German WWII Original Signed Photo of Knights Cross Winner Cornelius Noëll- Noëll was a highly decorated German long-range reconnaissance pilot (Fernaufklärer) in the Luftwaffe. He began his career as a commercial pilot with Lufthansa. He served as a courier pilot during Legion Condor. At the outbreak of World War II, he transitioned to long-range aerial reconnaissance. He flew strategic, high-altitude missions over France, Great Britain, Norway, and Crete. He flew for the highly secretive Aufklärungsgruppe des Oberbefehlshabers der Luftwaffe (Aufkl.Gr. Ob.d.L.), a specialized strategic reconnaissance unit commanded by Theodor Rowehl. He notably partnered with the legendary navigator Siegfried Knemeyer to conduct covert photo-reconnaissance flights using modified aircraft like the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 "Condor". He was also the first German pilot every to fly over Moscow to capture seamless recon photos. He won the knights cross for this and other reconnaissance missions that gathered intelligence for Germany. He survived the war and died in July of 1985. This black and white photo measures approx. 3 ¼ inches (8.25cm) wide, and 5 inches (12.7cm) tall. It is only signed on the reverse. This does include the original blue envelope. This photo was signed in the 1980’s when it was popular to write to surviving veterans to ask for memorabilia.