BACKGROUND: The Jagdgeschwader Mölders, (Fighter Wing Mölders), Commemorative Honor cufftitle was one of a series of commemorative honor cufftitles introduced by the Luftwaffe, (Air-{Weapon}, Force), to honor fallen comrades and heroic pilots of WWI. The Jagdgeschwader Mölders cufftitle was one of the last two commemorative honor cufftitles introduced on December 20TH 1941, with the other being the Jagdgeschwader Udet commemorative honor cufftitle. The Jagdgeschwader Mölders cufftitle was to be worn by all ranks of personnel serving with Jagdgeschwader 51, on the lower, right, sleeve of the service tunic and officer’s were also authorized wear of the cufftitle on the lower right sleeve of the flight blouse and the optional white summer tunic. Officer’s cufftitle were produced in hand embroidered, silver/aluminum, wire threads while EM/NCO’s cufftitles were produced in machine embroidered, silver/grey threads. The honorary name on the cufftitle was to commemorate Oberst Werner Mölders and Jagdgeschwader 51 was also allotted the honorary title, Mölders after his death. Of Note: Born March 18TH 1913, in Gelsenkirchen the young Mölders never got to know his father as he was killed in battle in the Argonne forest in France in March 1915, while serving with the Prussian 145TH Infantry Regiment. What affect his father’s death had on the young man is unknown but on April 1ST 1931 Mölders joined the Reichswehr’s, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), 2ND Infantry Regiment. Mölders went on to attend the Military School in Dresden and, by early 1933, transferred to the 1ST Pionier Batallion, (1ST Combat Engineer Battalion), which was a component of the 2ND Infantry Regiment. Interested in aviation during this time period, (Circa 1932-1933), the young Mölders volunteered for pilot training but was rejected as being unfit to fly. Not to be deterred Mölders submitted another application for flight training in early 1934 and was classified as, "bedingt tauglich", (Conditionally Fit?), and began his flight training at the Transport Flight school in Cottbus on February 6TH 1934, that ran until December 31ST 1934. Mölders continued flight training at flight schools at Tutow and Schleißheim eventually achieving his pilot’s qualification badge on May 21ST 1935. Mölders was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant on April 1ST 1936 and with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936 he volunteered for service with the Condor Legion supporting the Nationalist Falangist Generalissimo Francisco Franco against the communist allied Republican Loyalist party. Arriving in Cadiz on April 14TH 1938 Mölders began his active combat service with Jagdgruppe 88, (Hunter/Fighter Group 88), under the command of Oberleutnant Adolf Gallant. On May 24TH 1938 Mölders assumed command of Jagdgruppe 88 and by November 1938 he was the highest scoring German ace, being credited with fourteen aerial victories and had been promoted to the rank of Hauptmann. For his success in the Spanish Civil War, Mölders was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold, with Diamonds, one of only twenty-eight recipients. Mölders was also credited with developing innovative tactical formations and maneuvers that were adopted by the Luftwaffe and utilized with great success. Through the course of his military career, Mölders crashed landed or was shot down at least three times, wounded at least twice and taken prisoner and shortly released by the French, as a result of the armistice on June 22ND 1940. Mölders was the first fighter pilot to be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on May 29TH 1940 and he was also the first fighter pilot to achieve forty aerial victories. On June 30TH 1941 Mölders was to become the highest scoring ace in the history of aerial combat, (at the time), surpassing, arguably, the world’s most famous ace, The Red Baron, (Manfred von Richthofen), being credited with eighty-two aerial victories. By July 15TH 1941 Mölders had achieved one hundred confirmed aerial victories. Mölders success continued and by the end of his active flight career he was officially credited with one hundred fifteen aerial victories, although it is alleged he actual was responsible for more. For his success Mölders became one of the most highly decorated German armed forces personnel of all time being the 2ND recipient of the Oak-Leaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on September 21ST 1940, the 2ND recipient of Swords of the Oak-Leaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on June 22ND 1941 and the 1ST recipient of the Diamonds of the Oak-Leaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on July 15TH 1941. Mölders had also been bestowed a Day Fighter’s Operational Flying Clasp in Gold and a Combined Pilot’s/Observer’s qualification badge with Diamonds among other awards. Ironically Mölders, died on November 22ND 1941 in an air-plane crash, as a passenger, while returning from the State funeral of Generaloberst Ernst Udet who had committed suicide on October 17TH 1941.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 1 3/8", (3.5 cm), tall, 18 1/2", (47 cm), long, full length, woven, deep navy blue, wool construction, EM/NCO’s cufftitle with machine embroidered, Gothic styled script, "Jagdgeschwader Mölders", in silvery/grey rayon threads. The cufftitle has the typical opened back construction with machine stitched seams to both the top and bottom edges. The cufftitle is in overall very good, unissued condition with minimal age toning and one small moth hole. Excellent example.