François Saez, Paul Williams & Gordon Williamson

Commemorative Cuffband JAGDGESCHWADER RICHTHOFEN

The von Richthofen cousins - Wolfram and Manfred (the "Red Baron")

Generalfeldmarschall Wolfram Frhr. von Richthofen wears the “Jagdgeschwader Frhr. v. Richthofen Nr. 1 1917/18” cuffband indicating service with that unit during World War 1.

This commemorative cuffband was introduced by Luftwaffen-Verordnungsblatt Nr 12, Order Nr. 165 on 23 April 1935. It was to be based upon the recently introduced unit cuffband for members of Fliegergruppe Döberitz, and consisted of a dark blue cloth band with the inscription “Jagdgeschwader Richthofen” executed in fine aluminum wire, hand-embroidered lettering and having a 3mm wide strip of Russia-braid edging at either border.

The cuffband was to be worn by officers who had formerly served with Jagdgeschwader Richthofen during World War 1.

This piece was relatively short-lived and was replaced on 29 October of the same year (Luftwaffen-Verordnungsblatt Nr 43, Order Nr 816) by a special commemorative cuffband for those who could establish proof of their service with the Richthofen unit in World War I. The new cuffband bore the inscription “Jagdgeschwader Frhr. v. Richthofen Nr. 1 1917/18” (Fighter Wing Freiherr von Richthofen No. 1) in two rows of text. Like its predecessor, it featured a 3mm wide strip of Russia-braid edging on either border. “Richthofen” commemorative cuffbands were normally offered in hand-embroidered aluminum thread, but could also be found in the enlisted men’s machine-embroidered style with silver-grey Russia-braid edging. The Russia-braid on the officers’ version has been observed in both aluminum and silver thread. The silver edging is normally found tarnished and has a golden shade to it.

detail of the above pictured cuffband

Detail of a commemorative cuffband RICHTHOFEN

3 commemorative RICHTHOFEN

A variation also exists in hand-embroidered aluminum thread with aluminum Russia-braid, which reads “Jagdgeschwader Frhr. v. Richthofen Nr. 1 1914/18". This example is in the Luftwaffe Museum in Gatow, Berlin. It is not known who the original wearer was.

Upon the introduction of the new cuffband the older pattern was abolished.

Wolfram Frhr. von Richthofen
as a General der Flieger

2 portraits of RICHTHOFEN cufftitle worn

Jagdgeschwader Richthofen

Introduced on 25 March 1935 by Luftwaffen~Verordnungsblatt Nr 8, Order Nr 91, this cuffband was to be worn by members of Fliegergruppe Döberitz, later renamed as Jagdgeschwader 132,Jagdgeschwader 131, and finally as Jagdgeschwader 2.

The band commemorated Germany’s greatest flying ace of World War, Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, and his famed fighter wing, whose traditions were to be continued by Fliegergruppe Döberitz.

The band was worn on the lower right sleeve by all ranks within the unit in hand-embroidered aluminum yarn for officers and hand or machine-embroidered silver-grey or matte-grey yarn for enlisted men and NCOs. No braid was worn on the borders of the band.

The band featured the inscription "Jagdgeschwader Richthofen" in Gothic script lettering.

Pictured Left -

Oberstleutnant
Schellmann, Wolfgang
* 02.03.1911 Kassel
+ 24.06.1941 Rußland
Ritterkreuz am: 18.09.1940
als: Major
Funktion: Kommodore JG 2 "Richthofen"

Pictured Right -

Major
Wick, Helmut
* 05.08.1915 Mannheim
+ 28.11.1940 südlich Isle of Wight
Ritterkreuz am: 27.08.1940
als: Oberleutnant
Funktion: Staffelkapitän 3./JG 2 "Richthofen"
4. Eichenlaub am: 06.10.1940 als Hauptmann
Kommandeur I./JG 2 "Richthofen"

Oberstleutnant
Mayer, Egon
* 19.08.1917 Konstanz/Bodensee
+ 02.03.1944 bei Montmedy/Frankreich
Ritterkreuz am: 01.08.1941
als: Leutnant der Reserve
Funktion: Flugzeugführer JG 2 "Richthofen"
232. Eichenlaub am: 16.04.1943 als Hauptmann
Kommandeur III./JG 2 "Richthofen"
51. Schwerter am: 02.03.1944 als Oberstleutnant
Kommodore JG 2 "Richthofen"

Enlisted Jagdgeschwader Richthofen cufftitle

A fine Richthofen cuffband for officers

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François Saez, Paul Williams & Gordon Williamson

Jagdgeschwader Richthofen

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