Luftwaffe Aces Collection
This is an absolutely incredible book, Originally produced in a limited edition of 2,000, this is number 418/2000. Each of the 24 pages is broken into 5 areas and each is hand-signed by the subject at the top. There is a photo of the subject; his biography in his own words, the aircraft he flew during the war, his favorite combat unit, and his combat report on his most memorable combat fight. Published by the Military Gallery in cooperation with the Fighter Pilot's Association of Germany (Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger e.V.) the foreword is written by Adolf Galland. There is an additional page that pictures the Luftwaffe gruppe designation symbols, staff appointment symbols, unit size designations and wartime rank insignia. The Military Gallery still has a few of the books remaining at the original price of $1,500. I have seen copies for sale for between $1,400 and $1,900. The price for my pristine copy is:
$900.00 +$10 shipping
or
$6500.00 +$10 shipping including the extra 12 signed items noted below - reduced if any individual ones are sold.
Click on the subject's name to see that album page.
Two interesting observations I made while reading each of the bio pages. All of these 24 aces signed their full name. On many, I have only seen the last name on photos and documents. Also, the signatures are far neater than normally seen - especially when you consider they each signed 2,000 of the bio pages. I attribute this to the fact they were paid well to autograph those pages and each used the same type fine-point writing instrument.
Most of these aces are now deceased. I feel fortunate to have either met or corresponded with a number of them.
There are 12 blank pages at the back of the book. I have added some of my own album pages to my copy. Those added are my album pages of Luftwaffe notables with hand-signed photos of the following:
1. Gerd Barkhorn
302 victories
Swords recipient - one of only 2 aces to exceed 300 victories - Very nice postwar signed
photo -
$149.00
2. Hermann Goring
22 victories in WWI Chief of
Luftwaffe - Grand Cross of the Knights Cross recipient Warsigned Hoffmann portrait #702 - $380
3. Hermann Graf
212 victories
Diamonds recipient - Postwar signed - $100
4. Hans Ulrich Rudel - Only recipient of Knights Cross with Golden
Oakleaves, Swords & Diamonds - SOLD
5. Hans Beisswenger
152 victories Oakleaves recipient - KIA March 6, 1943
- Warsigned Hoffmann #R59a - $275
6. Otto Kittel
267 victories
Swords recicpient - KIA February 14, 1945 - Warsigned HYC - $480
7. Werner Molders
115 victories
Diamonds recipient - Molders was the 1st fighter pilot to reach 100 victories -
SOLD
8. Albert Kesselring Generalfieldmarshall of the Luftwaffe - Diamonds recipient - Warsigned Hoffmann
portrait #1529 - $335
9. Joachim Munchenberg
135 victories
Swords recipient - KIA March 21, 1943 - Warsigned Hoffmann portrait #1522 - $285
10. Hermann Joppien
70 victories
Oakleaves recipient - KIA August 28, 1941 - Warsigned Hoffmann portrait - $240
11. Hans Philipp
200 victories
Swords recipient - KIA October 8, 1943 - Warsigned private snapshot - $195
and the cornerstone of my collection.....
12. Baron von Richthofen - the Red Baron. 80 victories in
WWI Blue Max recipient and the most successful ace of WWI -
Rare Sanke portrait #606 - $4,900 (value $6,000-$9000) - included is a tiny
piece of von Richthofen's hair mounted in a small gold frame and a COA for both
the photo and the hair. R&R Auctions (http://www.rrauction.com/) in their
November 2007 auction, sold a similar, but nothing like as nice a photo for
$12,640.00 (item #327) and in their October 1999 auction (item #230) sold a
strand of hair from the same collection mine came from for $417.00.
If the buyer is interested, all or part of these 12 album pages can be included at an additional price. If all 12 of the extra signed items are desired, there will be a further discount. I can replace any sold items with others. For individual of the extra signed items, see the price at the end of the description above. Click on the subject's name to see a jpeg of my album page. Included above are 1 Golden Oakleaves recipient, 4 Diamonds recipients, 4 Swords recipients, 1 Oakleaves recipient, 1 Grand Cross of the Knights Cross recipient, 6 pilots who were killed in action, 9 wartime signed, and total victories of more than 1,400 in WWII and 102 victories in WWI, While during his incredible 2,530 combat sorties, Rudel only had 7 aerial victories, his total victories were awesome and included: 519 tanks, 150 gun emplacement, 800+ various types of combat vehicles, a Russian battleship, cruiser, destroyer, 70 smaller craft, and numerous trains. He flew the Stuka dive bomber throughout the war and was the only recipient of the Golden Oakleaves. Goring was the only recipient of the Grand Cross of the Knights Cross..
Each of these 12 additional items comes with a COA.
THE LUFTWAFFE FIGHTER ACES COLLECTION
Profiles Book
Overall Book Size: 10½" x 13"
Edition Size: 2000
This unique book features profiles of 24 legendary fighter aces who flew and
fought with the Luftwaffe during World War II. Each of the 24 portfolio
documents was written especially for this book by the distinguished fighter
pilot himself, and each document was individually signed by the featured
legendary Ace.
INDIVIDUALLY WRITTEN AND SIGNED PERSONAL HISTORIES
Each Luftwaffe Ace personally wrote his own profile notes for this
collection! Each document contains a rare, and sometimes unpublished
personal wartime photograph, an accurate biographical description of the
Ace's wartime activity and achievements, and notes on the aircraft he flew
in combat, with his observations and choice of his favorite, and why. Each
nominated the Battle Group or Squadron that was most important to him, with
an explanation as to why he held this unit dearest in his memory, and each
Ace relived the most memorable day of his career, telling us why it remained
so vividly in his mind. Each Ace's own aircraft of choice is illustrated,
complete with personal insignia, and to authenticate his personal profile
document, each Ace INDIVIDUALLY HAND SIGNED each copy
in the edition.
THE ACES HAD 3,074+
COMBINED VICTORIES
The highest scoring American Ace of World War II, the great Dick Bong,
achieved 40 victories. Of the Luftwaffe Aces featured in this collection, 23
of the 24 achieved more victories than the greatest American Ace! While ten
Luftwaffe Aces scored over 100 victories each and three scored over 200
victories each, the greatest Ace of all time, Erich Hartmann, scored a
phenomenal 352 victories! Gallant, top-scoring, highly decorated Aces whose
names are indelibly etched into the history books. Men who not only fought
the great aerial battles of World War II, but who at great personal risk,
took on their own incompetent High Command; men whom the world came to
respect and today revere. Twenty-four legends whose day and night activities
covered the entire spectrum of the Luftwaffe's fighter warfare from the
Battle of Britain to the Balkans, from the Russian Front to North Africa,
from Italy to the final defense of the Reich. The names in the collection
form a veritable Roll of Honor:
Oberst Erich Hartmann - 352 Victories
- Died Sept. 20, 1993
Generalleutnant Gunther Rall - 275 Victories
- Living in Germany
Generalleutnant Adolf Galland - 104 Victories
- Died Feb. 9, 11996
Generalleutnant Walter Krupinski - 197 Victories
- Died Oct. 7, 2000
General Johannes Steinhoff - 176 Victories
- Died Feb. 21, 1994
Oberst Herbert Ihlefeld - 140 Victories
- Died Aug. 8, 1995
Oberstleutnant Walter Wolfrum - 137 Victories
- Deceased(?)
Hauptmann Alfred Grislawski - 133 Victories
- Died Sept. 19, 2003
Generalleutnant Friedrich Obleser - 120 Victories
- Died Jun. 5, 2004
Oberstleutnant Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert - 174 Victories
- Died Sept. 5, 2007
Generalmajor Dieter Hrabak - 125 Victories
- Died Sept. 19, 1995
Oberstleutnant Walter Schuck - 206 Victories
- Living in California
Major Erich Rudorffer - 224 Victories
- Living in Germany
Oberstleutnant Gerhard Thyben - 156 Victories
- Died Sept. 4, 2006
Major Fritz Losigkeit - 68 Victories
- Died Jan. 14, 2004
Major Paul Zorner - 59 Victories
- Deceased(?)
Oberst Eduard Neumann - 11 Victories
- Died Aug. 9, 2004
Major Martin Drewes - 52 Victories
- Living in South America
Generalleutnant Hannes Trautloft - 57 Victories
- Died Jan 11, 1995
Major Heinz Lange - 70 Victories
- Died Feb. 26, 2006
Oberst Hermann Buchner - 58 Victories
- Died Dec. 1, 2005
Generalmajor Joseph Haiböck - 77 Victories
- Died July 3, 2002
Major Julius Meimberg - 53 Victories
- Deceased(?)
Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs - 50 Victories
- Died Oct. 26, 2003
?=I am not certain whether these are
living or deceased. If still alive, Rudorffer and Zorner are quite ill.
A RARE OPPORTUNITY
No books, no magazine features, no interviews, no documentaries or films
have ever put together such an intimate and concise factual collection of
authentic personal memoirs, and certainly nothing ever previously published
compares with "THE LUFTWAFFE FIGHTER ACES COLLECTION." To preserve these
valuable documents, Military Gallery produced a magnificent album befitting
such a historical collection. Manufactured exclusively for this series, the
album can only be described as lavish. The cover, front and back, is soft
simulated leather, finished in traditional Air Force blue. On the front the
Luftwaffe pilot's wings is blocked in 22 ct. gold leaf, with a gold leaf
ruled line border. The title is printed on the spine, again in gold leaf.
The overall size of the book is 10½" x 13". The tough heavy-duty hardback
pages inside the album are book-bound, and specially designed with crystal
clear acrylic to preserve the profile documents and the originality of the
signatures.
"THE LUFTWAFFE FIGHTER ACES COLLECTION" comes with a distinctive
Certificate
of Authenticity.
