Luftwaffe pilot Erwin Aichele

Awards: Fighter Operational Clasp

Known Aircraft: Bf 109E-4 (lost)

Remarks: KIA 29^th July 1940 during aerial combat, crash landing on the Channel coast near the Audembert/Wissant airfield. Jager Blatt 6/2004. He attempted to make an emergency landing when the AC overturned and he was killed. At age 39 at the time, he was one of the oldest German fighter pilots.

Luftwaffe pilot Friedrich Beckh

Units: Kdr IV./JG-51 (3/41), Kdr JG-51 (7/41), Kdr JG-52 (6/42), RLM Staff

Awards: RK(9/18/41), EP(5/11/42), EK 1 & 2, Wound Badge, Fighter Operational Clasp

Known Aircraft: Bf 109F-4 WNr 13362 'White 4' (lost 6/21/42)

Remarks: MIA 21^st June 1942 after hit by flak on a low level mission by Waluiki, east of Kharkov, and subsequently forced landing. Was probably taken prisoner. His first known victory, a Spitfire of RAF No.610 Sq. off Boulogne on 5 March, 1941, during the Battle of Britain. His 2nd, a Spitfire 20 km N of LeTouquet on 10 March, 1941. His 3rd, a Spitfire 20 km N of Cape Blanc Nez on 6 May, 1941. His 4th a Hurricane 10 km N of Calais on 21 May, 1941. His 1st Soviet victory, a DJ-6 on 22 June, 1941. A DB-3 on 27 June, 1941. A DB-3 on 2 December, 1941. An I-18 on 24 February, 1942. An I-61 on 31 March, 1942. An Il-2 on 4 August, 1942. An Il-2 3 km W of Shalonino on 3 December, 1942. Two Il-4's on 3 July, 1943. Two Il-2's (m.H.) on 10 January, 1944. An additional 20 AC were destroyed on the ground. Scored JG-51's 2000th victory. Mölders successor as Kdr. JG-51. WIA 16 September, 1941, serious enough to be replaced by Günther Lützow.

Early Career

Friedrich Beckh was born in Niirnberg on 17 January 1908.Although his early years, and also those of his brother, Wilhelm were marred by the premature death of their mother, they were fortunate to find in their father's second wife a good stepmother who also gave them a stepbrother. After completing his Abitur, or school leaving examination, Friedrich Beckh entered the then 100,000-man strong German Army in 1926 and joined the cavalry. There, in spite of his height and weight (he was nearly two metres tall, weighed almost 100kg and wore size 47/48 shoes) he succeeded in becoming one of the best riders in his unit and participated in many riding competitions. Beckh, however, had always been attracted by the thrills and risks associated with speed and, shortly after the official creation of the Luftwaffe, he asked for a transfer to the still-expanding German Air Force. Officially integrated into the Luftwaffe with the rank of Oberleutnant in 1935, he started flying training and, simultaneously, began to enter air rallies and races where soon he again became well known for his skill. Later, he also developed an attraction for elegant sports cars and his men became accustomed to see him arrive at his airfield in these splendid vehicles.

Naturally, in view of his character, Beckh opted to fly fighter aircraft and, despite his unusual height and weight, was posted toJG 134 in 1936. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the war, because he was then over 30 years of age, he did not take part in any war flights and was sent instead to the Luftkriegsschule where he occupied different positions in the General Staff. It was probably there that he met Werner Molders, with whom he became a close friend and whose operational experience in the Spanish Civil War was often cited in the different levels of authority within thejagdwaffe.

On 27 July 1940, Major Molders became Kommodore ofJG 51 and,shortly afterwards, he arranged for Hptm. Beckh to transfer to that Geschwader, Beckh arriving in October as an officer detached from the General Staff. At the year's end, Beckh was promoted Major i.G. and, at the same time, I./JG 77, which had for several weeks been under the command of JG 51, officially became IV/JG 51, so making JG 51 the first jagdgeschwader to possess four full Gruppen. On 16 February 1941, the Kommandeur of IV/JG51, Hptm. Johannes Janke, left the unit to take over a position in the Stab of a Nachtjagddivision and, while awaiting a new, official Gruppenkommandeur, Obit. Hans-Karl Keitel, formerly Staffelkapitan of 10./JG51, was meanwhile selected to lead the Gruppe. Although it was unusual to have an Oberleutnant in a position normally occupied by a Major, or at the very least by a Hauptmann, Molders had chosen to appoint Keitel, who then had eight victories, in accordance with Goring's wish to have only experienced and successful pilots in positions of command. However, Keitel's tenure as acting Kommandeur was brief as he was killed in action on 26 February 1941 and Molders was again faced with the problem of appointing a successor.

Luftwaffe pilot Asisbiz database list of 8 aerial victories for Friedrich Beckh

Date	Pilot Name	Unit	Enemy A/C Type	Height	Time	Location
22-Jun-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV./JG51	DJ-6		06.25
24-Jun-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV./JG51	DB-3		09.25
27-Jun-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV./JG51	DB-3		10.05
21-Jun-42	Friedrich Beckh	Stab /JG51	(Flak)			bei Waluiki Flakbeschuss
21-May-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV.JG51	Hurricane	3500m	18.00	10km N. Calais
06-May-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV.JG51	Spitfire		13.55	20km Cap Blanc Nez
05-Mar-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV.JG51	Spitfire		14.50	W. Boulogne
10-Mar-41	Friedrich Beckh	Stab IV.JG51	Spitfire	2000m	17.25	20km W. Le Touquet 800-10m

Luftwaffe pilot Werner Molders

Youth

Werner Molders was born at Gelsenkirchen/Westfalia on 18 March 1913. At the time of Werner's birth his father, Victor, was working as a teacher in England but with the outbreak of war in August 1914 he was forced to escape home to Germany aboard a neutral Dutch ship. On returning home, he joined the German Army and was subsequently commissioned as a Leutnant, only to be killed while serving with Infantrie Regiment 145 near Vauquois on the Argonne Front on 2 March 1915 shortly before Werner's second birthday. Following the death of her husband his mother, Anna-Maria, returned to her family in Brandenburg/Havel, faced with the difficult task of raising four children (Hans Anne-Marie, Werner and Victor) on her own. The Molders family were devout Catholics but lived in a very strong Protestant environment. Since religion can often offer a form of lonely sanctuary, Werner developed into a very serious boy and would retain a seriousness all his life.

Service in the Army

Deciding to follow in his father's footsteps, Werner wanted to become an army officer. Obtaining his 'Abitur' at the age of 17, he enlisted in the small army allowed to Germany by the provisions of the 1919 Versailles Treaty. On 1 April 1931, he joined II./IR 2 at Allenstein in East Prussia. In October 1932, he was transferred to the Kriegsschule at Dresden and to the Pionierschule at Miinchen in June 1932. With aviation becoming the great dream of many young Germans who remembered the First World War exploits of Bokke and von Richthofen, the rise to power of the National Socialist Party in 1933 and the creation of a new air force gave Werner the opportunity to transfer to that arm of the services. But, as with his future contemporary Adolf Galland, Molders would also suffer problems. Whereas Galland's eyes were deficient, Molders suffered from a fear of heights, a fear that he would conquer with a major effort of willpower.

Service in the Luftwaffe

On 6 February 1934 Molders joined the DVS (Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule) at Cottbus and remained there until the end of that year. Following his promotion to Leutnant on 1 March 1934, he trained with Kampfliegerschule Tutow and jagdfliegerschule Schleissheim until the middle of 1935. On 1 July 1935, he was transferred to Fliegergruppe Schwerin, a ground support unit which was later redesignated I./St.G. 162 Immelmann. Flying He-45s and He-46s, he was transferred to fighters the following year. Promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 April 1936, he led the Jagdschulstaffel of II./JG134 Horst Wessel at Werl in Westfalia where his commanding officer was Major Theodor Osterkamp, a veteran of the First World War, credited with 32 aerial victories. On 15 March 1937 Molders took command of I.Staffel of I./JG334 at Wiesbaden and his unit, equipped with the Heinkel He-51, would be successively redesignated I./JG133, and then I./JG53 Pik As.

The Spanish Civil War

The seriously-minded Molders was still a bachelor when he was sent to Spain in May 1938. On the 24th of that month he succeeded Adolf Galland as Kapitan of 3./J88. This was the first time that the paths of the two men crossed. At the same time, the obsolete He 51s were replaced by the new Bf109 Dora which would later be replaced by the Emil becoming the best fighter used by either side during the Spanish Civil War. Combining his own abilities with the qualities of the Messerschmitt fighter, Molders quickly achieved success and in his first aerial engagement, shot down an 1-15. Four days later, two further victories were added, another 1-15 and an 1-16.With the exception of an SB-2 shot down on 23 August 1938, Molders would claim only Polikarpov fighters until the end of his stay in Spain. On his return to Germany on 5 December 1938, he was credited with 14 victories plus an additional three that were unconfirmed. Promoted to Hauptmann as the highest scoring German ace of the Spanish Civil War, he was then temporarily assigned (as had been Galland earlier) to the Air Ministry to study and improve fighter tactics based upon experiences gained during the Spanish conflict. His influence was to be enormous in that he proposed the deployment of a loose formation of four aircraft - the 'Schwarm' - broken up into two elements of two - the'Rotte'.

The 'Sitzkrieg' While Galland was transferred to II.(Schlacht)/LG 2 equipped with the Hs-123, Molders returned to his old fighter unit to lead I./JG53 (formerly-1.I.JG133). It was during this time that he acquired his nickname of 'Vati' ('Papa') due to his serious nature, experience and rigidity. This nickname was not intended as offensive but one which was born out of respect. No-one feared Molders and he was very popular amongst his pilots. He was not an impetuous man and could drink a glass of beer like the rest - but never two!

If his successes in Spain were partly due to his good fortune in receiving the best aircraft of its time, then the Sitzkrieg - or Phoney War - was to prove that he was an excellent fighter pilot and tactician. His introduction to the new campaign was, nevertheless, quite unsettling. On 8 September 1939, he led three other Bf 109s in an attack on six French Curtiss H-75s of GC11/4 north of Karlsruhe. In the ensuing dogfight, Molders' Bf109 was heavily damaged, forcing him to crash land in a field near Wolfersweiler. Trapped in his cockpit and slightly wounded, he had to wait for a local Flak crew to release him. Strangely, the French pilots involved claimed two victories, attributed to three pilots (SIC Cruchant being credited with two claims combined with two other pilots)!

Molders recovered quickly and claimed his first victory over the border twelve days later. Taking off with his Schwarm to Trier, he destroyed another H-75 of GC11/5 from a patrol escorting a reconnaissance aircraft. Sgt Quequiner, piloting N°21, was able to bale out of this aircraft which crashed near Merzig.

After being promoted Kommandeur of III./JG53, Molders celebrated his new command by shooting down a Blenheim I (16694) of No. 57Sqn engaged in reconnaissance along the Moselle on 30 October 1939 but would have to wait until 22 December to obtain his third victory in France. While escorting a Do-17P of 1.(F)/123, he attacked some fighters identified as 'Moranes' but which were in fact, Hurricane Is of No. 73Sqn RAE With his wingman, Oblt. von Hahn, he shot down two (11967 and N2385) near Budange. With the onset of bad weather, the first months of 1940 were quiet but on 2 March, at the end of a very scrappy encounter, Hptm. Molders and Uftz. Neuhoff were able to claim two Hurricanes (11808 and L1958) from No. 73Sqn which crashed near Metz. The following day, again around Metz, Molders engaged a Morane Saulnier 406 of GCII/3. This was claimed destroyed but, in fact, C/C Koerber, although wounded, managed to land his damaged aircraft at Toul airfield. On 26 March, another MS-406 was claimed near Trier, but this proved to be a Hurricane of No. 73Sqn whose pilot, F/O Edgar James 'Cobber' Kain of the RNZAF, baled out after having previously been shot down on 2 March! On 2 April, another Hurricane, this time from No.1Sqn, was shot down near St Avold but the pilot was able to force-land his heavily damaged fighter behind the Allied lines and avoid capture.

On 20 April, III./JG53 were flying in the Zweibrucken area where they encountered Curtiss H-75s of GC11/4 escorting a Potez 63.11 reconnaissance aircraft of GR11/36. In the combat that ensued, anti-aircraft guns shot at both sides! An H-75 N°136 fell to Molders while another was damaged by Flak. The pilot, C/C Cruchand, was seriously wounded but managed to crash-land his fighter near Biesbriick. On 23 April, Molders claimed his last victory of the Sitzkrieg when he shot down a Hurricane I (N2391) of No. 73Sqn during the morning near Sierck-les-Bains, the pilot, Sgt C. Campbell parachuting to safety. During this campaign, Hptm. Molders was credited with nine additional victories while Adolf Galland flew only ground support. By the time Galland did transfer to the fighter arm, Werner Molders had 23 official victories.

The Campaign in the West

On 10 May 1940, III./JG53 was based at Wiesbaden airfield and Molders had to wait four days before he was credited with his first victory during the invasion of the West, this being a Hurricane on the 14th of the month. During the first days of the attack and mainly over France, III./JG53 had to escort the bombers and were ordered not to attack enemy fighters. On 15 May, Werner Molders at the celebratory dinner after receiving the Ritterkreuz on 29 May 1940 having achieved 20 aerial victories at this time, another Hurricane was claimed by the Kommandeur, but it would be a French cockade that was later painted on the rudder of all his aircraft to record that particular victory. On 17 May, III./JG53 was transferred to Douzy, near Sedan in France from where the unit flew air cover sorties over the Wehrmacht spearheads advancing near Cambrai. On 19 May, Molders was credited with a 'P-36' (almost certainly a Bloch 152, which was often confused with the Curtiss). During the evening of the 20th Molders claimed his 13th victim, a British bomber described as a 'Wellesley'. On 21 May, three MS-406s were shot down (apparently aircraft from GC1/6 and III./6) and on the 22nd, it was the turn of a Potez 63.11, N0315 of GAO1/514, shot down near Montagne de Reims. Another Morane was lost during the evening of 25 May (Molders' 18th victory) and on the 27th two Blochs, thought to have been from GC1/8, were claimed south of Amiens.

With 20 victories over France and 14 in Spain, Molders was awarded the Ritterkreuz which was presented to him on Loe airfield, near Le Selve. On 31 May, near Abbeville, Molders shot down a LeO 451 of GB1/12. On 3 June, during Operation Paula (launched primarily as a propaganda operation), Molders claimed two victories - a Curtiss H-75 (which, in fact, was a Bloch 152, and which was subsequently identified on his rudder with a British roundel!) and, very unusually, a Spitfire. Exactly, what a Spitfire was doing near Paris at a time when all RAF units had retreated to their bases in England to fight over Dunkirk is unclear. The 'Spitfire' was probably a D.520 of GC1/3. Two days later, Molders experienced altogether different circumstances. At around noon, he was credited with the destruction of a Bloch 152 (N°651 of GC 118?) and a Potez 63.11 (N0250 of GAO 501?) and later that afternoon, whilst on his second mission of the day, he spotted some 'Moranes' attacking some Bf 109s. He decided to intervene but the 'MS-406s' turned out to be potent D.520s of GC11/7. Having under estimated the enemy type, Molders was shot down by S/Lt Rene Pommier Layrargues, his Bf109E-3 crashing near Canly. Molders was able to parachute to safety, but was captured on the ground by soldiers of 195e RALT, an artillery unit who set upon him before an officer intervened. Interested in the man who shot him down, Molders asked to meet him, only to find that Pommier Layrargues was already dead, having been brought down and killed at Marissel a few minutes after their engagement.

Molders ended the Westfeldzug in a French POW camp at Montferrand.With the fall of France, he was eventually freed at the end of June 1940 and this is where there is cause for some interesting speculation! If he had been captured by the British in May, he would almost certainly have been sent to a POW camp in Canada, ending the war in safety and terminating the career of a great pilot. But as a prisoner of the French, he was liberated and became - posthumously - a flying legend. Which was the better fate?

The Battle of Britain

After a short period of leave, Molders, promoted to Major on 19 July, returned to III./JG53. Soon afterwards, however, he left to take over command of JG51. At that time, Adolf Galland was appointed to lead III./JG26 after having shot down 14 planes in the Westfeldzug whilst with JG27.

As is often the case, establishing a new command proved hectic for Molders. On 28 July, the new Kommodore damaged a Spitfire I (P9429) of No. 41Sqn, RAF. Wounded in the thigh, the pilot, F/O A.D.J. Lovell, managed to land his damaged aircraft at Hornchurch. F/O Lovell survived to become an ace in his own right, only to be killed in a flying accident in 1945. Shortly afterwards, Molders himself was shot down by F/Lt John Webster of the same Sqn. This was Webster's fifth claim but he was killed on 5 September 1940 when his parachute failed to open after baling out following a collision with another Spitfire of 41Sqn. (Author's note: another source attributes this claim to the ace, 'Sailor' Malan of 74Sqn). Wounded in the knee, Molders was able to force-land his damaged Bf109 on the French coast. He returned to his unit on 7 August, but would have to wait some time before he could fly again.

On 26 August 1940, Molders submitted his 27th claim, another Spitfire. By 20 September, his score had reached 40 enemy aircraft shot down, proof that the battles over England were very intense and on that day, he was credited with two more Spitfires (X4417 and N3248) of No. 92Sqn and was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Ritterkreuz. He was only the second member of the German armed forces to receive the decoration. Four days later, Adolf Galland also received the award, becoming the third person to do so. It was at about this time that German newspapers devised a kind of competition between the two aces. One publication would be 'for Molders' another 'for Galland'; in reality however, Molders was not interested in such 'competition'. He told Galland: 'In this war; you will be the Richthofen and I the Bolcke' - yet further proof that the serious Kommodore was more interested in tactics than glory.

Molders score continued to increase; on 27 September, it was a Spitfire over Kent, possibly P9364 of No. 222Sqn. piloted by Sgt Ernest Scott, who was killed after having shot down a Bf109 - his fifth confirmed victory. On 11 October, another Spitfire I went down (X4562 of No. 66Sqn) and next day, three Hurricane Is (P3896,V7251 andV7426) of No. 145Sqn. On 17 October, Molders claimed another Spitfire MkI RAF 66Sqn LZ-N R6800 flown by American volunteer, Plt/Off Hugh W Reilley based in Gravesend. He was on patrol over Westerham Kent when he was shot down by Kommodore Maj Werner Molders JG51 and crashed on Crockham Hill, near Sevenoaks Oct 17 1940 followed by three more Hurricanes on 22 October (possibly from Nos. 46 and 257Sqn's) off the English coast. Molders now had his fiftieth victory. Galland reached this total eight days later. From the beginning of October, Molders became the first pilot to test the new Bf109F in combat, which soon proved superior to contemporary British fighters. Certainly, this also helped in his subsequent successes.

After spending a few days leave skiing, JG51's Kommodore returned to action at the beginning of 1941. Exploiting the relative inactivity of the Luftwaffe in the west (the German High Command was preparing to attack the Soviet Union and had moved many units to the east), the RAF were beginning to conduct sorties over France and the fighting now took place mainly off the French coast. On 20 February, Molders claimed two Spitfires (his 57th and 58th victories). Five days later, a Spitfire II (X4592 of No. 611Sqn) was shot down, and on the following day he scored his 60th victory. Galland had to wait until 15 April to attain the same score.

On 13 March, Molders shot down another British ace, S/Ldr Aeneas 'Donald' MacDonnel. MacDonnel, from No. 64Sqn, was born in Baku in 1913, and was the 22nd Hereditary Chief of the Glengarry Clan. Leading a sweep over Northern France, MacDonnel (credited with nine or ten victories) was shot down by Molders (his 62nd victory) and baled out into the Channel. He was rescued by a German motor boat but remained a prisoner of war until 1945.

The new versions of the Hurricane and Spitfire proved no match for the Bf109E. This is well indicated by a list of Molders's claims for the period: Hurricane II of No.615Sqn two Hurricane II's of No.601Sqn (one claimed as a 'Spitfire') Hurricane II (Z3087) of No.601Sqn Hurricane II (Z2743) of No.601Sqn Spitfire II of No.92Sqn.

Molders' aerial victories declined following the transfer of JG51 to the East. On 21 June, Adolf Galland - then with 69 claims - was the first Luftwaffe pilot to add the Swords to his Ritterkreuz. On the eve of Barbarossa - the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Molders had 'only' 68 claims, but on the day of the invasion, he claimed an I-153 (which must have brought back memories of Spain!) and three SB-2s shot down. He was awarded the Swords but this time as the second pilot to receive the decoration.

At this time, Soviet aircraft and pilots were seen as generally inferior to their German counterparts and this enabled Molders and his men to claim unprecedented scores and on 30 June, he was credited with the destruction of no fewer than five enemy aircraft. By 15 July 1941, on his 291st combat mission he claimed his 100th and 101st victories and was awarded the Diamonds to his Ritterkreuz. By comparison, Galland, would have to wait until 28 January 1942 for this decoration.

By this time, Molders had achieved an almost mythical status, seen to be deserving of 'protection'. He was ordered not to fly ('Flugverbot) to avoid risking his life at the front and was transferred to the Air Ministry in Berlin. On 7 August 1941, he was promoted to Inspector of Fighters and left his unit and on 13 September 1941, he married Louise Baldauf, the widow of a fallen comrade.

Molders could have remained safely at the Ministry, close to his wife, but he was preoccupied with the Soviet campaign and visited the Eastern Front many times. In the autumn of 1941, he went to the Crimea to lead the combined operations of Stukas and fighters where he discovered an important supply problem which he tried to resolve. In spite of the Flugverbot, he wanted to have a clearer picture of the situation in the air by flying again. On 8 and 11 November, Molders borrowed a Bf109 of III./JG77 and shot down three more Soviet aircraft over Sevastopol and the Kertsch peninsula, though he did not record them officially. Future Ritterkreuztriiger, Herbert Hahne, remembered serving as Molders' wingman at this time. After spotting enemy aircraft, the Inspector led his Kaczmarek, giving him instructions by radio and 'donating' him his victories. It would seem that 'Vati' Molders enjoyed the role of 'counsellor' and adviser.

On 17 November 1941, Generaloberst Ernst Udet committed suicide and Molders was called back to Berlin to assist with the funeral. Four days later, he began his journey to the capital as a passenger in a He-111 of III./KG27 piloted by Oblt. Kolbe, another former flyer from Spain. The weather was bad and following an interim stop at Lemberg, the Heinkel took off again but the weather conditions continued to deteriorate. Near Breslau, the port engine failed and the crew tried to land at the nearest available airfield, Schmiedefelde. At low altitude, the second engine cut and the He-111 (1G+TH) hit the ground near Martin Quander Farm at N°132 Flughafenstrasse. Molders was killed at 11.30 on 22 November. He was succeeded as Inspector of Fighters by Adolf Galland.

As is often the case after a plane crash (Balbo, Sikorsky, Todt, etc.), rumors circulated in some quarters about a plot to kill Molders but post-war research has found these to be totally without foundation. It is true that Molders, as a devout Catholic, criticized the Nazi Party many times for its activities against the church. But to kill Germany's greatest ace for such beliefs at such a critical period in the war is, in the author's opinion, inconceivable.

Werner Molders was buried in the Invalidenfriedhof at Berlin where Manfred von Richthofen already lay. His Geschwader, JG51, later adopted the honor name 'Jagdgeschwader Molders'. As a postscript to this biography it is worth quoting the words of another ace, Dietrich Hrabak: 'Wir waren nur jagdflieger. Molders was mehr als das!': 'We were only fighter pilots. Molders was more than that!'.

Luftwaffe pilot Asisbiz Database list of 72 aerial victories for Werner Molders

Date	Pilot Name	Unit	Enemy A/C Type	Height	Time	Location
20-Sep-39	Werner Molders	1./JG53	Hawk-75A		07.45	Sierck
30-Oct-39	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Blenheim		11.12	Klusserath NE Trier
22-Dec-39	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hurricane		15.05	15km NE Metz
02-Mar-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hurricane		12.15	S Bitsch
03-Mar-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Morane		13.55	12km SE Diedenhofen
26-Mar-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Morane		15.00	Wolkenfeld
02-Apr-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hurricane		12.10	S Saargemund
20-Apr-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hawk-75A		11.54	7km W Saargemund
23-Apr-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hurricane		11.14	S Diedenhofen
14-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hurricane		16.30	Sedan
15-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hurricane		13.05	Charleville
19-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Bloch 152		09.35	NE Reims
20-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Wellesley		19.15	Compiegne
21-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Morane 406		17.30	SW Compiegne
21-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Morane 406		17.50	SW Compiegne
21-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Morane 406		19.18	SW Compiegne
22-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Potez 63		17.50	SW Mourmelon-le-Grand
25-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Morane 406		18.55	Foret de Compiegne
27-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hawk-75A		09.10	15km W Amiens
27-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hawk-75A		09.11	15km W Amiens
31-May-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	LeO 451		19.00	30km S Abbeville
03-Jun-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hawk-75A	3000m	14.40	SE Paris
03-Jun-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Hawk-75A		14.30	Paris
05-Jun-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Potez 63		11.23	NW Pont Ste Maxance
05-Jun-40	Werner Molders	Stab III./JG53	Bloch		11.20	West of Compiegne
28-Jul-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		15.30	Dover
26-Aug-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		12.55	Folkestone
28-Aug-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hawk-75A		10.05	NE Dover
28-Aug-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		18.25	Canterbury
31-Aug-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		10.01	NE Folkestone
31-Aug-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		10.00	NE Folkestone
31-Aug-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		10.10	NE Folkestone
06-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		14.45	Folkestone
07-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		18.32	South of London
09-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		18.45	South of London
11-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		17.10	SE London
14-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		17.30	SW London
16-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		09.24	South of London
20-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		12.35	Dungeness
20-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		12.34	Dungeness
27-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		17.03	Maidstone
28-Sep-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		15.01	Littlestone
11-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		12.30	Folkestone
12-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		10.40	Lympne
12-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		10.43	Canterbury
12-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		14.12	Dungeness
15-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		09.15	South of London
17-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		16.22	Spitfire MkI RAF 66Sqn LZ-N R6800 flown by American volunteer, Plt/Off Hugh W Reilley based in Gravesend. He was on patrol over Westerham Kent when he was shot down and crashed on Crockham Hill, near Sevenoaks South of London
22-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		15.40	NW Maidstone
22-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		15.41	NW Maidstone
22-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		15.42	NW Maidstone
25-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		10.45	NW Dover
25-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		13.20	Margate
29-Oct-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		13.55	Dungeness
01-Dec-40	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		15.15	Ashford
10-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		17.29	5km NE Calais
20-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		16.57	Dover
20-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		16.56	Dover
25-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire
25-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		15.20	N. Gravelines
26-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire
26-Feb-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		18.37	SE Dungeness
12-Mar-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire	3500m		off Dungeness
13-Mar-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		15.22	20km W. Cap Gris Nez
15-Apr-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		18.00	SW Boulogne
16-Apr-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		18.42	SW Dungeness
16-Apr-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		18.32	5km W. Berck
28-Apr-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		13.10	Dungeness
04-May-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane	2000m	12.17	5km E. Deal
04-May-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane	2000m	12.30	5km E Deal
06-May-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Hurricane		12.00	Dover
08-May-41	Werner Molders	Stab /JG51	Spitfire		12.20	vor Dover

Luftwaffe pilot Werner 'Vati' Mölders Oberst

Werner "Vati" Mölders was born on 18 March 1913, at Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhrgebiet. He joined the army in 1931 and served as an officer cadet in the Infantry. In 1934, with the rebirth of the Luftwaffe as a result of Hitler coming to power, Mölders requested a transfer to become a pilot. At his first attempt to join the Luftwaffe, he was declared unfit for flying. He tried again and was accepted for flying training. He was badly afflicted by air sickness but overcame the problem through sheer willpower..

On 1 July 1935, Leutnant Mölders was posted to Fliegergruppe Schwerin (later to be redesignated I./StG 162). He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 334 (later to be redesignated 1./JG 53) on 15 March 1936. On 1 April 1936, he was transferred to the Schulstaffel of JG 134 to undertake instructing duties. For two years he was an instructor at Wiesbaden. He volunteered for the Condor Legion and arrived by sea in Cadiz on 14 April that year. He took over from Adolf Galland at the head of 3.J/88. During the Spanish conflict he showed considerable qualities not only as a pilot and marksman but also, and especially, as a tactician and organiser. Together with other airmen, in Spain he developed the technique known as the "finger four", or fan, which improved a flight's all-round vision and encouraged the pilots' initiative. Between 15 July and 3 November 1938, he shot down fourteen aircraft: eleven I-16 "Mosca", two Polikarpov I-15 "Chato" and one SB-2 "Katyuska", as well as one unconfirmed I-16 victory, most of these at the controls of the Bf 109 C-1 coded 6-79 "Luchs"..

He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten in recognition of his achievements. At the end of the year he returned to Germany as the highest scoring German pilot of the Spanish conflict, with a glowing reputation and a maturity beyond his years and rank. At the beginning of World War II, Mölders was Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 53 "Pik As", based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim. He became known by those under his command as "Vati" (Daddy) Mölders. He shot down his first aircraft of the Second World War on 21 September 1939, a French Curtiss 75 A fighter. On 1 November he went on to command III./JG 53, also based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim..

On 27 May 1940, after his 20th victory, a French Curtiss 75 A SW of Amiens, he was promoted to Hauptmann and decorated with the Knight's Cross. He was shot down in combat on 5 June 1940, by French ace Sous Lieutenant René Pommier Layragues (6 victories) flying a D.520 of GC II/7 after having scored 25 victories during 128 missions and was taken prisoner. He was liberated two weeks later upon the armistice with France. He returned to Germany to be promoted to Major and given command of JG 51 as Kommodore..

On 28 July 1940, during his first flight with his new unit, he succeeded in downing a Spitfire, but his aircraft was then hit by the enemy aircraft. Severely wounded in the legs, Mölders just managed to make an emergency landing at the airfield at Wissant in France. It was not until a month later that he was able to return to combat, most likely flying the Bf 109 E-4 W.Nr. 2404 (photographed on 31 August with 32 victory bars), as well as W.Nr. 3737, (shot down over England while being flown by Hptm Asmus on 25 October, with no stab markings according to the crash report, but 49 victory bars). He quickly brought his score up by downing 28 British fighters during the remainder of the Battle of Britain, including his 40th a Spitfire over Dungeness, on 20 September, for which he was awarded the Oak Leaves (No. 2) the next day. On 22 October he downed three RAF Hurricanes to become the first Luftwaffe pilot to reach a score of 50 aerial victories. By the end of the Battle of Britain he had a total of 54 victories, and he would add one more before the end of the year.

5 Pilots Werner Molders and Oblt. Hartmann Grasser 01

Major Werner Mölders and Oblt. Hartmann Grasser of the Stab flight of JG 51 after a mission over the British Isles during the Battle of Britain. Grasser was later assigned to JG 11 and would survive the war with 103 confirmed victories.

He continued flying and fighting over the Channel Front until early May, by which time he had brought down an additional 13 British aircraft. On 22 June 1941, the first day of Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern Front, he shot down four Russian aircraft, one I-153 and three SB-2 bombers, his 69th through 72nd victories, and was awarded the Schwertern (No. 2). He was the first pilot to surpass von Richthofen's WW I record score of 80 on 30 June, when he shot down 5 SB-2 bombers to score his 78th to 82nd victories on a day that JG 51 claimed 110 SB-2 and DB-3 bombers. He shot down a further four enemy aircraft on 5 July for his 83rd to 86th victories..

On 15 July he became the first pilot in history to record 100 victories and was immediately awarded the Brillanten (No. 1), the first German soldier to be so recognized. He was immediately forbidden to fly combat on the personal orders of Göring. At only 28 years of age, he was promoted to Oberst and appointed Inspector General of Fighters on 7 August. Even though ordered to cease flying combat missions, he continued to do so and achieved several unconfirmed victories over the Crimea. He personally instructed many pilots on how to achieve success, and helped develop the forward air controller concept. On 22 November 1941, he was flying as a passenger in a He 111 from the Crimea to Germany to attend the funeral of Ernst Udet. Landing during a thunderstorm at Breslau the aircraft crashed and Mölders and the pilot were killed. In his memory, on 20 December 1941, JG 51 was bestowed the honor name "Mölders".

He flew a total of some 330 missions during the Second World War, 100 of these on the Eastern Front, during which he shot down a total of 101 aircraft, 33 of these in the East. He also was the top scorer of the Legion Condor in Spain with 14 victories achieved in some 100 missions, and helped develop many of the modern fighter tactics still in use today.

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location	Comments
1.	15.7.1938	-	Curtiss	3. J/88	Algar area
2.	17.7.1938	-	Curtiss	3. J/88	N Liria
3.	19.7.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	W Villar del Arzobispo
4.	19.8.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	Flix area
5.	23.8.1938	-	SB-2	3. J/88	Albi area
6.	9.9.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	Flix area
7.	13.9.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	Flix area
8.	23.9.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	SW Ginestar
-	23.9.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	not confirmed
9.	10.10.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	NE Flix
10.	15.10.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	W La Figuera
11.	15.10.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	Sierra de Montsant area
12.	31.10.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	NW Flix
13.	31.10.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	S Ribarroja
14.	3.11.1938	-	Rata	3. J/88	Mola area
15.	20.9.1939	14:30	Curtiss	1./JG 53	W Merzig	Hawk H-75A of GC II/5, Armée de l'air flown by Sgt Queginer, baled out
16.	30.10.1939	11:12	Blenheim	III./JG 53	Near Klüsserath	Blenheim I (L6694) of 18 Sqn, RAF flown by Flt Lt AA Dilnot, crew killed
17.	22.12.1939	15:05	Morane	III./JG 53	15km NE Metz	Hurricane (N2385) of 73 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt RM Berry, killed
18.	2.3.1940	12:20	Hurricane	III./JG 53	Völklingen	Possibly Hurricane I (L1808) of 73 S1n, RAF flown by F/O EJ Kain (19/0/2 victories), crash-landed at Toul
19.	3.3.1940	13:55	Morane	III./JG 53	Metz	Morane 406 of GC II/3, Armée de l'air flown by Cpl Chef Korber, crash-landed at Toul
20.	26.3.1940	15:00	Morane	III./JG 53	Diedenhofen	Hurricane I of 73 Sqn, RAF flown by F/O N Orton, returned damaged
21.	2.4.1940	12:10	Hurricane	III./JG 53	St Avold	Hurricane I of 1 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O CD Palmer, baled out
22.	20.4.1940	11:54	Curtiss	III./JG 53	Zweibrücken area	Probably Hawk H-75A (No 136) of GC II/4, Armée de l'air flown by Adj Chef Cruchant, crash-landed near Bliesbück badly wounded
23.	23.4.1940	11:14	Hurricane	III./JG 53	S Diedenhofen	Probably Hurricane I (N2391) of 73 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt CNS Campbell, baled out wounded
24.	14.5.1940	16:30	Hurricane	III./JG 53	Sedan-Charville
25.	15.5.1940	13:05	Hurricane	III./JG 53	Sedan
26.	19.5.1940	9:35	Curtiss	III./JG 53	NE Reims
27.	20.5.1940	19:15	Vickers	III./JG 53	Compiegne	Possibly Vickers Wellesley
28.	21.5.1940	17:30	Morane	III./JG 53
29.	21.5.1940	17:50	Morane	III./JG 53
30.	21.5.1940	19:18	Morane	III./JG 53
31.	22.5.1940	17:50	Potez 63	III./JG 53	SW Mourmelon airfield
32.	25.5.1940	18:55	Morane	III./JG 53	Villers Cotterets Forest
33.	27.5.1940	9:10	Curtiss	III./JG 53	15km SW Amiens	Mölders said it was a Bloch 152
34.	27.5.1940	9:11	Curtiss	III./JG 53	15km SW Amiens	Mölders said it was a Bloch 152
35.	31.5.1940	19:00	LeO 45	III./JG 53	Abbéville-Amiens	LeO 451
36.	3.6.1940	14:30	Curtiss	III./JG 53	Paris	Possibly D.520
37.	3.6.1940	15:00	Spitfire	III./JG 53	Paris
38.	5.6.1940	11:20	Bloch	III./JG 53	Compiegne
39.	5.6.1940	11:23	Potez 63	III./JG 53	Compiegne
40.	28.7.1940	-	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Dover	Spitfire I of 41 Sqn, RAF flown by F/O ADJ Lovell (18.5/2/10.666 victories), crash-landed wounded
41.	26.8.1940	12:55	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Folkestone
42.	28.8.1940	10:40	Curtiss	Stab/JG 51	NE Dover
43.	28.8.1940	18:40	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Canterbury
44.	31.8.1940	9:50	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	between Folkestone and Dover
45.	31.8.1940	9:50~	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	between Folkestone and Dover
46.	31.8.1940	9:50~	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	between Folkestone and Dover
47.	6.9.1940	14:40	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Folkestone
48.	7.9.1940	18:30	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	London
49.	9.9.1940	18:45	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	London
50.	11.9.1940	17:05	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	SE London
51.	14.9.1940	17:40	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	SW London
52.	16.9.1940	8:50	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	London
53.	20.9.1940	12:34	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Near Folkestone	Spitfire of 92 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O HP Hill
54.	20.9.1940	12:34	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Near Folkestone	Spitfire of 92 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt PR Eyles
55.	27.9.1940	17:00	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Near Maidstone	Possibly Spitfire I (P9364) of 222 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt E Scott (5/3/0 victories), killed
56.	28.9.1940	15:00	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Near Littlestone
57.	11.10.1940	12:30	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Near Folkestone	Spitfire I (X4562) of 66 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O JHT Pickering, baled out over Canterbury, wounded
58.	12.10.1940	10:40	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Liquizue
59.	12.10.1940	10:40	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Cauberberg
60.	12.10.1940	10:45	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Dungeness
61.	15.10.1940	9:15	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Kneleig
62.	17.10.1940	16:25	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	London	Spitfire MkI RAF 66Sqn LZ-N R6800 flown by American volunteer, Plt/Off Hugh W Reilley based in Gravesend. He was on patrol over Westerham Kent when he was shot down and crashed on Crockham Hill, near Sevenoaks South of London
63.	22.10.1940	15:40	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	NW Maidstone
64.	22.10.1940	15:40~	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	NW Maidstone
65.	22.10.1940	15:40~	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	NW Maidstone
66.	25.10.1940	10:45	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	NW Dover	Spitfire I (P7365) of 603 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O SF Soden
67.	25.10.1940	13:10	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Margate	Spitfire I (P7309) of 603 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O P Oliver
68.	29.10.1940	13:55	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Dungeness
69.	1.12.1940	15:15	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Ashforth
70.	10.2.1941	17:29	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	5km NNE Calais
71.	20.2.1941	16:56	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Dover
72.	20.2.1941	16:59	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Dover
73.	25.2.1941	15:20	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	N Gravelines
74.	26.2.1941	18:22	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	SW Dungeness
75.	12.3.1941	19:15	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Dungeness	Spitfire II of 74 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt JN Glendinning (4/1/1 victories), killed
76.	13.3.1941	15:22	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	SW Boulogne	Spitfire of 64 Sqn, RAF flown by Sqn Ldr ARD MacDonnell (12.5.1.7 victories), baled out, POW
77.	15.4.1941	-	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Boulogne
78.	16.4.1941	-	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	SW Dungeness
79.	16.4.1941	-	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	S Le Touquet
80.	4.5.1941	-	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	E Canterbury
81.	6.5.1941	-	Hurricane	Stab/JG 51	Dover
82.	8.5.1941	-	Spitfire	Stab/JG 51	Dover
83.	22.6.1941	-	Curtiss	Stab/JG 51		I-153 of 123 IAP/10SAD, VVS
84.	22.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
85.	22.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
86.	22.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
87.	22.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
88.	24.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
89.	25.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
90.	29.6.1941	-	Pe-2	Stab/JG 51
91.	29.6.1941	-	I-16	Stab/JG 51
92.	30.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51	Bobyruysk area
93.	30.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51	Bobyruysk area
94.	30.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51	Bobyruysk area
95.	30.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51	Bobyruysk area
96.	30.6.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51	Bobyruysk area
97.	5.7.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
98.	5.7.1941	-	SB-2	Stab/JG 51
99.	5.7.1941	-	I-18	Stab/JG 51		MiG-3
100.	5.7.1941	-	I-18	Stab/JG 51		MiG-3
101.	9.7.1941	-	Curtiss	Stab/JG 51	Rogachev-Orsha-Smolensk area	I-153
102.	9.7.1941	-	Curtiss	Stab/JG 51	Rogachev-Orsha-Smolensk area	I-153
103.	9.7.1941	-	I-16	Stab/JG 51	Rogachev-Orsha-Smolensk area
104.	10.7.1941	-	RZ	Stab/JG 51	Rogachev-Orsha-Smolensk area
105.	10.7.1941	-	RZ	Stab/JG 51	Rogachev-Orsha-Smolensk area
106.	11.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51	Rogachev-Orsha-Smolensk area
107.	11.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51
108.	12.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51
109.	13.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51
110.	13.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51
111.	14.7.1941	-	Pe-2	Stab/JG 51
112.	14.7.1941	-	Pe-2	Stab/JG 51
113.	14.7.1941	-	Pe-2	Stab/JG 51
114.	15.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51
115.	15.7.1941	-	E/a	Stab/JG 51
-	8.11.1941	-	Il-2	Stab/JG 77

Victories : 115
Awards : Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Units : J/88, JG 53, JG 51

Website Reference: http://www.luftwaffe.cz/molders.html

    Bibliography: +

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• Mermet, Jean-Claude. Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-1 through K-4. Engines and Fittings. Marnaz, France: Jean Claude Mermet SA, 1999.
• Messerschmitt AG. Messerschmitt Bf 109G; technisch Kompendium, Handbücher, Ersatztelliste, Bewaffnung Bedienungsvorschrift/Fl, Bordfunkanlage, Lehrbildreihe; 1942/1944. [Elektronische Resource] (Reprint) Ludwigsburg, Germany: Luftfahrt-Archiv, 2006. ISBN 3-939847-13-5.
• Messerschmitt AG. Messerschmitt Bf 109K; technisch Kompendium, Handbüch, Ersatztelliste, Rep.-Answeisung, Bewaffnung Bedienungsvorschrift; 1943–1944. [Elektronische Resource] (Reprint). Ludwigsburg, Germany: Luftfahrt-Archiv, 2006. ISBN 3-939847-14-3.
• Morgan, Eric B and Edward Shacklady. Spitfire: The History. Stamford: Key Books Ltd, 2000. ISBN 0-946219-48-6.
• Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1.
• Nowarra, Heinz. Die Deutsche Luftrustung 1933–1945, Band 3: Flugzeugtypen Henschel – Messerschmitt. Koblenz, Germany: Bernard & Graefe, 1993. ISBN 3-7637-5467-9.
• Osché, Philippe (translated by Patrick Laureau). The Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Swiss Service. Boulogne sur Mer, France: Lela Presse, 1996. ISBN 2-914017-31-6.
• Poruba, T and A Janda. Messerschmitt Bf 109K. Hradec Králové, Czech Republic: JaPo, 1997.
• Prien, Jochen and Peter Rodeike. Messerschmitt Bf 109 F, G & K Series – An Illustrated Study. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1995. ISBN 0-88740-424-3.
• Price, Alfred. Spitfire Mk. I/II Aces (Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces). London: Osprey, 1996. ISBN 84-8372-207-0.
• Punka, György. "A Messzer": Bf 109s in the Royal Hungarian "Honvéd" Air Force. Budapest, Hungary: OMIKK, 1995. ISBN 963-593-208-1.
• Radinger, Willy and Walter Schick. Messerschmitt Me 109 (Alle Varianten: vion Bf (Me) 109A bis Me 109E). Oberhaching, Germany: Aviatic Verlag GmbH, 1997. ISBN 3-925505-32-6.
• Radinger, Willy and Wolfgang Otto. Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-K – Development, testing, production. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 0-7643-1023-2.
• Rimmell, Ray. ME 109: Messerschmitt Bf 109E. Chipping Ongar, Essex, UK: Linewrights Ltd., 1986. ISBN 0-946958-18-1.
• Ritger, Lynn. Meserschmitt Bf 109 Prototype to 'E' Variants. Bedford, UK: SAM Publications, 2006. ISBN 978-0-9551858-0-9.
• Savic, D. and B. Ciglic. Croatian Aces of World War II (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 49). Oxford, UK: Oxford, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-435-3.
• Scutts, Jerry. Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85532-448-2, ISBN 978-1-85532-448-0.
• Shores, C., B. Cull and N. Malizia. Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece & Crete – 1940–41. London: Grub Street, 1987. ISBN 0-948817-07-0.
• Starr, Chris. "Developing Power: Daimler-Benz and the Messerschmitt Bf 109." Aeroplane magazine, Volume 33, No. 5, Issue No 385, May 2005. London: IPC Media Ltd.
• Stenman, Kari and Kalevi Keskinen. Finnish Aces of World War 2 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 23). London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-783-X.
• Taylor, John W.R. "Messerschmitt Bf 109." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
• U.S. Army Air Force. German Aircraft and Armament: Informational Intelligence, Summary No. 44-32, October 1944 (Informational Intelligence Summary). New York: Brassey's Inc., 2000 (first edition 1944). ISBN 1-57488-291-0.
• Valtonen, Hannu. Messerschmitt Bf 109 ja saksan sotatalous (Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the German war economy). Helsinki, Finland: Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo (Central Finnish Aviation Museum), 1999. ISBN 978-951-95688-7-4.
• Vogt, Harald. Messerschmitt Bf 109 G/K Rüstsatze. Flugzeug Profile 21. Illertissen, Flugzeug Publikations GmbH.
• Wagner, Ray and Heinz Nowarra. German Combat Planes: A Comprehensive Survey and History of the Development of German Military Aircraft from 1914 to 1945. New York: Doubleday, 1971.
• Weal, John. Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford: Osprey, 2001. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1.
• Weal, John. BF 109D/E Aces 1939–41. Oxford: Osprey, 1996. ISBN 978-1-85532-487-9.
• Weal, John. Bf 109F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. Oxford: Osprey, 2000. ISBN 978-1-85532-905-8.
• Winchester, Jim. "Messerschmitt Bf 109." Aircraft of World War II: The Aviation Factfile. Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-639-1.

    Messerschmitt Bf 109 operational history Bibliography: +

• Beale, Nick, Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini. Air War Italy: Axis Air Forces from Liberation of Rome to the Surrender. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife, 1996. ISBN 1-85310-252-0.
• Bergström, Christer. Barbarossa – The Air Battle: July–December 1941. London: Chevron/Ian Allan, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.
• Bergström, Christer and Martin Pegg. Jagdwaffe:The War in Russia, January–October 1942. Luftwaffe Colours, Volume 3 Section 4. London: Classic Colours Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-903223-23-7.
• Feist, Uwe. The Fighting Me 109. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1993. ISBN 1-85409-209-X.
• Green, William. Messerschmitt Bf 109: The Augsburg Eagle; A Documentary History. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishing Group Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-7106-0005-4.
• Hooton, Edward R. Blitzkrieg in the West, 1939 -1940 (Luftwaffe at War: 2). Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-272-6.
• Jackson, Robert. Aircraft of World War II: Development – Weaponry – Specifications. Enderby, Leicester, UK, Amber Books, 2003. ISBN 1-85605-751-8.
• Mankau, Heinz and Peter Petrick. Messerschmitt Bf 110, Me 210, Me 410. Raumfahrt, Germany: Aviatic Verlag, 2001. ISBN 3-925505-62-8.
• Mason, Francis K. Messerschmitt Bf 109B, C, D, E in Luftwaffe & Foreign service. London, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1973. ISBN 0-85045-152-3.
• Massimello, Giovanni and Giorgio Apostolo. Italian Aces of World War Two. Oxford/New York, Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 978-1-84176-078-0.
• Morgan, Eric B. and Edward Shacklady. Spitfire: The History. Stamford, UK: Key Books Ltd, 2000. ISBN 0-946219-48-6.
• Neulen, Hans Werner. In the skies of Europe – Air Forces allied to the Luftwaffe 1939–1945. Ramsbury, Marlborough, THE CROWOOD PRESS, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1
• Price, Alfred. Spitfire Mark I/II Aces 1939–41 (Aircraft of the Aces 12). London: Osprey Books, 1996, ISBN 1-85532-627-2.
• Punka, György. "A Messzer": Bf 109s in the Royal Hungarian "Honvéd" Air Force. Budapest, Hungary: OMIKK, 1995. ISBN 963-593-208-1.
• Savic, D. and B. Ciglic. Croatian Aces of World War II (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 49). Oxford, UK: Oxford, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-435-3.
• Stenman, Kari and Kalevi Keskinen. Finnish Aces of World War 2 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 23). London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-783-X.

    Some of the most widely used Book References:

• Jagdwaffe: Battle of Britain: Phase One: July-August 1940 (Luftwaffe Colours: Volume Two, Section 1) Paperback Eric Mombeek (Author), David Wadman (Author), Eddie J Creek (Author)
• Jagdwaffe: Battle of Britain: Phase Two: August-September 1940 (Luftwaffe Colours: Volume Two, Section 2) Paperback Eric Mombeek (Author), David Wadman (Author), Martin Pegg (Author)
• Jagdwaffe: Battle of Britain: Phase Three: September-October 1940 (Luftwaffe Colours: Volume Two, Section 3) Paperback Eric Mombeek (Author), David Wadman (Author), Martin Pegg (Author)
• Jagdwaffe: Battle of Britain: Phase Four: November 1940-June 1941 (Luftwaffe Colours: Volume Two, Section 4) Paperback Eric Mombeek (Author), David Wadman (Author), Martin Pegg (Author)

    Magazines: +

• Airfix Magazines (English) - http://www.airfix.com/
• Avions (French) - http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/rubrique10.html
• EDUARD - https://www.eduard.com/
• EDUARD - Are in my opinion are what modelers are looking for loads of pictures and diagrams and have become a leading historical information source. *****
• FlyPast (English) - http://www.flypast.com/
• Flugzeug Publikations GmbH (German) - http://vdmedien.com/flugzeug-publikations-gmbh-hersteller_verlag-vdm-heinz-nickel-33.html
• Flugzeug Classic (German) - http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/
• Klassiker (German) - http://shop.flugrevue.de/abo/klassiker-der-luftfahrt
• Luftwaffe IM Focus (German) - https://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/
• Embleme der Luftwaffe Band-1 (German) - https://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/
• Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://boutique.editions-lariviere.fr/site/abonnement-le-fana-de-l-aviation-626-4-6.html
• Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://www.pdfmagazines.org/tags/Le+Fana+De+L+Aviation/
• Osprey (English) - http://www.ospreypublishing.com/
• model airplane international magazine - https://adhpublishing.com/shop/store/magazine-backissues/model-airplane-international-backissues/
• Revi Magazines (Czech) - http://www.revi.cz/

    Web References: +

• eBay - https://picclick.de/ or https://www.ebay.com
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com
• Wikipedia.org - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109
• Wikipedia.org - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants#cite_ref-100
• Wikipedia.org - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_operational_history
• Flickr.com - https://www.flickr.com/photos/farinihouseoflove/2209839419/in/photostream