Werner Franz Mölders
Date of Birth: 18.03.1913 - Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 22.11.1941 - Breslau, Niederschlesien (Germany)
Nickname: Vati
Parents: Victor Mölders (26.06.1881 - 02.03.1915) and Annemarie Riedel
Siblings: Annemarie, Hans and Victor Mölders
Wife: Luise Petzold Baldauf Thurner
Promotions:
01.10.1931 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
01.04.1932 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
01.06.1933 Fähnrich
01.02.1934 Oberfähnrich
01.03.1934 Leutnant
01.04.1936 Oberleutnant
01.10.1938 Hauptmann
19.07.1940 Major
25.10.1940 Oberstleutnant
20.07.1941 Oberst
Career:
00.00.1919 - 00.00.1922 Attended Elementary School
00.00.1922 - 00.00.1931 Attended Saldria-Realgymnasium, a secondary school
01.10.1925 Member of Bund Neudeutschland in der katholischen Jugendbewegung
Early 1931 Graduated from school with the Abitur (diploma)
01.04.1931 Joined the Preußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2 / 1.Division of the Reichswehr
00.10.1932 After completing his basic military training, he transferred to the Military School Dresden
01.06.1933 1st Prussian Pioneer Battalion (Infantry Regiment 2) at the Pioneer School in Munich
06.02.1934 - 31.12.1934 Began pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule in Cottbus
01.03.1934 Promoted to Leutnant and assigned to the recently established Luftwaffe
01.01.1935 - 30.06.1935 military pilot's training at the combat flying school and the Jagdfliegerschule
01.07.1935 Posted to Fliegergruppe Schwerin (I./JG 162 "Immelmann")
07.03.1936 Mölders's staffel were moved to Düsseldorf during the remilitarisation of the Rhineland
01.04.1936 Führer Endausbildungstaffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel"
15.03.1937 Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 334 and served as an instructor in Wiesbaden
14.04.1938 Volunteered for Condor Legion and assigned to the 3.Staffel / Jagdgruppe 88 (J 88)
24.05.1938 - 05.12.1938 Staffelkapitän 3.Staffel / Jagdgruppe 88 (J 88)
15.07.1938 claimed his first aerial victory, shooting down a Polikarpov I-15 "Chato" near Algar
06.12.1938 - 00.03.1939 Member of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 133 (JG 133)
At the same time, held a staff position with the Inspector of Fighters / Ministry of Aviation in Berlin
00.03.1939 Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 133 (later renamed Jagdgeschwader 53)
08.09.1939 - 19.09.1939 Mölders' fighter suffered an engine failure; he crash-landed, flipping the aircraft over and injuring his back. The injury kept him out of combat for several days
20.09.1939 Shot down his first aircraft of the war, a Curtiss P-36
26.09.1939 Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53
22.12.1939 Becoming the first German fighter pilot to shoot down a Hawker Hurricane
14.05.1940 Mölders was shot down, but bailed out safely
27.05.1940 Claimed his 19th and 20th victories. Subsequently, he became the first fighter pilot to be awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and on 29 May 1940 was mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht propaganda radio report, the first of 11 such mentions
05.06.1940 Shot down in his Bf 109 E-4 while engaged in aerial combat with French Air Force Dewoitine D.520s near Compiègne at about 18:40. Mölders was then captured by French soldiers and taken prisoner of war but liberated three weeks later upon the armistice with France
26.07.1940 Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51)
30.06.1941 Become the highest-scoring fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare after downing five Soviet bombers and bringing his tally to 82, two more than the record set in World War I by the "Red Baron" Manfred von Richthofen
15.07.1941 The first fighter pilot to amass 100 aerial victories in World War II after surpassed the C mark, claiming victories Nos. 100 and 101, and celebrated with a victory roll over the airfield
20.07.1941 Banned from further combat flying and surrendering command of JG 51
20.07.1941 - 06.08.1941 Transferred to the Ministry of Aviation, a temporary position
07.08.1941 - 22.11.1941 Inspekteur der Jagdflieger
22.11.1941 Died in an airplane crash
28.11.1941 State funeral in Berlin
Awards and Decorations:
21.05.1935 Flugzeugführerabzeichen
02.10.1936 Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 Jahre)
04.05.1939 Medalla de la Campaña de España 1936-1939 (Spain)
04.05.1939 Medalla Militar Individual de España (Spain)
06.06.1939 Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten
17.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
03.04.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
29.05.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "Hauptmann Mölders achieved his 20th aerial victory."
29.05.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #54, as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53). The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Mölders received the Ritterkreuz: “Hauptmann Mölders has distinguished himself through both his personal bravery before the enemy as well as his especially successful leadership of his Jagdgruppe. Hauptmann Mölders already achieved a total of 20 aerial victories by the 29.05.1940.”
00.08.1940 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.08.1940 Gemeinsames Flugzeugfuhrer-Beobachter Abzeichen mit Brillianten
06.09.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "In addition to four officers previously mentioned, a further three fighter pilots have achieved 20 or more victories in aerial combat over the past few weeks. They are: Hauptmann Mayer, Hauptmann Oesau und Hauptmann Tietzen. The overall leader in aerial combat victories is Major Mölders with 32 aerial victories."
00.00.194_ Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold
00.00.194_ Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold mit Brillanten
21.09.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #2, as Major and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). Awarded after 40 aerial victories.
25.09.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "Major Mölders and Major Galland achieved their 40th aerial victories."
23.10.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "As already announced, Major Mölders shot down his 49th, 50th and 51st opponents in aerial combat against numerically superior enemy fighter forces."
26.10.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "Our fighter force shot down 17 enemy fighters in yesterday's aerial combat. Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved his 52nd and 53rd aerial victories in the course of the action."
11.02.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved his 56th aerial victory."
27.02.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved his 60th aerial victory yesterday."
18.04.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved his 64th and 65th aerial victories on 16 April, while Oberstleutnant Galland achieved his 59th and 60th on 15 April."
22.06.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #2, as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). Awarded after 72 aerial victories.
24.06.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "The fighter wing under the leadership of Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved its 750th aerial victory on 22 June."
01.07.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "...in the process, Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved his 82nd, and Hauptmann Joppien, his 52nd aerial victory."
15.07.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten #1, as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). Awarded after 101 aerial victories.
16.07.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht: "(Extra) Oberstleutnant Mölders, commodore of a fighter wing, shot down five Soviet aircraft yesterday in combat on the Eastern Front. This means he has achieved a total of 101 aerial victories in this war and, combined with his 14 aerial victories in the Spanish campaign, a grand total of 115 aerial victories overall. The Führer and commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht has chosen this heroic Luftwaffe exemplar, the world's most successful fighter pilot, to be the first Wehrmacht officer to receive the highest German award for bravery, the Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
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Werner "Vati" Mölders was born on 18 March 1913, at Gelsenkirchen. He was the son of teacher Viktor Mölders and his wife Annemarie, née Riedel. He was the third of four children, with an older sister, Annemarie, an older brother, Hans, and a younger brother, Victor.
He was set to becomöe the role model for all young German fighter pilots, hence the nickname ‘Vati".
Mölders had had made his mind up to have a Military career after his father, a reserve-Leutnant in the King's 145th Infantry Regiment, was killed in action on 2 March 1915 in the Argonne Forest in France.
He entered the Dresden Military Academy in 1932 and would graduate two years later. In 1934 he applied for flight training with the Luftwaffe passing all but one test, the centrifugal spin chair which made him dizzy and caused him to vomit. A doctor was to recommend that Mölders was unfit to become a pilot. Mölders was determined though and practiced with the chair until he passed. Flying sickness though would continue with Mölders during the early part of his career but in the end hen would overcome the problem through perseverence.
For two years he was an instructor at Wiesbaden. He volunteered for the Condor Legion and arrived by sea in Cadiz on 14 April 1938. Later that year 3 Staffel of JG 88 needed a new leader to replace Adolf Galland in Spain and Mölders was chosen. Mölders scored his first victory, a Polikarpov I -16 fighter. It was also in Spain that Mölders would help every new pilot under his command to score their first victory and to help them through the experience. By the 31st of October Mölders had scored 14 victories in Spain and he returned to Germany in early November as the highest scoring pilot of the Condor Legion.
Werner would spend the winter teaching Luftwaffe recruits his tactics that he had learned while in Spain. Between 15 July and 3 November 1938, he shot down fourteen aircraft. At the end of the year he returned to Germany as the highest scoring German pilot of the Spanish conflict.
Mölders opened his World War II account by scoring in the opening weeks of the French campaign when he shot down a Curtis Hawk on the 20th of September 1940. By May he had become the first Luftwaffe pilot to reach 20 victories. Mölders scoring tactic was to hit enemy airplanes hard from close range. While leading 15 Messerschmitts on a patrol on 5 June 1940 he was shot down in combat by French ace Sous Lieutenant René Pommier Layragues. Mölders bailed out and floated to earth where he was captured by French troops. His initial experience in French captivity was harsh; he sustained abrasions to his face and his Knight's Cross was stolen from him. A French officer, Capitaine Giron, intervened, ensured he was treated fairly, and returned the stolen medal. When a French soldier was later sentenced to death by the Germans for beating Mölders, Mölders approached Hermann Göring and requested clemency, which was granted. His inprisonment lasted not long though as France surrendered a few weeks later. 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. 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. 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. By the 26th of February Mölders was Germany's second highest scoring Ace with 68 victories behind him. By June of 1941 Mölders was on the east front, and JG 51 would became the first Luftwaffe fighter group to reach the 1,000 victories mark. On another day in June JG 51 shot down 96 Soviet aircraft and Mölders accounted for 11 of those, by the end of July Mölders had 115 victories to his name.
Realizing that Mölders was too valuable to risk in combat, the higher powers in the Luftwaffe decided to ground him and at the age of just 28 he became Inspecteur der Jagdflieger (Inspector of Fighters). He was constantly on the move, wherever he was required Mölders would be creating and directing battle groups of Stukas and fighters. It was around this time that Mölders received notice of Ernst Udet's suicide and he requested to be one of the guard of honours at the funeral. In very bad weather Mölders took a flight in a Heinkel HE 111 bomber. The plane took off in a violent thunderstorm despite pleas from the pilot to turn back. But Mölders insisted that the flight continued. When the aircraft neared Breslau one of the engines failed. As the aircraft approached the landing strip the second engine failed. The Heinkel slammed into the ground killing Mölders instantly. It. Mölders was buried next to Ernst Udet and Manfred von Richthofen. The 8.8 cm flak in Berlin Tiergarten fired a salute; Hermann Göring gave the eulogy.Only hours after his death, Jg 51 was awarded the name Mölders. Werner Mölders finished the War at the age of 28 as General with 115 victories achieved over the course of over 300 sorties (14 in Spain, 68 in the West and 33 in Russia).
Werner Mölders was extremely pattriotic while making no secret of his dislike of many aspects of National Socalism, which stemmed from his Roman Catholic faith. Even Hitler recognized his qualaties and is recorded as having rounded on some of Mölders' critics amoung the Nazi leadership and warned them not to harass the Lufwaffe ace, whom Hitler described as 'a decent man'. Mölders demanded that all Allied aviators captured by those under his command be treated civilly and often would invite captured pilots to dine with him.
On April 13, 1968, a Destroyer of the Federal German Navy was christened "Mölders". It was in Service between 1969 and 2003. As of June 24, 2005 it is the central attraction at the Navy Museum in Wilhelmshaven.
On November 9, 1972 a base of a Battalion of the 34th Signal Regiment of the Federal German Army received the name "Mölders".
Most notably, the Fighter Squadron 74 (Jagdgeschwader (JG) 74), stationed in Neuburg on Danube received the name "Mölders" in 1973. In 2005 the German Ministry of Defence (Bundesministerium der Verteidigung) decided to remove the name "Mölders" from the JG 74. This was done in accordance with a decision from the German Parliament (Bundestag) in 1998 due to the 61st Anniversary of the bombing of the town of Guernica in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Werner Mölders was a part of the "Condor Legion ". According to Parliament a member of the "Condor Legion " should "not be honoured any more".
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Werner Mölders in a cockpit of Messerschmitt Bf 109.
Major Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) and Hauptmann Rudolf Laumann. The picture was taken in September 1940 by Kriegsberichter Dreesen.
Out
in front of the Reichs Chancellery in Berlin, 1941. From left to right:
Oberleutnant Herbert Wehnelt (Staffelkapitän 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe /
Jagdgeschwader 51), Major Hannes Trautloft (Geschwaderkommodore
Jagdgeschwader 54), Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland (Geschwaderkommodore
Jagdgeschwader 26), Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore
Jagdgeschwader 51), and Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
(Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 53).
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51).
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) in the English Channel.
Werner Mölders (JG 51) and Adolf Galland (JG 27).
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.
Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51).
Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51).
Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51).
Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51).
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) and his adjutant Oberleutnant Paul Wenzel in 1941.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51), Hauptmann Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 51), and Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2).
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) with his brother Hauptmann Victor Mölders (Staffelkapitän 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 51).
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders as Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51.
Brillantenträger Oberst Werner Mölders as Inspekteur der Jagdflieger.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) and Hauptmann Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 51) in 1941.
Werner Mölders in a touched picture.
Oberst Werner Mölders as Inspekteur der Jagdflieger.
Oberst Werner Mölders as Inspekteur der Jagdflieger.
Oberst Werner Mölders as Inspekteur der Jagdflieger.
Oberst Werner Mölders as Inspekteur der Jagdflieger.
Ritterkreuz Award ceremony for Leutnant Erich Schmidt (Flugzeugführer in III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53), given by Oberst Werner Mölders (Inspekteur der Jagdflieger). Schmidt received the Ritterkreuz on 23 July 1941 after 30 aerial victories.
Oberst Werner Mölders (Inspekteur der Jagdflieger) and Unteroffizier Franz-Josef Beerenbrock (Flugzeugführer in 10.Staffel / IV.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 51).
Oberst Werner Mölders (Inspekteur der Jagdflieger) and Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 53).
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) and Oberst Werner Mölders (Inspekteur der Jagdflieger).
Source :
Bundesarchiv photo collection
Jim Haley photo collection
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