WP group for a very early aircrewman

[Luftm40]

Recently picked up this large grouping. I thought it was very interesting for several reasons. The original owner seems to have started out as a police officer, later serving in two of the very first Luftwaffe bomber groups as an observer. He also qualified for the "doppelabzeichen" or combined pilot/observer badge, so was also trained as a pilot. After serving as a flight instructor, he was recalled as a staffel leader in two of the scratch transport wings that were formed from training commands to support the Crete landings. He was apparently killed in a flying accident in this capacity. Not a war hero, but one of the very first officers in the new German Air Force. The Pilot Observer entry is one you don't see every day. The group is also exceptionally complete w/ his death notices, condolence letters and approx 40 pics spanning childhood to his service in the Luftwaffe. Here is Werner Lossau wearing his observer badge (front, second from right). This was taken while he was an instructor in Dresden. Lossau seems to have been a JU 52 pilot/observer

[Luftm40]

Later w/ the Pilot Observer badge

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His WP

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2

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The two early Luft entries are Flieger Gruppe Prenzlau and Flieger Gruppe Delmenhorst. At Delmenhorst he was a member of I KG 254 which later became III KG 157. The last two entries are Kampfgruppe zbv 101 and 102 which participated in the Crete landings several months after Lossau died.

[Luftm40]

Extensive schooling and his observer and Pilot Observer quals

[Luftm40]

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Awards...the Luft long service medal

[Luftm40]

The death notation

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WP transmittal letter to his family

[Luftm40]

Death announcements

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5

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7

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Condolence letters

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