MAJOR WILHELM BATZ - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: LT. COLONEL HUGO DAHMER, COMMANDER ROBERT KOWALEWSKI, LIEUTENANT (JG) EDMUND ROSSMAN - HFSID 74815

WWII GERMAN FLYING ACES
Four German pilots sign their names on this commemorative envelope honoring the Royal Australian Air Force's anniversary; Major Wilhelm Batz, Lieutenant Edmund Rossmann, Lt. Colonel Hugo Dahmer, Commander Robert Kowalewski, all recipients of the Knight's Cross, sign their names in ink
Commemorative envelope signed: "Willhelm Batz/Maj.Kdr. II. J.G. 52" in black ink, "Edmund Rossmann/F.J.G. 52" in black ink, "Hugo Dahmer/Lt Col" in blue ink, "Robert Kowalewski/[illegible] Kommodon KG 76" in blue ink. 6½x4½ envelope commemorating the 50th Anniversary Flight of the Formation of the Royal Australian Air Force 1921-1971. Double postmarked: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, August 13, 1971 and Lord Howe Island, NSW, Australia, August 17, 1971. 6c stamp affixed. Wilhelm Batz (1916-1988) was a German Luftwaffe (Air Force) fighter ace. Willi Batz flew 445 combat missions and claimed 237 enemy aircraft shot down. 234 of these victories were achieved over the Eastern Front, including at least 46 Il-2 Sturmoviks, but he did claim three victories, including one four-engine bomber against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). He was wounded three times and was shot down four times. Batz was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords , he third highest recognition of the Knight's Cross, on April 21, 1945. Edmund Roßmann (1918-2005) was a German World War II fighter ace and was credited with 93 aerial victories achieved in 640 combat missions, among the numerous ground attack missions. He is also noted as being an early mentor of Erich Hartmann, history's leading fighter ace. He was credited with six aerial victories in the western theatre before JG 52 was deployed to Operation Barbarossa. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on March 19, 1942. Hugo Dahmer (1918-2006) was a German Luftwaffe (Air Force) fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Hugo Dahmer was credited with anywhere between 45 - 57 victories. In 1956 he joined the Bundeswehr and retired in 1974 as an Oberstleutnant. Robert Kowalewski(1914-1996), was a Lieutenant Colonel and squadron commander of Destroyer Squadron 76, the Battle Squadron 76 and the Night Fighter Squadron 2. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on November 24, 1940. Lightly toned. Envelope flap not adhered. Seven unsigned photographs included in envelope. Printed illustration of the aircraft, Short Sunderland Mk2 on front. Stamps with each signer's credits in German on verso. Some small ink smudges on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.