Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Frame Size: 19" x 25" ~ Typed letter signed with a fountain pen by: Colonel Werner Molders. Comes with a COA.

 Oberst Werner Mölders

JG51, JG51 & JG88

(115 victories)

 "Vati" Mölders was born on 18 March 1913 in Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhr. Apart from his brilliant individual flying skills, Mölders was the undisputed professional and moral mentor of the Jagdwaffe. Werner Mölders joined the Reichsheer as an Officer Candidate (Offizersanwärter) in 1931. Three years later, with the help from a sympathetic examining physician, he completed pilot training in the then still secret Luftwaffe. After a series of school and operational postings he went to Spain as Adolf Galland's replacement in 3/JGr.88. His 14 kills in Spain made him the most successful fighter pilot in the Legion Condor and assured his future. His star was in the ascendant from the opening day of the Second World War and by 27 May 1940, his 20^th victory (in World War Two) had made him the fighter pilot to be awarded the Ritterkreuz. After a brief spell as a POW, he rejoined JG53, shortly afterward being promoted to Kommodore of JG51. Matching his skills against the best pilots of the RAF, his kills continued to rise throughout the long summer of 1940, earning the Oakleaves (21 September 1940). Leading JG51 into the Russian campaign, his skill as a leader was rewarded on 22 June 1941 with the Swords and on 15 July 1941 with the Diamonds to his Ritterkreuz. On 7 August 1941 he was named Inspekteur der Jagdflieger along with an order grounding him. He continued, during his tours of inspection, to fly combat sorties, and thereby gained several kills, to add to his confirmed 115 (14 in Spain, which he could not report. On 22 November 1941 en-route to General Ernst Udet's funeral, Mölder's He-111 (which he was not piloting) crashed on takeoff from the snowbound airfield at Breslau-Gandau. All of Germany mourned the loss of this decent man and brilliant leader.