Germany, Luftwaffe. An Outstanding Document Group To Ace Leutnant Peter Düttmann, 152 Victories

The preliminary Knight’s Cross certificate is named to Leutnant Düttmann for the award of June 9, 1944. It is dated to June 16, 1944 and signed in black ink on behalf of the Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Office by Oberst (Colonel) Dr. Gottlieb Wolff (1897–1971), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. Of the congratulatory notes on account of the award of the Knight’s Cross, four out of five are telegrams, dated to mid June 1944. The senders are: the Commanding General of the 1st Flying Corps, Lieutenant General Paul Deichmann (1898–1981), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross; members of Düttmann’s wing, among them Major Barkhorn, the second most successful ace of all time and a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and Senior Lieutenant Lipfer, presumably a spelling mistake, meaning Helmut Lipfert (1916–1990), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves; Major General Adolf Galland (1912–1996), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds; General Field Marshal Erhard Milch (1892–1972), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. The other congratulatory note is the order of the day for Fighter Wing 52 on July 17, 1944. It states that Düttmann was awarded the Knight’s Cross for achieving 91 aerial victories. It is signed in pencil by the commanding officer of JG 52, Lieutenant Colonel Dietrich “Dieter” Hrabak (1914–1995), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves. The first congratulatory letter on account of Düttmann’s 100th aerial victory is dated to September 28, 1944. Düttmann achieved his 97th, 98th, 99th, and 100th victory on September 24. The letter is signed in black ink by the Commodore of Fighter Wing 52, Lieutenant Colonel Hermann Graf (1912–1988), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. The second letter is the transcript of a radio message by Lieutenant General Deichmann, telling Düttmann to continue what he’s doing. The German Cross in Gold certificate is named to Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel (Officer Cadet and Sergeant) Düttmann on April 15, 1944. It carries the facsimiles of Göring and Colonel General Bruno Loerzer (1891–1960), a recipient of the Pour le Merite and the Knight’s Cross. The Honour Goblet certificate is named to Feldwebel Düttmann on February 1944. It carries a facsimile of Göring and is signed in black ink by Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Office, Colonel General Bruno Loerzer.

The Iron Cross 1st Class certificate is named to Unteroffizier (NCO) Düttmann on August 25, 1943. It is signed in blue ink on behalf of the Chief of Aerial Fleet 4 by General der Flieger Otto Deßloch (1889–1977), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves.

The Front Flying Clasp in Gold is named to Unteroffizier Düttmann of the 5th Squadron of Fighter Wing 52. It is dated to August 17, 1943 and is signed by Wing Commodore, Lieutenant Colonel Dietrich Hrabak. The congratulatory letter on nine victories in a single day is dated to May 9, 1944. It is named to Leutnant Düttmann of the 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52 for achieving nine victories on May 7. It is signed in black ink by Lieutenant General Paul Deichmann. The Iron Cross 2nd Class certificate is named to Unteroffizier Düttmann of the 5th Squadron of Fighter Wing 52. It is dated to August 6, 1943 and signed in blue ink by the Commanding General of the 1st Air Corps, Lieutenant General Karl Angerstein (1890–1985), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. The promotion certificate to Feldwebel is named to Unteroffizier Düttmann of the 5th Squadron of Fighter Wing 52. The promotion is effective October 1, 1943. The certificate is dated to September 21, 1943 and signed in black ink by Commander of the 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52, Captain Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn, the second most successful fighter ace of all time and a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The appointment certificate to Kriegs-Offiziersanwärter (wartime officer cadet) is named to Unteroffizier Düttmann of the 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52, effective September 20, 1943. It is dated to September 24 and signed in black ink by Wing Commodore and Lieutenant Colonel Hrabak. The Pilot’s Badge certificate is named to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Düttmann. It is dated to February 12, 1942 and carries a facsimile of the Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Office, General der Flieger Gustav Kastner-Kirdorf (1881–1945), a recipient of the German Cross in Silver. The official hit list (Abschußliste) is dated to January 21, 1944 and lists Düttmann’s first 30 aerial victories from between May 21, 1943 to January 21, 1944. All were achieved on the Eastern Front.