Bio of Oberfeldwebel Helmut Köster (1921-1944)

Helmut Köster

Date of Birth: 06.10.1921 - Soest, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany)
Date of Death: 08.08.1944 - Szászrégen/Reghin, Maros-Torda (Kingdom of Hungary)
Buried: German War Cemetery Jassy / Iasi (Romania)

Height: 185cm

Promotion:
00.00.194_ Feldwebel
00.00.1944 Oberfeldwebel

Career:
00.00.194_ Flugzeugführer in I.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 2 (SG 2) "Immelmann"
08.08.1944 Killed during Fw 190 training when his Fw 190F-8 Werknummer 931.880 coded "Weisse N"collided with another Fw 190, piloted by Feldwebel Alfred Ebeling (bailed safely), and crashed near Sächsisch-Regen Hungary.

Awards and Decorations:
21.05.1941 Flugzeugführerabzeichen
13.10.1942 Frontflugspange für Schlachtflieger in Bronze
30.10.1942 Frontflugspange für Schlagtflieger in Silber
06.11.1942 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
21.12.1942 Frontflugspange für Schlagtflieger in Gold
31.12.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
22.03.1943 Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg (According to the soldbuch the awarding date is 12.03.1943)
28.04.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
13.07.1943 Frontflugspange für Schlagtflieger in Gold mit Anhänger
08.08.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (posthumously), as Feldwebel and Flugzeugführer in I.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 2 (SG 2) "Immelmann". Awarded in recognition of his total of approximately 700 ground attack sorties with the Junkers Ju 87.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Auctioned by Andreas Thies : Soldbuch / Pay Book (second copy) issued on December 23, 1943 with a photograph of Feldwebel Helmut Köster and entries of all awards, including the Luftwaffe-Ehrenpokal (Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe), Frontflugspange in Gold mit Anhänger (Front Flight Clasp in Gold with pendant), Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold) and finally, on August 8, 1944, the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross). Also a note about the right to wear the "Geschwader Immelmann" cufflinks. Other pictures from this auction can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auktionen/67-751210
https://www.ratisbons.com/de/57th-contemporary-history-auction/koester-helmut-lw-knight-s-cross-winner-soldbuch.html?slessfilter=Array
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/k.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/24085/K%C3%B6ster-Helmut-Stuka-Geschwader-2.htm