Legion Condor Pilot Observer Group/U-boat captain

[John R.]

I wanted to share this group of a Legion Condor Naval Air Squadron (AS-88) pilot observer. After his service in Legion Condor, he transferred to U-boats, commanding U-651. U-651 was forced to surface after sinking two merchant ships on June 29, 1941 and all hands survived.

I am planning on selling this group on estand, but first I wanted to discuss it a bit here.

Peter Lohmeyer was a very impressive looking officer with merchant marine experience prior to joining the navy in 1934, immediately training as a naval pilot observer.

In Legion Condor, he sunk the British merchant oiler "Elani" while flying an He-59.

What is interesting with the group is that he was awarded the Breast Star to the War Cross which he scratched on the reverse with his name. It is cased.

He took large numbers of photos of his flying days and kept many of his logs and mission sheets.

Following the war he rejoined the Navy to build up the air arm before finally serving as commander of the "Gorch Fock". I purchased the group from Thomas Huss who bought it from the family after the death of Lohmeyer years ago.

Anyway, the following posts will show you what I am talking about.

John

[John R.]

In Legion Condor

[John R.]

2

[John R.]

There are around 110 photos all together from his Legion Condor days.

[John R.]

In addition there are various Legion Condor related paper artifacts.

[John R.]

His War Cross, his named scratched into the reverse

[John R.]

While this is a copy of photo from the U boat archives, this is him on his boat and he is wearing the cross.

[John R.]

He proved to be a difficult prisoner for the British as evidenced in the Interrogation Report, page 1 here. Remember it was 1941 though. Not 1944.

[John R.]

Here is in command of the Gorch Fock. Like I said, impressive looking officer.

That is all for now. If there is interest, I can post the handwritten flight logs and other Legion Condor material as I can. My group only contains original material from Legion Condor. All my U-boat research was courtesy of the U-boat archives and the British archives.

John

[Sebastien T]

Georgous grouping John. Thanks for sharing. like the official invitation card to the party with the unit emblem and the cased cross is just wow!!!

Seb

[Jeff V]

Incredible grouping! Must be very rare.

[Tim O.]

Interesting grouping. Thanks for sharing. I would be happy to see more.

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Steve Ruppert]

Coop

he reminds me of Gary Cooper

[VtwinVince]

Great Nachlass of a very interesting officer, who was in select company later as CO of the Segelschulschiff 'Gorch Fock'.

[John R.]

I have been asked to post some more items from this group.

Here is the ribbon bar he is wearing in his post war photo aboard the school ship.