Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A German Second War Luftwaffe Battle of Britain Bf 109 fighter Pilot’s award document and related archive to Unteroffizier K. H. Wilhelm, 3/Jagdgeschwader 77 (Ace of Hearts) Fighter Wing, who after shooting down three aircraft during the Battle of France, was himself was shot down and captured at Waldron, Sussex, on 20 October 1940 during the Battle of Britain

i) Original certificate for his Pilot’s Badge dated ‘1 April 1940’

ii) Original promotion document from Feldwebel to Unteroffizier whilst a member of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG77), dated 31 May 1940, this just prior to the Battle of Britain

iii) A detailed letter dated 30 October 1940 from a fellow pilot, who was flying with Wilhelm when he was shot down. This sent to Wilhelm’s family, describing how he was shot down over England and confirming capture. Complete with its addressed envelope, stamped ‘Feldpost’ ‘15.11.40’

iv) A fine wartime prisoners of war sent postcard photograph of German prisoners held in a British Prisoner of War camp. Wilhelm at the extreme right of the photograph still wearing his flight blouse with full insignia and rather surprisingly, still wearing his Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge. The postcard is stamped ‘Examined by Censor Prisoner of War Mail’ sent to his parents in Oldenburg, Germany. This removed from an album with traces of where removed to reverse

v) A post-war letter/envelope from Gemeinschaft der Jagdflier, Jagerkreis Nord (Association of Fighter Pilots) to the recipient, dated 11 November 1992

vi) A post-war plaque for the Association of Fighter Pilots (Jagerkreis Nord) with his named label to the reverse side dated 1990

vii) A small quantity of photographs, one portrait of Wilhelm in uniform wearing his pilot badge; six 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, generally good condition £600-£800

Karl-Heinz Wilhelm served as a pilot of 3/Jagdgeschwader 77 during the Battle of France, and is confirmed with aerial victories over two Morane 406s North West of Dinant on 13 May 1940, and a third in the same area on 15 May. During the Battle of Britain, on 20 October 1940, Wilhelm - flying Bf109 Wk Nr 4007/Yellow 11 - was shot down and baled out over Waldron, Sussex. He was captured unhurt and would remain a prisoner of war for the duration. After the war, he visited the Museum where his Bf 109’s remains were displayed; three photographic images of him visiting the crash site forming part of the lot.

Sold with copied research.