WW2 German Luftwaffe – OBERST HERMANN GRAF – WARTIME SIGNATURE – RARE!

You are biddingon a SUPERB and 100% original WW2 German Luftwaffe autographed document signed by Oberst HermannGraf!Unlike most ofthe autographs you see, this is a WARTIME signed document (notpost-war).Hermann Graf (24 October 1912 – 4 November 1988) was aGerman Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. He served on both the Eastern andWestern Fronts. He became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 200aerial victories—that is, 200 aerial combat encounters resulting in thedestruction of the enemy aircraft. In about 830 combat missions, he claimed atotal of 212 aerial victories, almost all of which were achieved on the EasternFront.Graf, a pre-war football player and glider pilot, hejoined the Luftwaffe and started flight training in 1936. He was initiallyselected for transport aviation but was subsequently posted to Jagdgeschwader 51(JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in May 1939. At the outbreak of war he was stationedon the Franco–German border flying uneventful patrols. He was then posted as aflight instructor stationed in Romania as part of a German military missiontraining Romanian pilots. Graf flew a few ground support missions in the closingdays of the German invasion of Crete.Following the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Germaninvasion of the Soviet Union, Graf claimed his first aerial victory on 4 August1941. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 45 victories on24 January 1942. It was during the second summer of the eastern campaign;however, that his success rate dramatically increased. By 16 September 1942 hisnumber of victories had increased to 172 for which he was honored with theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At thetime of its presentation to Graf it was Germany's highest military decoration.On 26 September 1942 he shot down his 200th enemy aircraft.By then a national hero, Graf was withdrawn from combatoperations and posted to a fighter pilot training school in France before beingtasked with the setting up of a new special unit: Jagdgeschwader 50 (JG50—Fighter Wing 50). Its mission was as a high-altitude unit to intercept the deHavilland Mosquito intruders. In November 1943 Graf returned to combatoperations. He was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) ofJagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) and claimed his last and 212thaerial victory on 29 March 1944. He was severely injured during that encounterand, after a period of convalescence, became Geschwaderkommodore ofJagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). He and the remainder of JG 52surrendered to units of the United States Army on 8 May 1945, but were turnedover to the Red Army. Graf was held in Soviet captivity until 1949. After thewar he worked as an electronic sales manager and died after a long illness inhis home town of Engen on 4 November 1988.Made of paper, this document is in EXCELLENTcondition! DatedFebruary 22, 1944, a this postcard was sent to individuals who sent Graf unimportant mail during the end of the war. It translates to:'The mail reaching me has assumed such a volume that I can no longer deal with letters individually without neglecting my service duties. I must, therefore, ask you to shelve your requests, and to make do with my good wishes in this present form. Our work and our commitment to victory for the freedom and the future of Great Germany, our fatherland, take precedence over all private wishes and minor matters.'Graf signed at the bottom in pencil.Some marks and wear due to the age, but nothing that detracts. Wouldlook EXCELLENT framed! APERFECT addition to any collection or display!