Original German WWII Luftwaffe Pilot Photo and Signature Grouping from Three Knight’s Cross Recipients – 10″ x 21″ Framed Original Items

Original Items: One of a Kind Set. This is a fantastic German WWII Luftwaffe framed photo and signature grouping, consisting of one 3 3/4″ X 2 1/2″ portrait, two 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ service photographs, and a 4 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ signed post card with the original envelope it was mailed in. This is matted and framed in a lovely 10″ x 21″ frame, which even has glass on the rear so that the markings on the post card envelope can be read.

Looking at the post card, we can see that it was originally acquired at INTERNATIONAL AIR DAY / 7th AUG 1971, which took place at the RAF Hartland Point installation. This also looks to have been NATO AIR DAY, and we have seen other examples of these post cards, however they were un-mailed. These were very popular locations for people to acquire signatures from legendary and well decorated pilots from WWII, as many would be in attendance. This post card was in fact signed by THREE Highly Decorated German Luftwaffe Pilots, all of which were awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, and were very highly decorated. They also cover a good cross section of the various types of pilots that were in service during WWII. Above the post card are three photographs, which match the signatures on the postcard.

The left most signature on the post card matches the top photograph, and reads:

Karl Wulff
Off. Fgt. NAG 15

This also matches the envelope that came with the post card, identifying Karl Wulff as a member of Nahaufklärungsgruppe 15 (Close Reconnaissance Group 15 or NAG 15) during WWII. Part of this group was Aufklärungsgruppe 13 (Reconnaissance Group 13), which is the unit that Karl Wulff is listed as a part of on the records for the Front Flying Clasp in Gold with Hanger and German Cross in Gold that he received in 1943. We assume he was still part of this group on 29 October 1944, when he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

The middle picture and signature are from a totally different type of pilot, in this case a Stuka dive bomber pilot, and the signature reads:

Heinrich Brücker
Kdr. III. Stuka Immelmann

Some quick research links this to Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (Dive Bomber Wing 2 or StG 2) Immelmann, and the Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of the III. group was Hauptmann Heinrich Brücker from 16 June 1940 to 31 July 1941. During this time he was extremely effective, and was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for actions on 22 June 1941. After this Brücker saw further service during the war as a dive bomber, as well as a light bomber, and would be awarded the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold and the German Cross in Gold, which can be seen on the uniform he is wearing in one of the pictures. By the end of the war he had been promoted to the Rank of Major. As with many surviving highly decorated pilots living in West Germany after the war, he joined the Bundeswehr, and would retire as an Oberst in 1970, so this post card signature is from just after his retirement.

The bottom picture matches the signature on the far right, which reads:

Gerd Barkhorn
Major u. Kdr. J. G. 6

Being a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords with 301 Aerial Victories, Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn is second only to Erich Hartmann, the greatest fighter ace in history, and is the only other ace to have over 300 Aerial victories. By the end of the war, he held the rank of major, and was the Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commodore) of Jagdgeschwader 6 (JG 6) Horst Wessel. This is just one of several commands he held, and as with Brücker (and Hartmann), he joined the Bundeswehr in West Germany, and would retire as a Generalmajor in 1970.

A fantastic photo and signature grouping from three very highly decorated German Pilots of the Luftwaffe, ready to research and display!