three victories before having to
submit to hospital treatment for his wounds in November.
Major Balthasar was appointed Kommodore of JG 2 on 16 February 1941.
Between 22 June and 27 June, he shot down nine enemy aircraft, including
five RAF Blenheim twin-engine bombers on 23 June (32-40). He was awarded the
Eichenlaub (Nr 17) for 40 victories on 2 July. On 3 July 1941, Balthasar
killed in aerial combat with RAF fighters near Aire, France. When Baltasar
attempted to disengage from combat in Bf 109 F-4 (W.Nr. 7066) by diving, a
wing of his aircraft folded and he crashed to his death southeast of St
Omer. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major and buried in a
World War 1 cemetary in Flanders alongside his father, who had fallen in the
earlier conflict. Wilhelm Balthasar was credited with 47 victories. In 1939-41 he flew about 300 combat missions. Seven of his victories were recorded during the Spanish Civil War. |
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HYC003 $270 |
Wilhelm Batz - Swords -
Wilhelm “Willi” Batz was born on 21 May 1916 at Bamberg. He entered the
Luftwaffe in 1935. He trained as a fighter pilot but was assigned
instructing duties from 1937. He was promoted Leutnant on 1 November 1940.
His repeated requests for a transfer to combat duty were rejected. After
5,000 flying hours instructing at the flying school at Kaufbeuren and the
fighter pilot school at Bad Aibling, Batz was finally transferred to 2./Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe
Ost to undergo operation training on 20 December 1942. On 1 February 1943,
Batz was appointed adjutant to Johannes Steinhoff (176 victories, RK-S) in
II./JG 52 based on the Eastern front. He did not score his first victory
until 11 March 1943. He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 52 in May
1943, by which time he had seven victories to his credit. On 9 September,
he claimed his 20th victory. His 40th followed on 16 November and his 50th
on 30 November. By the end of 1943, Batz had 75 victories to his credit.
Batz fell ill in February 1944 and was grounded for two weeks. On his return
he became spectacularly successful. He recorded his 100th victory on 22
March 1944. Oberleutnant Batz was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 26 March 1944
for 101 victories. On 19 April, Batz was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of
III./JG 52, taking over from Major Günther Rall (275 victories, RK-S). He
was operating with such luminaries as Hauptmann Erich “Bubi” Hartmann (352
victories, RK-Br), Oberleutnant Friedrich “Fritz” Obleser (120 victories, RK)
and Oberleutnant Walter Wolfrum (137 victories, RK) among the high-scoring
pilots of III./JG 52 at that time. Throughout the
summer of 1944, he was downing three or four Soviet aircraft a day. He
downed 15 enemy aircraft on 31 May 1944 to record his 141st through 155th
victories, scoring these victories on seven separate missions. In June he
was to combat USAAF aircraft over Rumania and recorded two P-51s and a B-24
during this time. Hauptmann Batz was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 526) on 20
July after 188 victories. His 200th victory was gained on 17 August 1944. By
the end of 1944 Batz had shot down 224 enemy aircraft, including six for his
204th through 209th victories on 22 August. Batz remained in command of
III./JG 52 until 31 January 1945 when he was transferred to take command of
II./JG 52 in Hungary. Major Batz was awarded the Schwertern (Nr 145) on 21
April 1945. At war’s end he was able to extricate his Gruppe from Hungary
via Austria, and return to Germany. He was thus able to elude Soviet
captivity that befell the other two Gruppen and the JG 52 staff. Post-war
“Willi” Batz joined the Bundesluftwaffe and retired an Oberst. He passed
away on 11 September 1988 at Mauschendorf in Unterfranken. ”Willi” Batz flew 445 combat missions in scoring his 237 victories. 234 victories were achieved over the Eastern front, including at least 46 Il-2 Sturmoviks, but he did claim three victories, including one four-engine bomber over the Western front. He was wounded three times and was shot down four times. |
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HYC004 $150 |
Viktor Bauer - Oakleaves -
Viktor Bauer was born on 19 September 1915 at Löcknitz in the Randow region
of Vorpommern. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1936 with the rank of Fahnenjunker.
Following the completion of his fighter pilot training, he was posted to
I./JG 2. On 1 March 1940, Leutnant Bauer was serving with 2./JG 77. Bauer
participated in the French campaign with the unit and was to gain his first
aerial victory over Belgium on 15 May, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane
fighter near Brügge. He gained one further victory during the French
campaign serving with 1./JG 77, when he shot down another Hurricane near
Cambrai on 18 May. Bauer served in the Battle of Britain. By November 1940,
he was serving with 9./JG 3. He gained one victory during the aerial battles
over England to raise his victory total to three. On 5 February 1941, he
claimed his 4th victory, a RAF Hurricane, over the Channel. This would prove
to be last victory gained over the Western front. Shortly before the
invasion of Russia began, Bauer was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 3. In
June 1941, he claimed 15 Russian aircraft shot down, including five Russian
SB-2 twin-engine bombers claimed on 26 June for his 7th through 11th
victories. He claimed 17 victories in July, including five Russian DB-3
twin-engine bombers on 12 July (26-30). Oberleutnant Bauer was awarded the
Ritterkreuz on 30 July for 36 victories. On 23 July, Bauer was badly wounded
in aerial combat with Russian bombers but was able to make an emergency
landing in his Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 8987). He was to spend many months in
hospital finally returning to combat duty in February 1942. Bauer recorded
his 40th victory on 18 February followed by his 50th on 4 April. On 22 May,
he claimed four Russian I-61 fighters shot down (57–60). He claimed a
further four victories on 30 June (66-69). Bauer was spectacularly
successful in July 1942 recording 33 victories during the month. Five times
he shot down four enemy aircraft in a day and twice recorded five victories
in a day. On 25 July, he claimed four victories (99-102). He was awarded the
Eichenlaub (Nr 107) the next day. On 9 August, he claimed his 106th victory
but one day later his Bf 109 F-4 (W.Nr. 13 241) was damaged by enemy fire
and Bauer wounded. He successfully carried out an emergency landing.
Following his recovery, Bauer was transferred as a Staffelkapitän to
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost. On 1 July 1943, Major Bauer was appointed
Gruppenkommandeur of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost, a position he was to hold
until 4 November 1944. On 1 December 1944, Oberst Bauer was appointed
Kommodore of EJG 1. Bauer served in this role until the end of the war.
Bauer died on 13 December 1969 at Bad Homburg. Viktor Bauer was credited with 106 victories in approximately 400 missions. He recorded 102 of his victories over the Eastern front, including 27 Il-2 Sturmoviks. |
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HYC005 $180 |
Ludwig Becker - Oakleaves - Night fighter - 46 victories - KIA February 26, 1943. Becker was born August 22, 1911 in Dortmund. In 1939 he went to Aplerbeck for flight school. A pioneer of the night fighter program, he flew a total of 165 missions, including 47 which were day missions. |
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HYC007 $180 |
Hans Beisswenger - Oakleaves -
Hans “Beisser” Beisswenger was born on 8 November 1916 at
Mittelfischhach in the Schwäbisch-Hall region of Württemberg. In 1937, he
was serving in the army but transferred to Flak artillery. In 1938, he
underwent fighter pilot training. Beisswenger became an instructor and
served in this role until winter 1940. In winter 1940, Beisswenger was
transferred to JG 54. Leutnant Beisswenger was assigned to 6./JG 54. He
recorded his first victory on 7 April 1941, when he shot down a Yugoslavian
Hurricane fighter during the invasion of the Balkans. Later, over the
Eastern front, serving with 3./JG 54, Beisswenger became a leading scorer in
I. Gruppe. He recorded his 20th victory on 24 August and by the end of 1941
had 32 victories to his tally. On 6 April 1942, Beisswenger recorded his
40th victory and his 50th on 8 May. Leutnant Beisswenger was awarded the
Ritterkreuz on 9 May for 50 victories. On 11 August 1942, Beisswenger was
appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 54. He recorded his 75th victory on 15
August. On 23 August, Beisswenger shot down five Russian aircraft (88-92).
He recorded his 100th victory on 26 September. Beisswenger was awarded the
Eichenlaub (Nr 130) on 30 September. By the end of 1942, Beisswenger’s
victory total stood at 119. Oberleutnant Beisswenger recorded his 125th
victory on 23 January 1943 and his 135th on 11 February. He shot down five
enemy aircraft on 5 March (146-150). Beisswenger shot down two Russian
LaGG-3 fighters near Lake Ilmen on 6 March 1943. However, while attacking
another, his Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 14236) “Yellow 4” was rammed by Soviet ace
Starshii Leitenant Ivan Kholodov (26 victories) of 32 GIAP, VVS. Kholodov
successfully baled out but Beisswenger crashed to his death. “Beisser” Beisswenger was credited with 152 victories in over 500 missions. He recorded all but one of his victories over the Eastern front. |
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HYC010 $270 |
Kurt Buhligen - Swords - Bühligen was born December 13, 1917 and died august 11, 1985. He served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until early 1945. He initially joined the Luftwaffe as a mechanic, before transferring to flying training during 1938-39. In July 1940 he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 as an Unteroffizier pilot.Bühligen scored his first kill in September 1940 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz a year later after 20 further victories. In December 1942 he served with II/JG 2 in Tunisia and North Africa, achieving some 40 Allied kills before returning to Europe in March 1943. By March 1944 he had scored 96 kills and was now a Major in command of II/JG 2. After 12 more kills Bühligen led JG 2 in carrying out operations against the Soviet advance on the Eastern Front. In early 1945, now Kommodore of JG 2, an engine failure caused Bühligen to be taken prisoner by the Soviets, being finally released in 1950. He shot down some 112 enemy aircraft in over 700 operations, becoming the fourth highest Luftwaffe scorer against the Western Allies. All his victories were over the Western Front and North Africa and included 47 Spitfires and 46 USAAF victims; 13 P-38, 9 P-47 and 24 four-engine bombers. He was shot down on 3 occasions. His final command was Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 2 fighter wing. |
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HYC011 $250 |
Heinrich Ehrler - Oakleaves -
Heinrich Ehrler was born on 14 September 1917 at Oberbalbach in
Nordbaden. He joined the army in 1935 and served with a flak unit in the
Spanish Civil War. In 1940 he began flying training. On completion of his
training he was posted to 4./JG 77 operating from bases in Norway. He gained
his first victory in May 1940 shooting down a RAF Blenheim bomber. 4./JG 77
was redesignated 4./JG 5 on 1 February 1941. Ehrler recorded his second
victory on 19 February 1942 and was now operating over the Northern front
from bases in Finland and northern Norway. He was to score a total of 11
victories with the unit before he was promoted to Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 5
on 22 August. Between January and September 1942, Ehrler recorded 54
victories. Leutnant Ehrler was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 4 September for 64
victories. On Saturday, 27 March 1943, Ehrler, in short order, downed five
Russian Kittyhawks and Airacobras in aerial combat. While attempting to
engage another Russian fighter his aircraft was hit by a 20mm cannon shell
forcing his disengagement from the battle. He returned safely to base with
slight wounds. On 1 June, he was named Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 5. On 6
June, he claimed four Russian-flown Hurricanes to record his 96th through
99th victories. He gained his 100th victory the next day. After recording
his 112th victory on 2 August, he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 265). He
shot down eight enemy aircraft on 17 March 1944 to record his 124th to
131st victories. He bettered this effort on 25 May 1944 downing nine to
record his 147th to 155th victories. On 1 August 1944 he was promoted to
Kommodore of JG 5. On 12 November 1944 a message
reporting incoming British bombers reached the 27 year old
Geschwaderkommodore of JG 5. Ehrler, with his score at 199 victories,
scrambled to intercept the Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons at the head of
a Gruppe of Bf 109s. The fighters were too late. The British Lancasters
sank the battleship Tirpitz north of Tromsö with the loss of a thousand
sailors. Ehrler was called to account for this disaster and at his court
martial was accused of flying to get his 200th victory, instead of guiding
his fighters from ground control. Ehrler was sentenced to three years
Festungshaft, a more honourable punishment than imprisonment. Ehrler had
been nominated for the Schwerten prior to the battleship disaster. The award
was never made. He was stripped of his command. However, he was able to
record his 200th victory on 20 November 1944. Ehrler joined JG 7 on 27
February 1945. His comrades knew that the old fire had been burned out of
the gifted Ehrler. On 4 April 1945, he shot down two B-17s. Ehrler then
reported he had run out of ammunition and rammed a third. Erhler did not
return from the mission, and his body was found the next day at Schaarlippe
near Berlin. Heinrich Ehrler achieved 208 victories, of which about 10 were recorded over the Western front. Included in his score are eight victories flying the Me 262. |
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HYC013 $225 |
Friedrich Geisshardt - Oakleaves -
Friedrich “Fritz” Geisshardt was born on 22 January 1919 at Sonnefeld,
near Coburg, in Oberfranken. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. Unteroffizier
Geisshardt gained his first victory on 9 September 1939, during the invasion
of Poland, when he shot down a Polish PWS-26 trainer while serving with
2.(J)/LG 2. The following day, flying his Bf 109 E “Red 13”, Geisshardt
himself fell victim to Polish PZL-11 fighters near Wloclawek. After several
hours in Polish captivity, he was able to escape during the confusion of a
subsequent Stuka raid. He and another captive grabbed a couple of horses and
succeeded in reaching friendly territory after a five-day ride. Leutnant
Geisshardt participated in the Battle of Britain serving with 1.(J)/LG 2. By
the end of 1940, he had added six RAF aircraft to his tally. By spring 1941,
he had added a further six victories. By the time I.(J)/LG 2 participated in
the invasion of the Balkans, Geisshardt had been credited with 13 victories.
Over Yugoslavia, Geisshardt was to claim four JKRV Fury biplane fighters
shot down on 6 April 1941. During the invasion of Crete, he was to claim two
RAF Hurricane fighters shot down. By the end of April, Geisshardt had been
appointed Adjutant and was operating as part of the Stabschwarm of I.(J)/LG
2. Following the successful conclusion of the Balkan campaign the unit was
withdrawn to Eastern Europe. Geisshardt was to achieve much success over
Russia claiming 63 victories during his time there. He recorded his 20th
victory on 23 June 1941. Leutnant Geisshardt was awarded the Ritterkreuz on
30 August 1941 for 27 victories. I.(J)/LG 2 became I./JG 77 on 6 January
1942 and Geisshardt flew with its Stabschwarm. He recorded his 40th victory
on 1 March 1942 and his 50th on 19 April. He shot down five enemy aircraft
on 20 April to record his 52nd through 56th victories. On 25 April 1942, he
recorded seven victories (61-67). Geisshardt was appointed Staffelkapitän of
3./JG 77 on 26 April. On 23 June, Oberleutnant Geisshardt was awarded the
Eichenlaub (Nr 101) for 82 victories. I./JG 77 was transferred to the
Mediterranean theatre, arriving at Comiso, Sicily on 3 July 1942. Between
July and October 1942, Geisshardt claimed nine RAF Spitfire fighters shot
down operating over the island of Malta. He gained his 100th victory over
North Africa on 10 November. In December 1942, Geisshardt was posted to
III./JG 26 as Gruppenkommandeur. He gained two further victories on the
Western Front before being hit by return fire from USAAF B-17 four-engine
bombers on 5 April 1943. Bleeding profusely from a wound in the abdomen, he
dove away from the battle and made a smooth landing in Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr.
7051) „- P“ on the airfireld at Ghent, Belgium. Removed to hospital, he died
the next day. “Fritz” Geisshardt was credited with 102 victories in 642 missions. He achieved 63 of his victories over the Eastern front. In his total are at least seventeen Spitfires |
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HYC016 $225.00 |
Paul Gildner - Oakleaves - Night fighter |
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HYC017 $225 |
Anton Hackl - Swords -
Anton “Toni” Hackl was born on 25 March 1915 at Regensburg. He joined the
army in 1932 serving with an Infantry Regiment. He transferred to the
Luftwaffe and completed Pilot training in the autumn of 1936. Unteroffizier
Hackl joined II./JG 333, later to become II./JG 77, on 1 April 1938. In
February 1940, Hackl attended the Kriegsschule at Wildpark-Werder. On 1 May
1940, Unteroffizier Hackl was based in Norway serving with 5./JG 77. He
achieved his first victories on 15 June 1940 when he shot down two RAF
Hudsons over Stavanger. On 27 June he shot down a Hudson, but was wounded in
this battle. He was promoted from Oberfeldwebel to Oberleutnant for bravery
in combat. He had recorded four victories during his time in Norway. On 29
July 1941, he was dispatched to the Eastern Front. By the end of year he had
increased his score to 27. He became Staffelkapitän of 5./JG77 on 23 January
1942. On 25 May 1942, after 51 victories, he received the Ritterkreuz. He
recorded 11 victories during June. During July 1942, Hackl amassed a total
of 37 enemy aircraft shot down during the aerial battles over and around
Voronezh including six victories in a day on 21 July (victories 72 through
77) and 23 July (victories 79 through 84). On 3 August 1942, he shot down
three Russian aircraft to record his 100th victory. After his 106th victory
on 6 August he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 109). He shot down his 118th
and last enemy aircraft on the Eastern Front, a LaGG-3, on 19 September
1942. He was transferred to Tunisia with II./JG 77
where he gained 6 victories. But after a battle with P-38 Lightnings on 4
February 1943 he was badly wounded and was out of action for several months.
On recovery in September 1943, he operated with Stab III./JG 11 on
Reichsverteidigung duties. On 1 October, he became Gruppenkommandeur of
III./JG 11. Hackl was to shoot down 25 four-engined bombers during his time
in charge of III./JG 11. In April 1944, he commanded JG 11 for a short time
before again being badly wounded in battle with P-47 on 15 April. He had
been awarded the Schwerter (Nr 78) after 162 victories on 13 July. During
July 1944, he became Kommodore of JG 76. On 8 October he became leader of
II./JG 26 when Major Georg-Peter Eder (78 victories, RK-EL) was transferred
to Kommando Nowotny. At this time “Toni” Hackl had 165 victories to his
credit. By the end of 1944 he had 172 victories. On 30 January 1945 he was
acting Kommodore of JG 300 and, from 20 February, Kommodore of JG 11
following the death of Jürgen Harder (64 victories, EL, killed 17 February
1945). During the last ten months of the war Hackl was credited with 43
confirmed victories, including 20 achieved in 1945. His last 24 victories
were never officially confirmed. Anton Hackl survived the war but died on 9
July 1984 in Regensburg. Anton Hackl flew about 1000 combat missions and shot down 192 enemy aircraft: 131 on the Eastern Front and, from 61 victories in Africa and on the Western Front, were 34 four-engined bombers. He was second on the list of Viermottöter. He was shot down 8 times and wounded 4 times. |
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HYC022 $150 |
Gerhard Koeppen - Oakleaves - A farmer's son — not a professional soldier — but a passionate flyer who was one of Germany's best fighter pilots — that was Lieutenant Gerhard Koeppen. He had a soldier's personality, yet wanted to take off his uniform after the war to become a farmer on his own land. Gerhard Koeppen was born in Holzendorf in Prenzlau on May 17, 1918. Even as a schoolboy he was an enthusiastic glider pilot. After finishing school, he worked on his father's farm and attended agricultural school, learning aircraft mechanics on the side. He volunteered for the Luftwaffe when he turned 18. Before the war, he belonged to the Hindenburg Squadron. He became a fighter pilot during the war. After action in Greece and Crete, he had his greatest successes in the East. As a sergeant, Gerhard Koeppen was decorated with the Knight's Cross. He had already shot down 40 enemy planes, and also in daring low-level attacks gone after airfields, columns of troops and tanks. He inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. He set a Soviet gunboat ablaze on the Dnieper River. On February 24, 1942, as the best shot in his squadron, he downed four Bolshevist fighters. This brilliant achievement earned him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, the 79th person to earn the award. By then, he had shot down 72 enemy planes. He had also been named in the Wehrmacht report. He was promoted to Lieutenant. Reich Marshall Göring himself gave him his officer's baton. After a brief leave, Lieutenant Koeppen gained further victories. His name appeared in the Wehrmacht report once again after he shot down four Bolshevist planes on May 1, and five the next day. His ability and exemplary fighting spirit were the foundation of his success as a fighter pilot. He met his death in battle at the beginning of the Crimean campaign. He fell to ground fire on 5 May 1942, shortly before completing his 24th year. He had shot down 85 enemy planes. |
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HYC025 $225 |
Helmuth Ostermann - Swords
Max-Hellmuth Ostermann was born on 11 December 1917 at Hamburg. He joined
the Luftwaffe as a Fahnenjunker in March 1937. At the outbreak of World War
2 Leutnant Ostermann was serving with I./ZG 1 flying Bf 110 Zerstörer twin-engined
fighters. He participated in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. In
April 1940, Ostermann was transferred to JG 21. Leutnant Ostermann was
assigned to 1./JG 21. On 20 May 1940, he achieved his first aerial victory
during the French campaign when he shot down a French Morane 406 fighter
near Péronne. He recorded a second victory during the French campaign. On 6
June, 1./JG 21 was redesignated 7./JG 54. During the
Battle of Britain, Ostermann
did well recording six victories. Ostermann participated in the invasion of
the Balkans. On 6 April 1941, he claimed a Yugoslavian Bf 109E fighter shot
down over Belgrade. Following the successful conclusion of the Balkans
campaign, JG 54 and Ostermann then saw much action against the Russians over
the Leningrad front. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1941 for
29 victories. In November 1941, Ostermann transferred to I./JG 54. By Spring
1942, he had shot down 40 Soviet aircraft.He recorded his 50th victory on 20
January 1942, his 60th on 1 February and 70th on 20 March.
In February 1942, Oberleutnant Ostermann was appointed Staffelkapitän
of 8./JG 54. He was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 81) on 12 March. On 31 March,
he claimed his 79th and 80th victories and his 89th and 90th on 29
April.Ostermann recorded his 97th victory on 10 May, but was shot down
shortly afterward surviving unharmed. On 12 May he became the seventh pilot
in World War 2 to achieve 100 victories, although he was shot down in Bf 109
F-4 (W.Nr. 13 125) “Black 1” on that occasion suffering wounds in the
process. He was awarded the Schwertern on 17 May. Ostermann was afforded
leave following the award and did not return to combat duty until August. On
9 August 1942, Ostermann, flying Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 10 438) “Black 1”, shot
down a Russian Curtiss P-40 fighter for his 102nd, and last, victory, but
shortly after was shot down and killed in a dogfight with Soviet fighter
pilots in the vicinity of Amossovo. Max-Hellmuth Ostermann shot down 102 enemy aircraft in over 300 combat missions. He recorded eight victories over the Western front. |
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HYC026 $125 |
Hans Philipp - Swords -
Colonel Philipp was born March 13, 1917 in Meißen, Saxony and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. He was killed in action October 8, 1943 near Neuenhaus in the Netherlands. It is believed he was shot down by Robert S. Johnson. Philipp was able to bail out but his parachute never opened. As part of I./JG 76 (later to renumber as II./JG 54) he first flew operations over Poland and scored his first victory. Serving later during the Battles of France and Britain, Hans Philipp was Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 54 by the end of 1940. On November 4 1940 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for twenty victories. During the Balkans campaign in April 1941, JG 54 engaged the Bf 109's of Jugoslovensko Kraljevsko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo (JKRV) in a massive air battle. Hans Philipp scored two of the JKRV 109s. Operation Barbarossa saw Philipp's score begin to escalate. On August 24, 1941, Philipp became the 33rd member recipient of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. Philipp appointed as Kommandeur I./JG 54. In March 1942, he became the first member of JG 54 to be awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross and on March 31, 1942 Philipp became the fourth Luftwaffe fighter pilot to achieve 100 victories. In April 1943 Philipp was transferred to Defense of the Reich duties as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 1, flying high altitude interception operations over North Sea and Northern Germany. On October 4, 1943 Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring is said to have issued the following instructions after another attack by Eighth Air Force.
Geschwaderkommodore Philipp's response was "As far as I'm concerned, I categorically refuse to allow myself to be held to such advice; I know what I have to do!" On Octoberr 8, 1943, the US Eighth Air Force attacked with 156 bombers on targets in Bremen and Vegesack. The bombers were escorted by more than 250 Thunderbolts from six different fighter groups. Philipp's flight were intercepted by P-47's of the 56th Fighter Group. The Stab Flight of the Geschwader heard Philipp announce a victory over a Thunderbolt. The last transmission from him was, "Reinhardt, attack!" Feldwebel Reinhardt was Philipp's wingman on this day. He last saw the Kommodore's aircraft disappear in a cloud. Reinhardt was wounded after colliding with an enemy aircraft, but made a successful forced landing. Later that evening, the Geschwader learned that their Kommodore had been shot down and killed. Hans Philipp had claimed 206 enemy aircraft shot down, 178 on the Eastern front, 29 against the Western Allies. He flew over 500 sorties. |
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HYC028 $300 |
 Hans Ulrich Rudel - Golden
Oakleaves, Swords, Diamonds - Rudel was born July 2, 1916 and died December
18, 1982. He was a Stuka dive-bomber pilot
during World War II. He is famous for being the
most highly decorated German serviceman of the war and
was the only person to be awarded the Knights Cross
with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.
Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions and successfully attacked many
tanks, trains, ships, and other ground targets, claiming a total of 2,000
targets destroyed - including 800 vehicles, 519 tanks, 150 artillery guns, a
destroyer, two cruisers, one Soviet battleship and nine aircraft which he
shot down. This son of
Lutheran minister was born in Konradswaldau (Silesia), Germany (it became
part of Poland after 1945). He was raised in a number of different Silesian
parishes. A poor scholar but very keen sportsman, after the Abitur
(certificate of education), he joined the Luftwaffe in August 1936 as an
officer cadet, and began basic training at the "School of Air Warfare" at
Wildpark-Werder. In June 1938 he joined I./Stuka-Geschwader
168 in Graz as an officer senior cadet. Rudel had difficulty learning
the new techniques, and with the rest of the unit already fully trained, he
was marked as unsuitable as a combat pilot and was transferred for special
training in operational reconnaissance at the
Reconnaissance Flying School at Hildesheim on January 1,
1936 and promoted to Leutnant on that date.
After completing training he was posted to Fernaufklärungsgruppe 121
(Distance Reconnaissance Squadron) at Prenzlau.
Rudel was a teetotaler and non-smoker. His fellow pilots coined the phrase
Hans-Ulrich Rudel, er trinkt nur Sprudel (Hans-Ulrich Rudel, he
drinks only mineral water). As World War II
started and during the Polish Campaign he flew (as an observer) long-range
reconnaissance missions over Poland from Breslau. Rudel earned the Iron
Cross Second Class on October 11, 1939. After a
number of requests he was reassigned to dive bombing, joining an Aviation
Training Regiment at Crailsheim and then he was assigned to his previous
unit, I./StG 3, at Caen in May 1940. He spent the Battle of Britain as an
Oberleutnant in a non-combat role. Still regarded as a poor pilot he was
returned to a Reserve Flight at Graz for further training and was there
confirmed for dive bombing training. Assigned to I./StG 2, based at Molai,
his poor reputation preceded him and he also spent the invasion of Crete in
a non-combat role. Rudel flew his first four
combat missions on June 23, 1941, during the
German invasion of the Soviet Union. His piloting skills earned him the Iron
Cross 1st Class on July 18, 1941. On
September 23, 1941, he sunk the Soviet battleship Marat,
during an air attack on Kronstadt harbor in the Leningrad area, with a hit
to the bow using a 1,000 kg bomb. By the end of
December, he had flown his 400th mission and in January 1942 received the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He became the first pilot in history to
fly 1,000 sorties on February 10, 1943. Around
this time he also started flying anti-tank operations with the 'Kanonenvogel',
or G, version of the Ju-87, through the Battle of Kursk, and into the autumn
of 1943, being credited with 100 tanks destroyed.
By March 1944, he was already Gruppenkommandeur (commander) of
III./StG 2 and had reached 1,800 operations and credited
with 202 tanks destroyed. On
March 13, 1944 he may have been involved in aerial combat with the
Hero of the Soviet Union Lev Shestakov. Shestakov failed to return from this
mission and is posted as missing in action since. This is how the story
comes from Rudel's memoirs:
In November 1944, he was wounded in the thigh and flew subsequent missions with his leg in a plaster cast. On February 8, 1945 a 40 mm shell hit his aircraft. He was badly wounded in the right foot and crash landed inside German lines. His life was saved by his observer Dr.med. Ernst Gadermann who stemmed the bleeding, but Rudel's leg was amputated below the knee. He returned to operations on March 25, 1945 being credited with 26 more tanks destroyed before the end of the war. Determined not to fall into Soviet hands, he led three Ju 87s and four FW 190s westward from Bohemia in a 2-hour flight and surrendered to U.S. forces on May 8, 1945, after landing at Kitzingen airfield, home to the 405th Fighter Group. In captivity, he spent eleven months in hospitals. Upon his release he moved to Argintina. According to official Luftwaffe figures, Rudel flew some 2,530 combat missions (a world record), during which he destroyed almost 2,000 ground targets (among them 519 tanks, 70 assault craft/landing boats, 150 self-propelled guns, 4 armored trains, and 800 other vehicles; as well as 9 planes (2 II2's and 7 fighters). He also sank a battleship, two cruisers, and a destroyer. He was shot down or forced to land 32 times (several times behind enemy lines), but always managed to escape capture despite a 100,000 ruble bounty placed on his head byStalin himself. He was also wounded five times and rescued six stranded aircrew from enemy territory. The vast majority of his missions were spent piloting the various models of the Junkers JU87, though by the end of the war he flew the ground-attack variant of the Fw 190. He went on to become the most decorated serviceman of all the fighting arms of the German armed forces (the only person to become more highly decorated was Hermann Goring who was awarded the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross) Picture above left is front of card.
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HYC030 $180 |
Werner Schroer - Swords -
Werner Schroer was born on 12 December 1918 at Mülheim in Ruhr. His
Luftwaffe career began in 1937 as a member of the ground staff. In May 1940
he completed his flying training. On 27 August 1940 he joined 2./JG 27 based
on the Channel front. He flew his first combat missions during the Battle of
Britain but did not claim any confirmed victories. In March 1941, I./JG 27
was deployed to North Africa in order to support the Afrika Korps under the
command of Erwin Rommel. Schroer claimed his first victory, a RAF Hurricane,
on 19 April 1941, however, his Bf 109 E (WNr 3790) was hit and he had to
make a forced-landing near his airfield with 48 bullet holes in his
aircraft. On 21 April, in an engagement with RAF Hurricanes, an aircraft
collided with his Bf 109 E (WNr 4170) slightly injuring him and requiring
him to make another forced-landing. By the end of 1941 his score stood at
seven. In March 1942, he was appointed Adjutant of I./JG 27. He was
appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 27 on 22 June. In July he recorded 16
victories. On 9 September, he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. He
shot down 13 enemy aircraft in September, including six on 15 September to
record his 35th through 40th victories. In October, Schroer claimed 15
victories. Leutnant Schroer was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 21 October for 49
victories. On 4 November, Schroer, with Alfred Stückler (10 victories), shot
down two four-engined B-24s. On 11 February 1943, Schroer reportedly shot
down two RAF Beauforts, although he claimed them as B-26s. When Major Gustav
Rödel (98 victories, including 13 four-engined bombers, RK-EL) was appointed
Kommodore of JG 27, Hauptmann Schroer took his place as Gruppenkommandeur of
II./JG 27 on 22 April 1943. Operating over Sicily and southern Italy,
between 29 April and 23 July, Schroer was to claim 22 Allied aircraft shot
down, including 12 four-engined bombers. On 2 August, he became the 268th
recipient of the Eichenlaub, awarded for his 84 victories. In August 1943,
II./JG 27 was redeployed to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim in Germany for
Reichsverteidigung duties. On 6 September, Schroer led the Gruppe on an
interception of a formation of 262 B-17s. In all 45 American bombers were
lost including four shot down by II./JG 27, three of which were claimed by
Schroer as his victories 86 through 88. On 3 March 1944, Major Schroer
scored his 99th victory and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 54,
relieving Major Rudolf Sinner (39 victories, DK) who had been badly wounded
on 6 March attacking a formation of four-engined bombers. III./JG 54 was
based at Lüneberg and flew the Bf 109 G-6. On 24 May, Schroer shot down a
P-51 and two P-47s for his 100th to 102nd victories. On 21 July 1944,
Schroer relinquished command of III./JG 54 to Hauptmann Robert “Bazi” Weiss
(121 victories, RK-EL, killed in action 29 December 1944). Schroer was
transferred to a fighter pilot school as an instructor. On 4 August, he had
to make a forced-landing when his engine malfunctioned. From November 1944
to February 1945 Schroer was retained in a training role. On 14 February
1945, Schroer was appointed Kommodore of JG 3. With this unit he quickly
claimed 12 Russian aircraft destroyed. On 19 April 1945 he became the 144th
recipient of the Schwertern. Werner Schroer survived the war. He died on 10
February 1985 in Munich, aged 67. Werner Schroer was credited with 114 victories flying 197 missions. 102 of his victories were scored on the Western front, including 61 claimed over North Africa, and 26 four-engined bombers. |
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HYC033 $230 |
Max Stotz - Oakleaves -
Stotz was (born February 13, 1912 in Mannsworth, Lower Austria and was reported missing in action August 19, 1943. He was officially credited with shooting down 189 enemy aircraft claimed in more than 700 combat missions. Following aerial combat on 19 August 1943 Stotz bailed out and was not seen again |
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HYC035 $180 |
Kurt Ubben - Oakleaves -
Kurt “Kuddel” Ubben was born on 18 November 1911 at Dorstadt in Harz. He
joined the navy in 1931 undertaking his training on the sailing ship “Gorch
Foch”. In 1935, Ubben transferred to the Luftwaffe and, by 1938, was serving
with the Küstenjagdstaffel Kiel. At the outbreak of World War 2,
Oberfeldwebel Ubben was serving with 5./JGr 186. The unit was destined to be
based aboard the German navy’s aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, at that time
still under construction. He participated in air operations supporting the
invasion of Poland in September 1939. He gained his first aerial success
when he shot down a Dutch Fokker D XXI fighter over Holland on 10 May 1940.
In June 1940, Ubben transferred with II./JGr 186 to Norway where the unit
was based at Stavanger. On 5 July, II./JGr 186 was absorbed into III./JG 77
when it became obvious that the Graf Zeppelin would not be completed for
some time. On 22 July, Ubben was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 77. By
the end of 1940, 8./JG 77 was stationed on the Channel front. The unit
transferred to take part in the invasion of the Balkans in early April 1941.
Ubben claimed an RAF Hurricane fighter shot down in the Lamia area of Greece
on 19 April. However, Ubben’s Bf 109 was badly damaged in the engagement
necessitating a forced-landing behind Allied lines. He was rescued by a
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch flown by a colleague of his unit, which landed and
flew him back to his base. Ubben also performed many ground attack missions
and fighter-bomber attacks against Allied shipping around the coasts of
Greece and Crete. On 22 May, Oberleutnant Ubben and Oberleutnant
Wolf-Dietrich Huy (40 victories, RK-EL) attacked the Royal Navy’s Force “C”
between the islands of Kythera and Antikythera. Both were successful in
gaining hits on the British battleship “Warspite”. He also claimed a British
Motor Torpedo Boat sunk during this period. Ubben participated in the
invasion of Russia in June 1941. He claimed his 20th and 21st victories on
25 July. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 4 September for 32 aerial
victories, 26 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 15 tanks destroyed. On 5
September 1941, Hauptmann Ubben was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG
77. He achieved his 50th victory on 19 October. Ubben shot down four Russian
aircraft on 9 December (58-61). He was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 80) on 12
March 1942 for 69 victories. When III./JG 77 was transferred to North
Africa, Ubben had 92 victories to his credit. He continued his success in
the new theatre gaining his 100th and 101st victories on 14 January 1943. In
October, Ubben led III./JG 77 to Rumania where it was tasked with the aerial
protection of the Ploesti oilfields from the increasing Allied bombing
attacks. Major Ubben was appointed Kommodore of JG 2 based in France on 10
March 1944, replacing Oberstleutnant Egon Mayer (102 victories, RK-S, killed
in action 2 March 1944). On 27 April 1944, Ubben engaged USAAF fighters near
Fere-en-Tardenois. In the ensuing combat, Ubben was shot down in Fw 190
A-8/R2/R6 (W.Nr. 680 113). He baled out but his parachute failed to open
either due to insufficient altitude or an improperly fastened harness. “Kuddel” Ubben was credited 111 victories in approximately 500 combat missions. He recorded 90 victories over the Eastern front. Included in his total is one four-engined bomber and seven P-38 twin-engine fighters. |
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HYC037 $270 |
Theodor Weissenberger - Oakleaves
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Weissenberger was born December 21, 1914 in Muhleheim am Main and was killed in a car racing accident June 10, 1950. He flew more than 500 combat missions, was credited with 208 enemy aircraft shot down. 33 of these were made on the Western Front, including some 7 heavy bombers. Despite his excellent talents as a fighter pilot, Weissenberger's casual often 'non-military' attitude meant he often got into trouble with his superiors regarding discipline. Between September 1941 and May 1944, he flew some 350 missions in Jagdgeschwader 5 on the Arctic Front and claimed some 175 victories over the Soviet Air Forces. I/JG 5 transferred to the Western Front in mid 1944 and through June and July 1944, Weissenberger flew 26 sorties and was credited with 25 victories over the Invasion Front at Normandy (his claims were half the total score by the whole unit, I./JG 5, during this period). Weissenberger converted to the Messerschmitt Me 262 Jet fighter in the second half of 1944. In November 1944 he was assigned to command I./JG 7. On New Year's Day 1945 he married his teenage love Cilly Vogel. Best man at his wedding was felloow ace, Walter Schuck. He was promoted to Major on January 1, 1945 and was put in command of JG 7 as Geschwaderkommodore. He is credited with 8 confirmed victories while flying the Me 262. He became a motor racing driver after the war and was killed at the infamous Nürburgring circuit on JUne 10, 1950. |
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HYC038 $200 |
Wolf Dieter Wilcke - Swords -
Wolf-Dietrich “Fürst” Wilcke was born on 11 March 1913 at Schrimm in
Posen. He enrolled in the Wehrmacht in 1934 and initially served in a
Cavalry Regiment. In 1935, Oberfärnrich Wilcke transferred to the newly
formed Luftwaffe. He completed his flying training at Perleberg and joined
JG 132. In autumn of 1937 he became an instructor at the Jagdfliegerschule
Werneuchen. In early 1939, Oberleutnant Wilcke was sent to Spain to serve
with the Condor Legion. His time spent there was short and he was soon back
in Germany serving with III./JG 53 under the command of Werner Mölders. On
18 September 1939, Hauptmann Wilcke was appointed Staffelkapitän and ordered
to form 7./JG 53 within the newly constituted III./JG 53. He gained his
first victory on 7 November when he shot down a French Potez 637 twin-engined
fighter over the Saar valley. On 18 May 1940, Wilcke became separated from
his Staffel during combat with French Hawk 75 fighters. He was shot down but
managed to bale out. He was captured but was soon released at the fall of
France. Wilcke returned to JG 53 and participated in the Battle of Britain.
He was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 53 on 13 August 1940,
following the death of Hauptmann Harro Harder (17 victories) in aerial
combat. He nearly did not have the opportunity to take up the new position.
During a late afternoon mission on 12 August, Wilcke’s Bf 109 E-4 suffered
engine failure. He baled out into the sea and was very fortunate to be found
in bright moonlight and rescued by a Do 18 twin-engine flying boat of the
German air-sea rescue services. By early summer he had recorded 13
victories. Wilcke led III./JG 53 during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion
of Russia. On 22 June 1941, the opening day of the invasion, III./JG 53 were
returning from its first mission against Russian airfields in Lithuania when
it encountered a formation of I-15bis biplane fighters. In the ensuing
combat Wilcke downed three of the fighters. He recorded two further
victories later that day to take his victory total to 18. On 25 June, Wilcke
was involved in a collision on take-off from Vilna in Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr.
8104). Both aircraft involved in the incident were destroyed by fire. He was
lucky to escape with minor injuries. Hauptmann Wilcke was awarded the
Ritterkreuz on 6 August 1940 for 25 victories. In December 1941, III./JG 53
were transferred to Sicily. Wilcke’s victory tally had reached 32. Operating
over Malta, he added four RAF Spitfire fighters to his score. In early May
1942, III./JG 53 was ordered to North Africa. On 18 May 1942, Wilcke was
transferred to JG 3 operating on the Eastern front. On 12 August, Major
Wilcke was appointed Kommodore of JG 3. He recorded his 100th victory on 6
September for which he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 122) on 9 September.
Wilcke participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, based at Pitomnik, where he
directed day fighter operations over the city. During the summer offensive
of 1942, under the command of Wilcke, the Geschwaderstab/JG 3 recorded 137
victories of which Wilcke claimed 97 (39-135). During this time the unit
reported only one pilot lost. In September alone, Wilcke claimed 32
victories, including four enemy aircraft shot down on 18 September
(103-106), six on 24 September (111-116) and another four shot down on 24
September (117-120). When Russian forces encircled Stalingrad, the
Geschwaderstab/JG 3 was transferred to Morozovskaya-Öst, outside the pocket.
Wilcke directed fighter escort missions for the transport aircraft
attempting to supply the surrounded 6th German Army. He claimed five
victories on 17 December (147-151). Wilcke was the fourth German fighter
pilot to reach 150 victories. On 23 December, he was awarded the Schwerten
(Nr 23) for 155 victories. On the same day, he led the unit to
Morozovskaya-Süd to escape the advance of the Russian armoured spearhead. A
further move followed to Tazinskaya on 3 January 1943 where the unit
remained until after the end of the fighting in the Stalingrad pocket.
During this time the unit claimed a further 25 victories for the loss in
action of two pilots. Wilcke claimed 21 to raise his victory total to 156.
From March 1943, he led JG 3 over the Kuban bridgehead. However, he had been
forbidden to fly operationally and had to lead the unit from the ground. In
May 1943, JG 3 was withdrawn to Germany. On its return to Germany, the
Geschwaderstab/JG 3 was based at Mönchenglagbach. Oberst Wilcke was still
under instructions not to fly combat missions. However, he began ignoring
the orders in February 1944 and was able to record four victories over USAAF
B-17 four-engined bombers and a single P-51 fighter. On 6 March, his machine
Bf 109G-6 was damaged in aerial combat and Wilcke had to make an emergency
landing at Neuruppin. Although his aircraft was destroyed, Wilcke escaped
injury. On 23 March 1944, Wilcke led JG 3 in an attack on a USAAF bomber
formation near Braunschweig. During the ensuing combat, Wilcke shot down his
162nd, and last, victory, an escorting P-51 fighter, but was shot down near
Schöppenstedt. He died in the wreckage of his Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 160 613)
“Black << + -“. It is thought he had become the victim of American aces
Major Don Gentile (21.833 confirmed and 3 damaged victories) and Major John
Godfrey (16.333 confirmed, 2 probale and 5 damaged victories) of the 336th
Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF. “Fürst” Wilcke was credited with 162 victories in 732 missions. He recorded 137 victories over the Eastern front. Of his 25 victories recorded over the Western front, four were four-engine bombers. |
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HYC039 $280 |
Sepp Wurmheller - Swords -
Josef “Sepp” Wurmheller was born on 4 May 1917 at Hausham in Oberbayern.
He was an accomplished glider and powered aircraft pilot pre-war. He began
his training as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe in 1937. By summer of 1938,
Gefreiter Wurmheller was serving with 2./JG 334. At the outbreak of World
War 2, Unteroffizier Wurmheller was serving with 2./JG 53. He recorded his
first victory, a RAF Fairey Battle single-engined bomber near Saarbrücken,
on 30 September 1939. From November 1939 to June 1940, Wurmheller undertook
instructing duties. In June 1940, Wurmheller returned to JG 53 and combat
duty. Feldwebel Wurmheller was assigned to 5./JG 53. He participated in the
Battle of Britain surviving two ditchings in the English Channel. His
dousing in the Channel of 23 November in Bf 109 E-4 (W.Nr. 5212) following
aerial combat over England resulted in hospitalisation until March 1941. On
7 May 1941, he gained his 9th and 10th victories when he downed two RAF
Spitfire fighters. He spent a short period on the Eastern Front where he
added nine victories to his tally. Oberfeldwebel Wurmheller was transferred
back to the Channel front to serve with the Stabsstaffel of II./JG 2 in July
1941. In less than four weeks, Wurmheller claimed 13 Spitfires. On 4
September, Oberfeldwebel Wurmheller was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 31
victories. A further spell of instructing followed before a return to combat
duty in May 1942. Assigned to 1./JG 2, Wurmheller gained 10 victories during
May 1942. In June he claimed another 11 victories. His most successful day
came during the Allied landings at Dieppe on 19 August 1942. Despite a
crash-landing, during which he broke a leg and suffered concussion,
Wurmheller claimed seven victories during the day. The feat earned
Wurmheller a promotion to the rank of Leutnant and the award of the
Eichenlaub (Nr 146), presented on 20 August 1942. His score stood at 60
victories. On 1 April 1943, Wurmheller was
appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 2. He recorded his 70th victory on 17 May,
when he shot down a USAAF B-17 four-engine bomber. On 23 September, he was
wounded by bomb splinters while making an emergency landing in Fw 190 A-6 (W.Nr.
530 314) “Yellow 2” during a bombing raid at Vannes-Meuçon. On 8 March 1944,
he claimed his 90th victory. Hauptmann Wurmheller was appointed
Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2 on 8 June 1944. He replaced Hauptmann Herbert
Huppertz (78 victories, RK-EL) who had been shot down and killed in aerial
combat. He downed two USAAF P-47 fighters near Caen on 12 June (100-101).
Wurmheller killed in Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 171 053) on 22 June 1944 during
aerial combat with Allied fighters near Alençon when he collided with his
wingman. He was posthumously awarded the Schwerten (Nr 108) and promoted to
the rank of Major on 24 October. Josef “Sepp” Wurmheller achieved 102 victories. He recorded nine victories over the Eastern Front. Of the 93 victories recorded over the Western Front, at least 20 were four-engine bombers and at least 56 RAF Spitfire fighters. |
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HYC041 $390 |
Gunther Prien - Oakleaves - larger card - approximately 5" x 7" - Prein joined the Reichsmarine in January 1931 after sailing some years on trade ships. After a year on the light cruiser Königsberg, he transferred in October 1935 to the U-boat force. In 1938 he was on U-26 under Kptlt. Hartmann patrolling in Spanish waters during the Civil War. With his own boat U-47 he became famous for his 14 October, 1939 sinking of the British battleship HMS Royal Oak in the heavily defended British North Fleet main harbor at Scapa Flow. Churchill himself wrote about this outstanding feat of arms of a German U-boat commander. He was the first U-boat commander to be awarded the Knights Cross. During the next 18 months He proved that he was one of the best German commanders. On his sixth patrol in June 1940 he sank eight ships for a total of 51,483 tons. In convoy battles he often was the first who found the convoys and vectored in other boats. For example, he took part in the convoy battle against HX-79, which he discovered and shadowed. U-47 brought in the other boats and sank four ships. Admiral Dönitz suggested to Prien at that time that Prien should transfer to a training unit, but Prien decided to remain on his boat. U-47 left Lorient (France) for her tenth patrol on 20 February, 1941. Just four days later they attacked convoy OB-290 and sank four ships for a total of 16,310 tons. The last radio message from U-47 was received in the morning of 7 March. Günther Prien was killed when U-47 was lost with all hands (45 men) on 7 or 8 March, 1941. It is believed that his boat was sunk by one of his own torpedos. |
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HYC942 $150 |
Hermann Bernard Ramcke - Diamonds |
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HYC043 $275 |
Leopold Steinbatz - Swords |
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HYC044 $180 |
Theodor Nordmann - Swords |
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HYC045 $140 |
Klaus Mietusch - Oakleaves |
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HYC046 $100 |
Wilhelm Lemcke - Swords |
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HYC047 $100 |
Heinz Frank - Oakleaves |
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HYC048 $200 |
Erwin Clausen - Oakleaves |
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HYC049 $100 |
Werner Baumbach - Swords |
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HYC050 $175
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Joachim Kirschner - Oakleaves |
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