Luftwaffe An RK & DKiG to a fighter pilot

[Bob Lyons]

This was the deal I was trying to do when I had my 'whammy', but we managed to get together again

last weekend, and I am rather stoked to be able to show these 2 items that once were part of Oberfeldwebel

Otto Wuerfel's award grouping, there are 3 of his documents as well, which I don't own, but there is a

chance they will become available too, but to get the ball rolling, I will show the 2 awards that I have picked up,

first up his Steinhauer & Lueck Knight's Cross, here is the case for it....

[Bob Lyons]

And the case opened showing the cross itself....

[Bob Lyons]

Some close ups, sadly my camera can't get too close, but these shots will give an idea of the

condition of the cross, it is the type that has the small '800' on the rear of the rim.

[Bob Lyons]

Out of the box, it still retains most of the silver frosting on the inside of the rim too...

[Bob Lyons]

The reverse...

[Bob Lyons]

I tried for a bit closer but the camera just can't get the close ups without blurring the shots, hope

there is some detail here of interest in this poor photo...

[Bob Lyons]

An angled photo looking down ....

[Bob Lyons]

And moving on to the next award, his DKiG, this is a Deschler made example, here is the

box in the closed position.....

[Bob Lyons]

And open.....

[Bob Lyons]

A bit closer....

[Bob Lyons]

Out of the box....

[Bob Lyons]

And the reverse...

[Bob Lyons]

I found this black and white photo of the RK along with the three documents somewhere else, so I thought

I would add it here, to show the award docs, which do belong to another local collector at this stage, I have followed

this group since it arrived here in Australia, and am very pleased to own a portion of the grouping.

[Bob Lyons]

Finding out some information on him is a bit difficult as it is a late war group, but this is what I know about him so far,

Born 3 December 1920 in Uelzen/Niedersachsen, was posted missing from 23 Feb 1944 around Rogatschew in Russia,

and died on the 22nd December 1944. His rank at that time was an Oberfeldwebel.

Posted in to 9./JG 51 mid 1942 as an Unteroffizier, mid 1943 he had around 9 victories, was involved in many dive bombing

operations.

Posted for a short period of time to Erg. Gr. Ost as an instructor (training pilot is what is written). so ??? he could have been

under training perhaps.

Within 5 months of returning to 9./JG 51 he had 70 victories to his credit, on the 21 Feb 1944 he shot down 6 enemy

aircraft, and was transferred to 8./JG 51.

On the 23rd Feb, 1944 he collided in mid air with his wingman Ofw Dittlmann, northwest of Rogatschew. Both aircraft came

down, Dittlmann was killed in the crash, Wuerfel was captured and interned in camp 280/5 in the area of Stalino. He

died in captivity of Typhus.

Promoted to Leutnant posthumously, and his final victory tally was 79 victories.

RK awarded 4 May 1944.

DKiG awarded February 1944.

Bob

[joe campbell]

this is INSANE!!!

what an incredible find on your part:

to have the awards AND the info.

what a tresure trove!

joe

[Scott]

Wow Bob - my heart is fluttering just looking at the pictures! Superb group - congratulations!

Scott

[Bob Lyons]

Thanks Joe and Scott, yeah I am very happy with 'em too, now to work on the documents.

Bob

[naoki matsumoto]

Wow Bob - my heart is fluttering just looking at the pictures! Superb group - congratulations!

Scott

I agree!! Enviable MINT of Ritterkreuz!!SPLENDID!! 　

[Paul R]

WOW!! Talk about a once in a lifetime grouping!!