Description:

AWARDS AND DOCUMENTS GROUPING FROM A K.I.A. LUFTWAFFE BOMBER PILOT
Awards and document grouping awarded to KIA Luftwaffe bomber pilot, Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Falk, an important grouping of letters, documents, badges and insignia. They include: Falk's early first type "J-1" Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge by C.E. Juncker; Falk's Luftwaffe Wehrpass, listing the Luftwaffe Honor Goblet among his awards on page 23, and details of his death and burial on page 27; a certificate qualifying Falk for instrument flying on five types of bombers; Falk's aerial gunnery marksmanship score; a notice of promotion, effective April 1, 1940, from sergeant to master sergeant (dated Sep. 1, 1941); an award notification: "In the name of the supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, I award Sergeant Falk the front flight clasp for bomber pilots in silver; Falk's death certificate, dated July 22, 1942, accomplished by a physician indicating cause as an air crash on July 16, 1942 at Berlin's Schonefeld aerodrome, which resulted in a fractured skull, arm, leg and spinal column broken; a letter, dated July 24, 1942 and sent from Reserve Hospital 101 in Berlin to his squadron advising them of his death (this letter was later forwarded to Falk's mother); a newspaper obituary notice placed by the family and mentioning his awards; a letter from the Reserve Hospital 101 medical examiner to Falk's mother advising her of the death, transport of the body and burial at state expense; a letter from Lt. Greve in Munich, July 27, 1942, in part: "As we learned from a teletype, your son, Master Sergeant Wilhelm Falk, fatally crashed on July 16, in Berlin in the line of duty. Master Sergeant Falk belonged to Bomber Squadron 3/606 from September 11, 1940 to July 6, 1942. During his service with the squadron, he flew 53 missions against England. He was one of our eldest and most successful pilots. In action against England's nautical supply traffic, he especially distinguished himself. In daring, low-level attacks, he sank three merchant ships tallying 14,000 tons. These were ships steaming in heavily-defended convoys. He was always a role model for all his comrades in the squadron..."; a letter to Falk's sister from a member of his squadron offering condolences; a notice from the Armed Forces Welfare and Assistance Office, Oct. 3, 1942, that mother Marie Falk is to receive 1,000 Reichsmarks from the Nuremburg treasury as a death benefit, a gift from the city; a death notice identifying the deceased, his squadron number, where he was stationed, place of birth, etc.; an Armed Forces Welfare and Assistance Office letter, Oct. 20, 1942 granting a death benefit; a letter to Falk's mother from a lieutenant in the squadron, Nov. 26, 1942, in part: "...I am sending you the honor goblet awarded to your son for special achievement in aerial combat, together with the award document. The goblet first went to the administration office, so that it was not possible to send it sooner. The goblet may remain in your possession..."; a certificate bearing eagle insignia, reading: "On July 16, 1942, Master Sergeant Wilhelm Falk gave his life on the field of honor for Führer, nation and fatherland. This notice is issued with the authority of the Minister of Aviation and Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe. November 24, 1942..." signed by squadron commander; a typed letter to Falk's mother from the squadron commander, Dec. 4, 1942, in part: "With the authority of the Minister of Aviation and Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe, I am sending you the death notice for your son Wilhelm..."; a letter to Marie Falk dated Jan. 24, 1950, from the Nuremburg social welfare office rejecting her application for death benefits. Other items present include Falk's early Bomber Clasp in Silver (unmarked); his Iron Cross 1st Class; his Iron Cross 2nd Class; his War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords; his ribbon bar consisting of his Luftwaffe Service Award, Iron Cross Award and War Merit Cross with swords; a bronze plaque award for First Place in a Luftwaffe Sailing Competition, 1937; and two sailor's cap tallies from the "Koenigin Luise" and the "Cobra" from Falk's pre-war Kriegsmarine days. Also included is a copy of the book: "The Luftwaffe and the War at Sea 1939-1945", edited by David Isby. This book provides a detailed history of the Luftwaffe's support of the Kriegsmarine and the naval air war as taken from accounts of both Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine officers. A very complete grouping, in excellent condition.

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August 23, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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