Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A German Second War Luftwaffe Battle of Britain Pilot’s Grouping.

A very nice small grouping of paperwork and award to Feldwebel Karl Heinz Wilhelm, who served with Jagdgeschwader 77 (Ace of Hearts Fighter Wing) during the Battle of Britain, and was shot down and captured at Waldron, Sussex, on 20 October 1940. The documents comprise his A4 size once folded award certificate for his Pilot’s Badge dated ‘1 April 1940’, A4 size once folded promotion document from Feldwebel to Unteroffizier whilst a member of JG77 dated ‘31 May 1940’ just prior to the Battle of Britain, a letter dated ‘15 November 1940’ from a Luftwaffe officer to his family presumably confirming capture and perhaps more information on the action. A very interesting postcard size photograph of a group of German Kriegsmarine, Army and Luftwaffe prisoners of war, Wilhelm at the extreme right of the photograph still wearing his flight blouse with full insignia and still wearing the Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge, which is offered here. The postcard is stamped ‘Examined by Censor Prisoner of War Mail’ sent to his parents in Oldenburg, Germany, unfortunately at one stage of its life this card has been adhered to a collectors display and traces of gummed paper are on the back of the card. A small quantity of six photographs being of Luftwaffe interest showing a high ranking Luftwaffe officer exiting a JU52 and shaking hands with Luftwaffe personel, plus three pre war photographs, which we believe are images of the unit within the Condor Legion in Spain. Standard enlisted ranks breast eagle still sewn to a section of uniform cloth. The very fine condition C.E.Juncker produced Pilots Badge seen being worn in the photograph, excellent detail to the oak and laurel leaf wreath, all of the patinated finish remaining to the eagle, complete with its original hook, hinge and thick needle pin, which is at present located in a post war Pilot Observers Badge box. A pair of Luftwaffe Unteroffizier’s shoulder boards, which again we presume are the ones being worn in the photograph. On close inspection of the prisoner of war photograph it can clearly be seen that his shoulder boards are of the stitch-in variety, which these are with their correct matching rank configuration of lace and pip. A post war plaque for the Association of Fighter Pilots from Jagerkreis Nord with his named label to the reverse side dated ‘1990’. Three photographs of the crash site of his BF109 in Sussex, plus extra research material. Lastly a 175 page book plotting the history from WWII to date of the fighter group in North Germany at Flying Station Oldenburg, good condition (lot) £800-£1,200