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Herbert IhlefeldGerman flying ace of the Spanish Civil War and World War II
Date of Birth: 01.06.1914
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Werner Mölders: A Life of Aerial Warfare
- Spanish Civil War
- World War II: Polish and French Campaigns
- Battle of Britain and Invasion of Yugoslavia
- Operation Barbarossa and Eastern Front
- Knight's Cross with Swords and Promotion
- JG52 Command and Injury
- Jagdschule 3 and Jagdgruppe Nord
- JG11 and JG1 Command
- Operation Bodenplatte and Final Days
Werner Mölders: A Life of Aerial Warfare
Early Life and Military ServiceWerner Mölders was born on July 18, 1913, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. In 1934, he joined the Luftwaffe and initially served as a mechanic. After completing flight training in March 1937, he was assigned to Fighter Group I./JG132 "Richthofen" (later I./JG2).
Spanish Civil War
In November 1937, Mölders was sent to Spain as part of the Condor Legion's 2./J88. Flying a Messerschmitt Bf.109V, he shot down nine Republican aircraft in the first seven months of 1938. His victories included four I-16 "Rata" fighters, four I-15 "Chatos" fighters, and an SB bomber. For his accomplishments, he was awarded the Spanish Cross with Diamonds.
World War II: Polish and French Campaigns
With the outbreak of World War II, Mölders was transferred to I.(Jagd)/LG2 (later I./JG77). He participated in the Polish campaign but did not record any victories. His first airborne victory in World War II came on May 29, 1940, during the French campaign. He achieved a total of three kills during the campaign.
Battle of Britain and Invasion of Yugoslavia
On July 1, 1940, Mölders became the commander of 1.(Jagd)/LG2 and later, on September 1, of the entire group. He continued to score aerial victories, earning the Knight's Cross for 21 kills on September 13, 1940. By September 27, his total air victories had reached 24. In spring 1941, he shot down 10 British fighters.
On April 6, 1941, Mölders participated in the Yugoslav operation alongside the Wehrmacht. During an attack on an airfield in Niš, his aircraft was shot down, injuring him and forcing him to crash-land. He was briefly captured but released after eight days when Wehrmacht forces advanced.
Operation Barbarossa and Eastern Front
From the start of Operation Barbarossa, Mölders and his unit fought on the Soviet-German front. On June 27, 1941, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross after reaching 40 victories. By August 3, 1941, he had scored an additional six kills, bringing his total to 53.
In early 1942, Mölders's unit was reorganized and renamed JG77. He achieved multiple victories in a single day during the spring of 1942, including five on March 24, seven on March 30, and four on April 19 and 20. On April 22, he became the fifth Luftwaffe pilot to reach the century mark in aerial victories.
Knight's Cross with Swords and Promotion
For his 100th victory, Mölders was awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords on April 24, 1942. He was also promoted to the rank of major and relieved from combat duties. However, he continued to fly unofficially and claimed six additional victories that were not officially credited to him.
JG52 Command and Injury
On June 22, 1942, Mölders was appointed commander of JG52. However, in July, his staff aircraft was attacked and shot down, resulting in serious injuries. He was replaced by Gordon Gollob as commander of JG52.
Jagdschule 3 and Jagdgruppe Nord
In autumn 1942, Mölders was appointed head of the Jagdschule 3 flight school. In July 1943, he became the commander of Jagdgruppe Nord der ObdL, an experimental unit tasked with countering Allied reconnaissance aircraft. The unit was disbanded in December 1943.
JG11 and JG1 Command
After a brief stint as commander of JG11 in May 1944, Mölders took over JG1 after the death of its commander, Walter Oesau. The unit received his surname as an honorary title and specialized in defending the Reich against Allied heavy bombers. Mölders personally shot down four four-engine bombers while flying with his unit.
Operation Bodenplatte and Final Days
On January 1, 1945, Mölders participated in the failed Bodenplatte operation, where his aircraft was shot down by Allied anti-aircraft fire. Despite his injuries, he remained as commander of JG1 until the end of the war.
Werner Mölders died in a plane crash on November 22, 1941, at the age of 28. He is considered one of the most successful fighter pilots in history, with a total of 132 aerial victories.
