KC RECIPIENT HEINRICH EHRLER - SECTION OF HIS WRECKED ME-109

HEINRICH EHRLER (1917-1945) Luftwaffe fighter ace credited with 208 enemy aircraft shot down in over 400 combat missions, for which he was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with nine over the Western Front which included eight in the Messerschmitt Me 262. Court-martialed for failure to attack the British bombers that sank the Tirpitz, he was demoted and imprisoned. Returned to duty, his last transmission was: 'Theo, I have run out of ammunition. I'm going to ram this one. Good bye. We'll see each other in Valhalla.' He then rammed the B-24 bomber 'Trouble in Mind, ' destroying both aircraft and killing himself. A great relic from Ehrler's career, a 2.25 x 1.5 in. section of camouflage-painted aluminum from an airplane he had piloted when he scored his 200th victory, shot down by flak when flown by another pilot. The Me-109 G-2/R6 'Yellow 12' (Werk Nu. 13605) of 6./JG 5 was excavated in Russia in 2003. The relic is mounted to the glass of a framed color artist's portrait of Ehrler, his last words, and image of his aircraft, and signed letter of provenance. Limited issue no. 8/15. Fine condition.