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Luftwaffe (Pokal) Group to a Naval\Combat Pilot (Battle of Britain) (Item LUFT 17-1)

1.   The pokal(Goblet)
2.    His 2nd Class Iron Cross
3.   His First Class Iron Cross (cased)
4.    His operational flying clasp in silver for 60 missions. This is the clasp for bomber command.
5.   His war service cross with swords for combatants.
6.   His pilots’ badge by C.E. Junker Berlin with (repaired) bottom hinge catch.
7.   An award plaque for 1st prize in the Olympiajolle 14/8/37 That he participated in the Warne Munde contest near Keil.  This was the standard segel-wetffahrten (A special regalia for sea pilots.
8.   A Naval cap ribbon from one of the Hapag Line ships that he  had served on (This one, the “Cobra”)
9.   Another Naval cap ribbon from a Hapag Line ship that he had served on in peace time.  This one the “Konigin Luise”
10.   A framed picture of Falk wearing his medals on his Lufwaffe uniform.  The picture with frame measures 10 x7 and is quite sharp and clear
11.   24 documents and letters to include the very important award documents for the “Ehrenpokal”
*12. a paket of personal pictures

You count the pictures at No. 12. This adds 15 more pieces making a total of more than 50 important items that comprise this prodigiously important group.  The packet of pictures that we mentioned contains some very important views of the life of this brave young flyer every one of them shows him in Luftwaffe uniform or earlier ones showing him as a sailor on the Battle Cruiser Schliesen back in the 30’s.  One of the pictures has the legend hand written on the back Andenken Sommer 1932 and he is shown wearing a Reichsmarine uniform. One picture is shown with him posing in sun glasses and swim suit with six comrades at the beach.  Some great pictures of him and comrades also in 1932 dressed in their early flyer uniforms and a great picture taken after 1935 of him in Luftwaffe uniform with officers at a beer drinking event.  Well, he was German wasn’t he?

This has to be one of the finest groups that we have ever seen assembled with the greatest amount of important articles that now are a memorial to a courageous fighter for Fuhrer and Fatherland.  We are sadly amazed that some family member of his would even think of selling these priceless items a short time ago.  It is almost a sacrilege.  We did not buy it from the family. No, we would have practically paid them to keep it along with a brisk (revisionist) lecture from us.  But, it was bought by a German dealer directly from the Falk family.  Unfortunately, most German militaria dealers are German only in the fact that they were born there.  They are not Germanophiles. They are motivated by $$$ and Euros.  We can only hope that when this group is purchased, that it will be put on display in honor of Oberfeldwebel Willi  Falk, pilot of the Luftwaffe and Teutonic “Warrior of the clouds”. 

The Papers. documents and letters that are important to the Falk grouping 

1. The Letter envelope that contains: A death notice for Oberfeldwebel combat flyer Falk, he died in a Berlin air crash July 16 1942. He was taken from the hospital where he passed away and was buried with full honors at Nuremberg where he was born.
2.  His Wehrpass where -it is noted that he died in an air accident (a fatal crash).  It is also noted: that the official file is in Greisenberg. A listing of Wehrmacht (Luftwaffe) stationing mentions that he was a Marine Fleiger. It mentions he was on the old battle ship (Schliesen which was an   (older battle cruiser) and it is supposed that he was the ships pilot in a Seaplane that was on deck for Ariel reconnaissance. It mentions promotions from Unterofficer to Oberfeldwebel. It also lists his awards—He Won the Ehren-Pokal (Honor Goblet) of the Luftwaffe, Iron Cross 2nd Class Oct 21st 1941, Iron Cross 1st class Nov 5 1941, Frontflugspange in bronze and later the silver class in July 1941. There is a page with all his bombing missions (Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, London, Birkenhead, Portsmith, Sheffield, and Cardiff in Wales. even more missions were flown against British convoys in the English Channel. Falk  Flew with the Italians in Sicily in  1941. .At this time he He flew his mission’s in Italy he also flew 9 reconnaissance missions over England. It was noted that he flew 43 total missions. in the Blitzkrieg. Later in a letter to Falk’s mother this was corrected by a comrade who claimed it was 53. In any case a Great combat pilot and fighter for his German fatherland. 
3.   Letter from  an insurance company. His mother applies in a 1949 application for pension but was rejected from Landesversicerungsansalt because she was already getting her husbands pension from his service in WW I.
4 .A Letter from  Falk to his sister - -Birthday greetings (with the original envelope)
5.  WW I Wehrpass,having belonged to his father who was born in Austria.  Interestingly He was officially issued a civilian suit when he left the service in 1919.
6.   Condolence letter in envelope (feldpost). This was from a squadron comrade telling the sister what a great airman Oberfeldwebel Falk was and how he was liked by the whole squadron. He was said to be a Good warm-hearted person.  He died for his family and the German  Fatherland.
7. A Green (Blindflug) card shows that he did instrument training 1940-41 (Blindflug) this means flying through darkness and heavy fog. The card shows 3 different bombers that he flew successfully: W-34 (seaplane),  Junkers 52   (Tri-motor) bomber,  Heinkel 111 standard single engine light bomber,  Donier 17 (‘the Flying Pencil”),  Junkers - 88 (Twin engine bomber). The Lower section of this card shows his (state of readiness and is signed by group commander Bischoff who was then a Lt. Col. & (“later Oberst”) and WW I winner of the Pour le Merite this bears his real signature.
8.  The official Death Certificate sealed in a plastic frame from the Luftwaffe command center.
9, Two sailors cap ribbons from ships that he had served on in peace time, when he was a Matrosen (Sailor).
10. Plaque that is the 1st prize in sailing contest “Olympiajolle” Olympic class boat regatta held in Warne Memde near the city of Kiel.
11.Award document for the goblet ( Ehrenpokal.) Honor Goblet- - It  reads on its surface that it is awarded for outstanding performance and bravery as a combat flyer and for his special achievement in the” Luftkreig” (Air war)  with Gorings facsimile signature and with the actual signature of the General of the Fleiger arm and Chief of the Luftwaffe personal branch. The award was made 18 March 1942.(posthumously).
12.A packet of pictures including a picture of Falk in his naval uniform (Pre war).
13.A group picture of Falk and his pre war naval flyer comrades before a seaplane that is shown in front of its hanger.
14.Death notice in a newspaper. Enclosed with an official notice that he would posthumously receive the Erenurkunde presented to his mother.
15a   Letter to the effect that a posthumous award would be made of the Ehrenpokal (Honor Goblet) signed in hand by a. Lieutenant and staffoffizier.
15 b,  the backside of the plastic sheet shows that he attended the Volks-school  with satisfactory grades, dated 7 April 1927.  He was born 12 Nov. 1913 in Nuremberg. Signed by his teacher and the school principle.
16. the award document for the “Frontspange” Front line combat bar for a brave war flyer and bomber command  hero in silver” to Oberfeldwebel Falk 3./D. Gr  606 this document is signed by  hand by the Captain and Gruppkommandeur I.V. on 3rd July 1941.It says in the name of the Supreme Command of the Luftwaffe.(Goring ).
17. Sterbeurkunde (Death certificate) from the Register’s office Wick= Rugen signed by Oberfeldwebel Siesfel Falk 3. Staffel, Flight Command Juterbog. Died on July 16th 1942 at 12:30 pm in Wasmandsdorf – Konigswusterhausen. He was born on Nov 12th 1913 in Nurnberg.
18. Promotion certificate from Feldwebel of the 3rd replacement group. Wilhelm Falk now promoted to Oberfeldwebel April 1st 1940   Signed by group commander Bischhof-who was at that time a Colonel.
19. Official coroner certificate of death filled out by a doctor- - - cause of death shown - - Military hospital Berlin *(Pathology Institute) died in air crash. Date 16 July 1942 Paper is made out that shows that he broke his back.
20. Report from the hospital to his mother it says (“according to your wishes the body will be taken to Nuremberg July 23rd 1942”. The expense for the transport for the body will be paid by the Government (The Reich). We will also send you 165 marks for your expenses for the grave plot and coffin. This will be sent to you as soon as we receive the confirmation. This was from the   Registration Dept. for Fallen Soldiers.
21. Oberfeldwebel Falk’s mother receives 731 marks from something like a Social Security office.
22. An interesting chart that was found among the papers  that seemingly  has to do with aircraft machinegun operation.
23. Another notice from a social service organization for the Wehrmacht. And in this case “Luftwaffe” Oberf. Falk served 10 years in the Luftwaffe and his mother received 1,000 marks but had to pay a tax of 102.00 marks after receiving this cash award. The old tax man is always waiting isn’t he? 
24. A letter from a Lieutenant who served with Falk sent to his mother. This man says he was a close comrade and says that Falk flew 53 sorties against England.  He was one of our best pilots in low level attacks against British convoys. He sunk 3 British transports with a total of 14,000 tons. This officer says “We’ll miss him very much” and sends his sincere condolences to the grieving mother

PRICE: $12,500.00

DESCRIPTION: This is one of the scarcer of the cloth patches of the German armed forces (Wehrmacht). Actually it is the actual award in cloth for wear on the combat uniform.  They are scarce when “real” and this one is most assuredly “real.”  Measures 2 ½ inches high by 2 inches wide.  It bears the Luftwaffe eagle in a dive while surrounded by an oak leaf border.  Nice condition but you can see its age (nice age!) getting very scarce for sure.

Observers Badge of the Luftwaffe (Air Force) (Item LUFT 17-3)

DESCRIPTION: This is an extra fine example of the Beobachterabzeichen in beautiful mint condition.  While the observers badge was not instituted until 26 March 1936 a great deal of preparation went into the eventual authorization of the award. An order published by the Reichsminister Der Luftfahrt on 27 November 1935 described the exact specifications for the badge.  These specifications can be found on page 177 of John Angolia’s book “Fur Fuhrer und Fatherland”.  The badge was awarded upon completion of two months qualifying service or after five operational flights in the capacity of an observer, navigator or bombardiers.  The last known bestowal of the observers badge was made on 2 May 1944.  The one we offer is of the early heavy construction and is a real jewel!  It was struck by the Assmann firm and is so marked. Its detail is positively exemplary. We have never seen one this good in many years.  You will be proud to add this to the finest collection.
 
PRICE: SOLD

Spanish Cross without Swords (Item LUFT 17-4)

DESCRIPTION: This is the medal of the Condor Legion of Spanish Civil War fame. It is the neatest looking medal of the Third Reich. We recently sold another one in the silver coloration. This one is in excellent plus condition. The detail is in a word (superlative)… a real beauty!  It is an issue and has no company marking. The eagles are beautifully presented with clearly cut out swastikas. The hour glass retaining pin is proper and the hinge arrangement is intact and tight. Just a beautiful example of this great badge.

PRICE: $550.00

DESCRIPTION: In the book “Combat Medals of the Third Reich” the author, Christopher Ailsby, says while the reason for this variation is unknown, he has a theory for its possible use but unfortunately he does not venture forth with his theory. Our own theories are two in number. It well could have been a prototype produced by one manufacturer and possibly the design was not accepted by the Luftwaffe. Another rejected by Ailsby is that due to the fact that it is so seldom seen it could have been for special Luftwaffe service; for instance, to give instant recognition to Luftwaffe pilots who were trained and came into service as Jet pilots and flew the Messerschmitt 262??? The badge is as described by Ailsby in his book. He says that all the examples that he has seen follow the construction that he has outlined and he assumes (rightfully) that his gives the assumption at least that they were all produced by the same manufacturer. The big difference in this badge, beyond the fact that it is round rather than oval, lies in the fact that it has a wreath that is ‘dished’ in the rear unlike the more standard pilot badges, plus the eagle is generally smaller overall. In the many years we have seen only three of these badges compared with the hundreds of the standard ones we have encountered. A real rarity in beautiful condition, unnamed as all of these badges are. The wreath diameter is 1 ½", the wing span is 2 ¼" long. A great addition to a serious collection. 

PRICE: SOLD

Book: Luftkrieg Im Weston
Air Victory in the West (Item LUFT 17-7 & GOR 10-8)

DESCRIPTION: Its subtitle is ‘Flying, Battle, and Victory of the German Flyers." A book about the German Air Force in the West; a 132 page book with photographs. It is from the library of Hermann Goring, Reichsmarshal of the Third Reich and the man responsible for forming the mighty Luftwaffe. Five years ago, one of our agents attended a book fair in Frankfurt A.M. and bought up several books that came from a couple of collections that were mostly composed of books that had come from famous people within the Third Reich or various organizations such as the SS and SA and Wehrmacht. There were quite a few books with the Ex-Libris card of Hermann Goring or Paul Goebbels, Adolf Hitler and the SS Totenkopf (Death Head Division). The Goring ones were the most plentiful with about 40 separate volumes from his library at the Obersalzberg. His plate is quite beautiful and meaningful with the figure of St. George in mortal combat with the dragon. The card says, “Aus Der Bucheriei (Herman Goring)" - From the book collection of Herman Goring. Around St. George are cloud formations that have inspiring words within each one:

   Ehre – Honor
Freiheit – Freedom
Wahrheit  - Truth
Brot - Bread

The book measures 6" x 8" and is in great condition throughout. A very rare and important archival find.

PRICE: $255.00

DESCRIPTION: This is a brilliant example of the ‘Luftwaffe Flugzeug Fuhrer Abzeichen’ or German Air Force Qualification Badge. The original institution for this badge came on 27 May 1935 although the badge was not brought into being by Hermann Goring until 12 August 1935. It was an oval, slightly convex silver plated wreath, the right half laurel and the left half oak leaves. The wreath had mounted on it an eagle in flight, oxidized and silver plated, clutching a swastika on its claws. The eagle is riveted to the wreath on each side. The badge was awarded on completion of flight training and when the pilot received his flying license and citation. The badge was issued in a case (included here) with the badge designation stenciled in gold block letters on its lid. The case that is with this badge is intact and in good shape but the letters are the worse for wear. The badge is in very good condition with the original oxidation intact. The feather detailing is wonderful with every feather of the eagle highly visible. A superior WWII badge that belongs in a fine collection.

PRICE: $890.00

DESCRIPTION: Awhile back we became interested in personalized Luftwaffe daggers due to seeing some and learning about them from reading Thomas Wittman’s book “Exploring the Dress Daggers of the German Luftwaffe.”  We realized that Solingen turned out many thousands of these great looking 1st Model daggers. They are not considered the most scarce dagger of the Third Reich but we also realized that the most rare of these daggers were the personalized ones, either with the name of the flyer or his Jagstaffel unit and this was always custom applied by a craftsman commissioned by the airman himself.  These pilots were justifiably proud of their participation in Germany’s superb air arm.  Had it not been for the widening of the war with supply superiority on the part of the allies, the Luftwaffe pilots and air crews would surely have won the day and probably the war. The German pilots had no equal when the facts are gathered. This dagger was once the property of a pilot of the famed Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG-52), the 52nd fighter wing. This group was easily the most successful Luftwaffe Fighter Squadron of the Luftwaffe in the war. They claimed over 10,000 kills among the experten. Of the JG 52, there were three of the greatest of the young eagles who were top scoring aces: Erich Hartmann (352) Aerial Victories; Gehard Barkhorn (301) Aerial Victories; Gunther Rall (275) Aerial Victories. The Unit flew variations of the Messerschmitt 109 (Me 109) throughout Flyers and two K.C.s. with swords and diamonds (Graf and Hartmann). The Staffel was home to pilots of other European fighter arms. The Slovak attachment scored 215 aerial kills and Croatian pilots who formed an air attachment claimed well over 300 kills in over 5,000 missions on the Eastern front. The unit always sought to fight the good fight especially against the Russian Communists and this was when most of the JG-52 Victories were achieved. The dagger bears the deeply engraved logo of the JG-52 (It is so deep you could call it metal carving. It features the “Fliegende Schwert” (the Flying Squad).  This is an image of a Teutonic Sword that has a winged look with side extensions above its crossguard.  JG-52 was often called “the Squadron of the Aces” and their logo indicates their prowess at what they did best. No other Fighter Group has ever come close to matching its staggering total of about 9,000 enemy aircraft shot down in aerial combat. The dagger otherwise is the standard 1st model with aluminum fittings. The condition is usual with a ding or two in the scabbard. One that is pictured is more of a gouge than a ding but it is stable and not going further. The grip is close to perfect. The gold finish on the swastika at the top of the grip is worn but still quite recognizable as to the crossguard all the gilding is there. The blade is excellent-plus (near mint --some would call it mint!)  The dagger is 19" long in its scabbard. The weapon was manufactured by Carl Eickhorn Solingen.  All in all, a fine example of the 1st Mod. Luftwaffe dagger and unit marked with the symbol of Germany’s most professionally elite flying squadron.

“JG -52”
 “And still does the fame of their glory
Remain unclouded by age and undimmed
By a stain and forever and ever
Their cause we’ll uphold, the cause of the
True and trusted and bold!”
Horrido!

PRICE: SOLD

DESCRIPTION: This is a M35/40 beaded Luftshutz SHD/LSWD helmet with Luftshutz decal and satin dark blue finish. This differs from the standard 1938 Air Defense helmet commonly known as the Gladiator Helm because of its resemblance to the helmets worn by the ancient Roman gladiators in the arena. During the course of WWII, many of the personal who formed the Luftshutz-SHD Security and as stance service stopped wearing the standard Luftshutz helmet and were issued a more protective combat style. This was also true for the personal of the air raid warning service. At this point, beaded versions of the M-1935 M1 1935/40 and M 1942 were issued to these groups. The helmet later in the last days of the Reich was often used by the ‘Volkstrum’ or people's army in 1945.  This helmet is just as protective as the standard Wehrmacht helmet. The one we offer here is in fairly nice condition with original three piece liner of leather. It bears the number 5087 at the back portion of the shell and Q-64 on the side of the inner shell. Most of the finish (all original) is there with multiple scratches on the top of the shell but no dents. The Luftshutz decal is fine with a few scratches that do not detract at all. Rare in this condition. Has original chin strap. This is a good one!

PRICE: $450.00

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