D-235 Two Photographs and Award Document for the
Combined Pilot / Observer Badge to Luftwaffe / Naval Officer Ernst Hechler
One of the most amazing things I have come across in quite some time,
this Officer served successfully in two different services: as a Ground Support
Squadron commander in the Luftwaffe and in his Navy career as a brief, yet quite
successful, U-Boat Commander. Hechler started off with a Navy career in 1929 and
served on a surface ship (the Königsberg) and as an instructor for future Navy
Officers at a training school, attaining the rank of Oberleutnant zur See in
1934 before transferring over to the new Luftwaffe in 1935. He became a pilot,
and served in the Luftwaffe for 8 years, reaching the rank of Major.
During this time he qualified for the combined Pilot Observer badge, and as
Commander of a Kampfflieger (Close Air / Ground Support) squadron he racked up
both the Iron Cross First and Second Classes, as well as an Operational Flying
Clasp for Kampfflieger in Gold for over 60 combat missions. One of the
photographs (these are reprints) shows him as a Luftwaffe Major, wearing his
gold flying clasp with the downward pointing winged bomb. In 1943, at the age of
35, he transferred back to the Navy and underwent U-Boat training, eventually
commissioning and taking command of the U-870. Even the Germans apparently found
this dual service something of a novelty, since the other photo, perhaps
purposely in nearly the same pose as the Luftwaffe shot, shows Hechler in his
dress blue Navy uniform with Korvettenkapitän stripes - and his flying
clasp, Iron Cross, and Pilot / Observer badge! The U-870 was based out of
Norway, and on its maiden voyage - despite the late-war time frame when U-Boats
were having very little success (and indeed were suffering dramatic losses) -
Hechler managed to sink three ships during the time that the Ardennes offensive
was underway. He received news by radio in January of 1945 that he had been
awarded the Knight’s Cross. The boat returned home to Germany, where it was
sunk in port (Bremen) by US bombs in an air raid. Hechler survived the war, with
his amazing career! The two reprint photographs are in very good condition. The
Combined Pilot / Observer award document is lightly worn, but overall in very
good condition - and quite unique in its own right since the certificate is
noted as a duplicate copy (“Zweitschrift”), printed with the “194__”
year block - but referring to the original award issue date of 1935. A truly
unique offering!
$695.00
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Item D-235
