$45.00
This card shows a Feldwebel Wagner. There is little information that I can find on him other than he flew in the Balkans. In this studio pose Wagner is seated wearing his schirmütze and black leather gloves. He is wearing a Prussian Army Pilot badge and the ribbon in his second button hole for the 1914 iron Cross 2nd Class. The postcard was not mailed.
This card shows a Feldwebel Wagner. There is little information that I can find on him other than he flew in the Balkans. In this studio pose Wagner is seated wearing his schirmütze and black leather gloves. He is wearing a Prussian Army Pilot badge and the ribbon in his second button hole for the 1914 iron Cross 2nd Class. The postcard was not mailed.
This card shows a Feldwebel Wagner. There is little information that I can find on him other than he flew in the Balkans. In this studio pose Wagner is seated wearing his schirmütze and black leather gloves. He is wearing a Prussian Army Pilot badge and the ribbon in his second button hole for the 1914 iron Cross 2nd Class. The postcard was not mailed.
$75.00
If there was one man during WW I who revolutionized combat flying it was Oswald Boelcke (1891-1916). It was he who developed the concept of the Jasta. A dedicated combat squadron of single seater attack airplanes. Prior to that single seaters were disbursed among observation squadrons. Boelcke correctly felt that concentrating them n dedicated squadrons would bring concentrated force on the enemy. He also developed what would come to be known as the “Boelcke Dicta.” This was a set of certain rules for fighter pilots that are used to this date by every air force in the world. Today these rules of engagement seem obvious but one must remember this was at a time that was only thirteen years removed from the first flight of an airplane. It was also at a time when just a year earlier that machine guns were mounted on an airplane instead of pilot’s shooting at one another with rifles and pistols. Boelcke would gain fame as being awarded his PLM on the same day as Max Immelmann in January 1916. With the death of Immelmann in the Summer of 1916 Boelcke became the clear-cut leader. He also began assembling his Jasta and among the men that he hand picked was a young pilot who to that point had lead an undistinguished career. His name was Leutnant Freiherr Manfred von Richthofen. Boelcke’s score continued to rise (Forty confirmed victories.) Until a fateful day in late October when he collided with one of his own pilots and was killed. It would take more than six months before his score was exceeded by von Richthofen. His legacy to the German Air Force remains strong today. In this pose he is standing in his classic stance with a hand on his hip. His PLM is at his throat and his 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class and Prussian Army pilot badge are pinned to the left breast of his tunic. This same pose is seen for all three of the officer ranks which he held (Leutnant, Oberleutnant, and Hauptmann). On the reverse we see that this postcard came from the personal archive of Walter Zuerl. Zuerl wrote the book “Pour le Mérite Flyer” in 1938. We have offered this rare book previously and it has detailed chapters on each pilot and is profusely illustrated.
If there was one man during WW I who revolutionized combat flying it was Oswald Boelcke (1891-1916). It was he who developed the concept of the Jasta. A dedicated combat squadron of single seater attack airplanes. Prior to that single seaters were disbursed among observation squadrons. Boelcke correctly felt that concentrating them n dedicated squadrons would bring concentrated force on the enemy. He also developed what would come to be known as the “Boelcke Dicta.” This was a set of certain rules for fighter pilots that are used to this date by every air force in the world. Today these rules of engagement seem obvious but one must remember this was at a time that was only thirteen years removed from the first flight of an airplane. It was also at a time when just a year earlier that machine guns were mounted on an airplane instead of pilot’s shooting at one another with rifles and pistols. Boelcke would gain fame as being awarded his PLM on the same day as Max Immelmann in January 1916. With the death of Immelmann in the Summer of 1916 Boelcke became the clear-cut leader. He also began assembling his Jasta and among the men that he hand picked was a young pilot who to that point had lead an undistinguished career. His name was Leutnant Freiherr Manfred von Richthofen. Boelcke’s score continued to rise (Forty confirmed victories.) Until a fateful day in late October when he collided with one of his own pilots and was killed. It would take more than six months before his score was exceeded by von Richthofen. His legacy to the German Air Force remains strong today. In this pose he is standing in his classic stance with a hand on his hip. His PLM is at his throat and his 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class and Prussian Army pilot badge are pinned to the left breast of his tunic. This same pose is seen for all three of the officer ranks which he held (Leutnant, Oberleutnant, and Hauptmann). On the reverse we see that this postcard came from the personal archive of Walter Zuerl. Zuerl wrote the book “Pour le Mérite Flyer” in 1938. We have offered this rare book previously and it has detailed chapters on each pilot and is profusely illustrated.
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$55.00
Erwin Böhme was one of the leading pilots of Jasta 2. Jasta 2 was commanded by Hauptmann Boelcke. Another member of the Jasta in 1916 was a young officer who had come from an Ulanen-Regiment, basic pilot training, and limited service in an observation squadron. The young pilot was none other than Manfred von Richthofen. Böhme was a PLM-winner and had twenty-four confirmed victories. He is perhaps best known as the pilot who collided with Oswald Boelcke, who then plunged to his death. Böhme ultimately commanded Jasta 2, which was renamed “Jasta Boelcke” in honor of its fallen commander. Böhme received notification of his award of the PLM. He never actually received his PLM before his death. This postcard shows him in a feldbluse with a ribbon bar, 1914 Iron Cross, and a Prussian Pilot Badge. This postcard was removed from a photo album.
Erwin Böhme was one of the leading pilots of Jasta 2. Jasta 2 was commanded by Hauptmann Boelcke. Another member of the Jasta in 1916 was a young officer who had come from an Ulanen-Regiment, basic pilot training, and limited service in an observation squadron. The young pilot was none other than Manfred von Richthofen. Böhme was a PLM-winner and had twenty-four confirmed victories. He is perhaps best known as the pilot who collided with Oswald Boelcke, who then plunged to his death. Böhme ultimately commanded Jasta 2, which was renamed “Jasta Boelcke” in honor of its fallen commander. Böhme received notification of his award of the PLM. He never actually received his PLM before his death. This postcard shows him in a feldbluse with a ribbon bar, 1914 Iron Cross, and a Prussian Pilot Badge. This postcard was removed from a photo album.
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$60.00
Oberleutnant Max Immelmann was one of Germany’s early aviation heroes. He and Oswald Boelcke were the first pilots to receive the Orden Pour le Mérite in January 1916, after they had achieved the score of eight victories. By January 1917, it took sixteen kills. Soon the prescribed number rose to twenty, and finally thirty victories for achievement of the award. Many say that the PLM was nicknamed the “Blue Max” for Immelmann. He died in June of 1916, with fifteen total victories to his credit. In this photograph he is wearing a PLM at his throat. He also wears a five-place medal bar high on his left breast. Below that is his 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class and Prussian Army Pilot Badge. The card is clean and fresh on both sides.
Oberleutnant Max Immelmann was one of Germany’s early aviation heroes. He and Oswald Boelcke were the first pilots to receive the Orden Pour le Mérite in January 1916, after they had achieved the score of eight victories. By January 1917, it took sixteen kills. Soon the prescribed number rose to twenty, and finally thirty victories for achievement of the award. Many say that the PLM was nicknamed the “Blue Max” for Immelmann. He died in June of 1916, with fifteen total victories to his credit. In this photograph he is wearing a PLM at his throat. He also wears a five-place medal bar high on his left breast. Below that is his 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class and Prussian Army Pilot Badge. The card is clean and fresh on both sides.