Document grouping to Luftwaffe Knight's Cross recipient Hauptmann Oskar Dettke. Dettke served as a pilot and observer on the famous Me-262. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 7.4.45.
1). Wehrpass, dated 8.8.1938. identity photo in uniform, the active service pages are meticulously filled in between Sept. 1939 and June 1942, and the "Nachträge" pages thoroughly cover the period Aug. 1941 to December 1944. A fine clean example.
2). Armed Services Driving licence. Identity photo in uniform.
3). Award Document: 4th Class Long Service decoration, Münich, 3.4.1937, in rank of Unteroffizier in Kampfgeschwader 155, 1 Staffel.
4). Award Document: Commemorative 1st October 1938. (Entry into Sudetenland), dated 1st Sept 1939, printed oak leaf border in style of Fliegerdivision 6. Dessloch, in rank of Feidwebel.
5). Award Document: Iron Cross, 2nd Class, 16.9.39, in rank of Feldwebel, signed by Major- General Bruno Loerzer (Kn. Cr.:29.5.40), CO. II Flieger-Korps.
6). Award Document: Wound Badge in Black, 28.8.40. Typewritten, as issued at the Front., signed by Captain Joachim Roeber, CO. 1/KG-55,
7). Award Document: Iron Cross 1st Class, 12.9.40, in rank of Oberfeldwebel, signed by General Robert Ritter von Greim (Kn. Cr. 24.6.40; Oakl. 2.4.43; Swords, 28.8.44.) CO. V Flieger-Korps.
8). Award Document: Lufwaffe Bomber Squadron Clasp in Bronze (not shown on the pictures), dated 13.4.1941. signed by Lt.-Col. Benno Kosch, CO. KG-55, in rank of Oberfeldwebel.
9). Award Document: Luftwaffe Bomber Squadron Clasp in Silver, 30.6.41, in rank of Oberfeldwebel signed by Kosch.
10). Award Document: GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD, (Undated) in rank of Oberleutnant. Award made 24.6.43. Signed by Loerzer, facsimile Goering.
11). Preleminary Citation for the Knight's Cross, dated 7.4.1945.
12). Certificate of Discharge as a Prisoner of War, Lambach, 16th July 1945, in rank of Captain (Hauptmann) on which the medical record states scars on neck, back left thigh and right arms, doubtless the reason he had a Wound Badge .
13). 8 snapshot photos from his personal collection in uniform with comrades.
His Wehrpass records twice wounded, 1.6.41 and 28.6.41.
He was also entitled to:
- Sports Badge in Bronze,
- Luftwaffe Observer's Badge,
- Operational Clasps in Gold,
- Operational Claps in Gold with Flower Hanger,
- Goblet of Honour, 26.5.43, Pilot's Badge,
- Knight's Cross, 7.4.45.
He joined the Police in 1933. From April 34 to May 36 he served in Rgt. "Hermann Göring" until transferred to the Luftwaffe flying branch for training as Observer. He served variously in KG-155, KG-257, and KG-254 and Tragergruppe 186 (which would have placed him aboard the aircraft carrier "Graf Zeppelin" if that ship had been completed).
From Oct. 1938 to May 1945 he served exclusively in KG-55, active in Poland 1939, and 1940/41 active in France and in the Battle of Britain.
In June 1941 the unit was posted to Russia (Stalingrad), and was active in the East until in Nov. 1944 it was re-formed as a fighter squadron and re-named KG(J)-55.
He had been active as Squadron CO. of 10./KG-55 and was then trained on the Me-262 jets and appointed to the unit preparing to fly these Me-262 jets. However, before the unit could become operationally active, all Me-262 aircraft were destroyed on the ground by an Allied bombing.
An entry in the Wehrpass on page 47 mentions that he made 271 operational flights. In total Dettke was credited with 368 combat missions of which 122 in the East.
