MAJOR GENERAL DIETRICH "DIETER" PELTZ - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: RUDOLF NACKE, COLONEL JOACHIM HELBIG, VICTOR VON LOSSBERG, WERNER SCHROER - HFSID 74806

GERMAN PILOTS: WORLD WAR II
The Luftwaffe pilots pen their names on this commemorative envelope
Commemorative Envelope Signed:  "Dieter Peltz", "Rudolf Nacke", "Joachim Helbig", "Victor Von Lossberg", and "Werner Schroer" 6½x4¼. All signers are recipients of the Knight's Cross. Royal Air Force cover with color cachet honoring the closure of the station on February 28, 1971. Royal Air Force North Coates printed on left side with an illustration of the Bristol Beaufighter MKJC. Two British stamps affixed postmarked: Closure of Royal Air Force North Coates, British Forces Postal Service. Seven unsigned b/w photographs are enclosed in envelope. DIETRICH "DIETER" PELTZ (1914-2001) was the youngest Luftwaffe General ever. As a bomber pilot, he conducted daring solo raids over England, taking advantage of bad weather. In operations against Poland and France, his command lost not a single plane. For his service he received the Knights Cross with Swords and Oak Leaves. Peltz was also responsible for the botched Operation Base Plate, a daring attack on Allied airfields on New Year's Day, 1945. The severe losses from this operation devastated the already weakened Luftwaffe and opened a rift between its bomber and fighter commands. RUDOLF NACKE was a combat pilot. A member of the bomber group Kampfgeschwader 76 (KG 76), Nacke served in the European Theatre during World War II. JOACHIM HELBIG (1915-1985) was a member of the German Luftwaffe, joining in 1936. He was involved in 480 missions during World War II, and is credited with destroying 182,000 gross register tons of Allied shipping. In addition, he flew over 100 missions at Malta, where his squadron sank 3 British destroyers. VIKTOR VON LOßBERG (1904-1983) flew in the World War II-era Luftwaffe, eventually becoming a highly-decorated Oberleutnant. Moreover, he was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Von Loßberg was notably an originator of the flying tactic of Zahme Sau (Tame Boar), employed on night flights by the Luftwaffe. WERNER SCHROER (1918-1985) was a fighter ace who joined the Luftwaffe in 1937 and recorded a total of 114 victories throughout the course of this career. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords for his service during WWII. In the Mediterranean, Schroer recorded the second highest number of successful air victories after the ace Hans-Joachim Marseille. Identities and accomplishments of signers neatly stamped in German on verso. Lightly toned. Corners and edges gently worn. Stain toward lower right-hand corner resulting from previously adhered sticker. Otherwise, fine condition.