BACKGROUND: The Jagdeschwader Richthofen, (Fighter Wing Richtofen), was one of a series of Commemorative Honour cufftitles introduced by the Luftwaffe to honor fallen comrades and heroic pilots of WWI. The Jagdeschwader Richthofen cufftitle was introduced on April 23RD 1935 for wear by personnel of Fliegergruppe Döberitz, (Flying Group Döberitz), who had served with original Jagdeschwader Richthofen during WWI. The cufftitle was to be worn on the lower right sleeve of the service tunic and officer were also authorized wear of the cufftitle on the lower right sleeve of the flight blouse and the optional white summer tunic. On October 29TH 1935, the Jagdeschwader Richthofen cufftitle was abolished to be replaced with a newly designed cufftitle with the inscription, "Jagdeschwader Frhr. v. Richthofen Nr. 1 1917/18". Rittmeister Freiherr Manfred von Richtofen, better known as the Red Baron was the highest scoring ace of WWI with eighty confirmed aerial victories. Richtofen had won numerous awards including the coveted Pour le Mérite before he was killed in battle on April 21ST 1918.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Woven deep navy blue, velvet construction cufftitle with machine embroidered Gothic script, "Jagdgeschwader Richtofen", in silvery/grey threads. The cufftitle is approximately 35mm wide and 50cm long. The cufftitle has the typical opened back revealing the reverse of the embroidered script. The cufftitle is in overall very good clean condition with minor end fraying. Scarce, short lived cufftitle. Of Note: During the war the unit was renamed Jagdeschwader 132, then Jagdeschwader 131 and finally Jagdeschwader 2. Uniform removed. Rare original. Photographed in German Military Cuffbands 1784 to Present (Williamson/McGuirl). Ex Petersen Collection.