Lot 4581

Description

Large, single-paged parchment document, cut-down from double page with 2.5 cm left edge folded over, with calligraphic text and national eagle dated 17 October 1941, the name of Viktor von Loßberg rendered in hand executed gold lettering, beneath which is the handwritten signature in ink of Adolf Hitler. Dimensions 43 x 33 cm.
Viktor von Loßberg (14 March 1904 - 24 May 1983) was involved in the testing and evaluation of various aircraft for use as night fighters. Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch favoured the conversion of aircraft like the Junkers Ju 88 or Junkers Ju 188 because it did not influence production numbers. Josef Kammhuber preferred the new Heinkel He 219. The Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM - Reich Air Ministry) ordered a comparison test which was held 25/26 March 1943 at Rechlin. Loßberg was ordered to fly the Ju 188 E-1 in mock combat against the He 219 piloted by Werner Streib. The test proved the He 219 to be superior to the Ju 188. Loßberg played a significant role in the development and introduction of the Zahme Sau night fighter system in mid-1943, which began the recovery of the German night defences against the increasing size of attacks by Royal Air Force Bomber Command and eventually replaced the Himmelbett (canopy bed) of the Kammhuber Line. In the introductory phase of Zahme Sau, Loßberg flew 39 night fighter missions from airfields operated by I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1. In total, he flew 39 missions without claiming any victories.
Versand aus den USA.
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