{"product_id":"german-wwii-signed-photo-of-knights-cross-winner-ernst-heinrich-thomsen","title":"German WWII Signed Photo of Knights Cross Winner Ernst Heinrich Thomsen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003eGerman WWII Signed Photo of Knights Cross Winner Ernst Heinrich Thomsen-Thomsen was born in 1914 in\u003cspan style=\"color: #767676; background: white;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRüstringen, Germany. He earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on June 9, 1942, as Hasuptmann in the I. Gruppe\/ Kampfgeschwader 26 “Löwen” and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on October 24, 1944, as Major und\u003ci\u003e Kommandeur \u003c\/i\u003eof the III. Gruppe\/ Kampfgeschwader 26 “Löwen”, or Captain in the 1st Group \/ Bomber Wing 26 \"Lions\". I. Gruppe\/ Kampfgeschwader 26 (I.\/KG 26), also known as the \"Löwengeschwader\" (Lion Squadron), was a premier bomber unit of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Initially equipped with Heinkel He 111 bombers, the group transitioned into a specialized anti-shipping and torpedo-bombing unit operating primarily over the Atlantic, North Sea, and Mediterranean. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThomsen became a merchant ship bomber during the war. He flew a total of 216 combat missions, during which he sank a combined tonnage of approx. 46000 GRT and damaged even more. This black and white photo measures 5 inches (12.7cm) tall and 3 ½ inches (8.89cm) wide. The photo is signed at the bottom in blue ink. There is a nice note and original envelope included. This photo was signed in the 1980’s when it was popular to write to these living veterans to get memorabilia\u003cspan style=\"color: #ee0000;\"\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Ruptured Duck, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51358840652082,"sku":"S-422","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1141\/9332\/files\/WW2_Knights-Cross_Signature_Thomsen_30482.jpg?v=1782242906","url":"https:\/\/www.therupturedduck.com\/products\/german-wwii-signed-photo-of-knights-cross-winner-ernst-heinrich-thomsen","provider":"The Ruptured Duck, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}