Germany, Luftwaffe. Documents of Aerial Senior Engineer of Department E3 of Testing Site
A collection of documents to Aerial Senior Engineer Helmut Molle, consisting of a War Merit Cross certificate (144x204mm), a congratulatory letter (209x296mm), and an order to follow instructions in case of summoning (209x146mm) with envelope (161x114mm), all in
extremely fine condition.
The certificate states that Flieger-Oberingenieur (Aerial Senior Engineer) Helmut Molle of Department E3 of Testing Site of the Luftwaffe in Rechlin is awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. The document is dated to May 25, 1944 and signed by the Chief
of the Personnel Armament and National Socialist Leadership of the Luftwaffe, Bruno Loerzer. The letter is a reaction to the award. It was sent by a man named Schöneberg from the Junkers airplane company, congratulating Molle, a former employee of Junkers. The letter is dated to July 13, 1944. The third document is a Wehrpaß note. It states that Molle has to follow instructions of summoning by the employment agency of Dessau in times of peace and war. It is dated to August 22, 1939.
extremely fine condition.
The certificate states that Flieger-Oberingenieur (Aerial Senior Engineer) Helmut Molle of Department E3 of Testing Site of the Luftwaffe in Rechlin is awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. The document is dated to May 25, 1944 and signed by the Chief
of the Personnel Armament and National Socialist Leadership of the Luftwaffe, Bruno Loerzer. The letter is a reaction to the award. It was sent by a man named Schöneberg from the Junkers airplane company, congratulating Molle, a former employee of Junkers. The letter is dated to July 13, 1944. The third document is a Wehrpaß note. It states that Molle has to follow instructions of summoning by the employment agency of Dessau in times of peace and war. It is dated to August 22, 1939.
Footnote 1: Bruno Loerzer (1891–1960) joined the Prussian army in 1911. By early 1913, he had been promoted to Lieutenant. In 1914, Loerzer trained to become a pilot. During the war, he became a close friend of Hermann Göring, a friendship that proved very fortunate for his career during the Second War. In 1916, Loerzer was severely wounded, and shortly afterwards received his promotion to Senior Lieutenant. By this time he had collected several decorations, among them the Iron Cross 1st Class. In 1917, Loerzer was ready for front service again and took command of Fighter Wing 26. In early 1918, he became commander of Fighter Wing III of the famed “flying circus”. Shortly after, Loerzer was awarded the Pour le Mérite. In October, he received his promotion to Captain. At the end of the First War, he had achieved 44 aerial victories. In 1933, Loerzer became president of the German Aerial Sports Association, a cover organisation for the still secret Luftwaffe, and Reich Aerial Sports Leader. With the open establishing of the Luftwaffe in 1935, Loerzer joined in the rank of Colonel. In 1938, he was promoted to Major General and became Inspector of the Fighter Pilots. Following his promotion to Lieutenant General in 1940, Loerzer received the Knight’s Cross later that year. After the successful attack on France, he was promoted to General der Flieger and received the Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds. In early 1943, his promotion to Colonel General followed. He was then named Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Department and Chief of Personnel Armament and National Socialist Leadership of the Luftwaffe, a post he served in until the end of 1944, when he was placed in the Reserve.
Footnote 2: Construction of the “Erprobungsstelle (E-Stelle) der Luftwaffe” (Testing Site of the Luftwaffe) in Rechlin (northeast Germany) began in 1932. It was officially inaugurated in 1935. All planes, except hydroplanes, and their parts developed by private contractors were
tested here before being approved use in the Luftwaffe. This also included equipment, like bombs or parachutes. Department E3 was responsible for engine testing.