Germany, Luftwaffe. The Award Certificates of Pilot/Observer Unteroffizier Werner Trümper, MIA (Front Flying Clasp in Gold with Pendant)

The collection consists of: a Front Flying Clasp for Fighter Pilots in Gold with Pendant certificate (148x209mm, mint); a Front Flying Clasp for Fighter Pilots in Gold certificate (149x210mm, near mint); a Front Flying Clasp for Fighter Pilots in Bronze certificate (148x209mm, near mint); an Iron Cross 1st Class certificate (140x199mm, mint); an Iron Cross 2nd Class certificate (140x200mm, near mint); an Air Gunner Badge certificate (149x210mm, extremely fine); an Observer Badge certificate (148x209mm, mint); a commemorative certificate of KG 100 (136x196mm, extremely fine); a large studio portrait (headshot) of Trümper (180x239mm, extremely fine).

The Front Flying Clasp for Fighter Pilots in Gold with Pendant certificate is named to Unteroffizier (NCO) Trümper of the 2nd Squadron of Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wing) 100. It is dated to October 5, 1943 and signed in blue ink by the Commanding General of the 4th Air Corps, General der Flieger Kurt Pflugbeil (1890-1955), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves.

The Front Flying Clasp for Fighter Pilots in Gold certificate is named to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Trümper. It is dated to November 24, 1942 and signed in blue ink by an Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) and Deputy Wing Commander, the name is illegible.

The Front Flying Clasp for Fighter Pilots in Bronze certificate is named to Gefreiter Trümper. It is dated to July 20, 1942 and signed in blue ink by a Major, the name could be Hoffmann.

The Iron Cross 1st Class certificate is named to Gefreiter Trümper. It is dated to August 28, 1942 and signed in blue ink by the Leader of Air Fleet 4 and Commander-in-Chief Southeast, Generaloberst (Colonel General) Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen (1895–1945), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, eventually in the rank of Generalfeldmarschall. He was a distant cousin of First War flying ace Manfred von Richthofen, “the Red Baron”.

The Iron Cross 2nd Class certificate is named to Gefreiter Trümper. It is dated to July 26, 1942 and signed once more by von Richthofen.

The Air Gunner Badge certificate is named to Gefreiter Trümper. It is dated to March 10, 1942 and carries a facsimile of Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Department, General der Flieger Gustav Kastner-Kirdorf (1881–1945), a recipient of the German Cross in Silver.

The Observer Badge certificate is named to Unteroffizier Trümper. It is dated to September 17, 1943 and carries a facsimile of Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Department, Generaloberst Bruno Loerzer (1891–1960), a recipient of the Pour le Merite and the Knight’s Cross.

The commemorative certificate was issued by Trümper’s unit, the 2nd squadron of Bomber Wing 100, to commemorate his time of service. His name has been written on the reverse in pencil. There the document is also dated to Istres in September of 1943. The location is placed in Italy, however Istres is located in southern France, outside of the Italian occupied area.

The large headshot portrait shows Trümper wearing a Luftwaffe flyer’s cap with goggles.

Footnote:

Bomber Wing 100 took part in the occupation of Denmark and Norway. In August of 1940, the unit was transferred to France, from where it participated in the Battle of Britain. After the attack on Russia, Wing 100 was tasked with bombing raids on Moscow, and later other targets in the east. In December of 1941, the 2nd Squadron, Trümper’s unit, was established. Initially it was placed in northern France and fought enemy ships in the British Channel. Later, it was redeployed to Italy and southern France (Istres) to fight Allied navy targets in the Mediterranean. After D-Day, Bomber Wing 100 was one of the units sent to defend against the Allied invasion of Normandy. However, Trümper was no longer flying at this time. On February 25, 1944 he was part of five man crew and served as observer under Oberleutnant Rudolf Metzig, tasked with attacking a railway station at Novo Alexeyevka in the Crimea. The plane did not return from this mission and the crew was pronounced MIA.