Werner Mölders
1913-03-18 – 1941-11-22
Country: Germany
Place of birth:
Gelsenkirchen
Death type: accident
Lived under
Imperial Germany
(1913-03-18 – 1918-11-09)
Weimar Republic
(1918-11-09 – 1933-03-23)
Nazi Germany
(1933-01-30 – 1941-11-22)
Biography
Werner Mölders was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot and commander from Gelsenkirchen. He rose to prominence with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War, becoming its leading German ace, before commanding JG 51 in World War II. In 1941 he became the first pilot credited with 100 aerial victories and was appointed Inspector of Fighters (Oberst). He died in a Heinkel He 111 crash near Breslau while traveling to attend Ernst Udet’s funeral. Post-war, German authorities withdrew military honors bearing his name.
Ranks & Promotions
| Rank | Branch | Country | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter | Air Force | Germany | 1931-10-01 | 1932-04-01 |
| Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier | Air Force | Germany | 1932-04-01 | 1933-06-01 |
| Fähnrich | Air Force | Germany | 1933-06-01 | 1934-02-01 |
| Oberfähnrich | Air Force | Germany | 1934-02-01 | 1934-03-01 |
| Leutnant | Air Force | Germany | 1934-03-01 | 1936-04-20 |
| Oberleutnant | Air Force | Germany | 1936-04-20 | 1938-10-18 |
| Hauptmann | Air Force | Germany | 1938-10-18 | 1940-07-19 |
| Major | Air Force | Germany | 1940-07-19 | 1940-10-25 |
| Oberstleutnant | Air Force | Germany | 1940-10-25 | 1941-07-20 |
| Oberst | Air Force | Germany | 1941-07-20 | 1941-11-22 |
Service Units
| Unit | Role | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| III./JG53 | Group Commander, Pilot | 1939-10-03 | 1940-06-05 |
| Jagdgeschwader 51 | Squadron Commander | 1940-07-27 | 1940-07-19 |
Awards
| Award | Awarded on |
|---|---|
| Iron Cross Second Class 1939 | 1939-09-20 |
| Iron Cross First Class 1939 | 1940-04-02 |