Need info on Victor Moelders

Oblt. Viktor Molders was not komandeure of I./ZG 1, and Mjr.Karl Philipp Hammes was StaKa 1./ZG 1, KiA 5.09.39. After Hammes Oblt.Martin Lutz (Spanish Civ.War veteran, total 2 victories, RK, KiA as Gr.Kdr. of Erprobungsgruppe 210) became StaKa 1./ZG 1.

In early period of WW II, flying with famouse 1./ZG 1 Viktor Molders became one of the most successfull Zerstorer pilots, and to 12.06.40 had 7 victories on his score + 2 unconfirmed. He fought in the Polish campaign, had been in Norway and Holland, made twenty war flights against Great Britain. After I./ZG 1 was disbanded and transformed into night fighters, his brother call him to lead the 2./JG 51. It was the Jabo Staffel of JG 51 and, on 7 October, the unit was making a fighter-bomber attack with 250 kg bombs against the docks in London when it was attacked by RAP Hurricanes. Oblt. Molders’ aircraft was hit from below by two long bursts fired by Sgt. Eric Wright of 605Sqn. With smoke and glycol pouring from his aircraft, Molders flew at rooftop height back towards the Channel but his engine overheated and he made a forced landing at Guestling in Sussex. The nose and tail of this machine a Bf 109E-4/B, coded ‘Black 1’, were yellow.

His biograhpy:
http://pics.livejournal.com/bersrk/pic/0001egcz

StaffelKapitane 2./JG 51:
http://pics.livejournal.com/bersrk/pic/0001f9wg

Moelders with his dog:
http://pics.livejournal.com/bersrk/pic/0001kbxp

Moelders with his dog in front if his Bf110C-2, 2N+GH
http://pics.livejournal.com/bersrk/pic/0001g1db

His Bf110, 2N+GH with 7 victory bars on fin
http://pics.livejournal.com/bersrk/pic/0001p9g0

His last aircraft, Bf109E-4/B:
http://pics.livejournal.com/bersrk/pic/0001hdcc

RE: More info on Victor Moelders

Thx, that did help a lot. Now I only need to know if he had any victories before he was shot down.

RE: More info on Victor Moelders

Here, scanned and OCR’d from The Luftwaffe Fighter’s Battle of Britain by Chris Goss published by Crecy (Buy it, if you haven’t already) is an account of the audacious Jabo attack on London which cost the brother of the Luftwaffe’s top scoring fighter pilot his freedom, in his own words:

Oberleutnant Victor Moelders, Staffel Kapitaen 2/JG 51

I Joined JG 51 late in August 1940 as my brother wanted me to form a Jabo Staffel. 1 was given command of 2/JG 51.

Between 1000 hrs and 1030 hrs on the morning of Monday 7 October 1940, my brother tasked me to fly a mission. My Staffel, eight aircraft armed with 250kg bombs, were to take off from Pihen, climb to 6,000m, fly north to London and attack the docks. We were then to fly back as quickly as possible. We were to be protected by the Stab Schwarm and eight aircraft.

As we approached the Thames Estuary, my brother informed me that he would remain at this altitude and return to Pihen as they were running low on fuel. I then dived with my Staffel and flew at rooftop height over the streets of London. It was funny to see the flak bursting above me! We dropped our bombs on the docks and proceeded to return to France.

Suddenly I heard the radio call “Indians behind you!” and on looking saw about thirty aircraft at 6,000m diving towards us. I waited until they were close, then turned and flew towards them. All that I can remember after that is that I was hit in the radiator and I began to leak glycol and the engine temperature rose.

I decided to remain low as the engine was not capable of climbing. I got rid of the rear canopy and began switching the engine off and on. Looking behind I saw a lone RAF aircraft following me. I then went into cloud and when I emerged, I saw that this fighter was flying alongside me. He then broke away and I never saw him again.

I was too low to bale out so I began to look for a suitable field to land in. All the fields that I saw had old cars in them or other anti?glider obstacles. I eventually had to crash?land on top of an anti?tank ditch and did so too successfully ? the aircraft showed no signs of burning. I tried to get out the flare pistol but couldn’t and setting my map alight with my lighter and trying to start a fire also failed to destroy my aircraft.

Shortly after I was captured by some Home Guardsmen and put into a Rolls Royce and then taken for tea and cake in a house. Later I was taken to a police cell where I flushed my notes on the mission down the toilet and eventually handed my captors my pistol and other effects. The following day I was taken to London.

The results of these attacks were minimal ? the damage at Westland’s was slight and the Germans lost one bomber and, for the last time on a daylight mission over the UK, seven Messerschmitt 110s from II and Ill/ZG 26. The Messerschmitt 110s’ last mission could have resulted in their total annihilation had the retreating formation not returned under the protection of the Messerschmitt 109s of JG 2.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For the record he was flying Bf109 E-4/B Werk Nr 4103 carrying Black 1. It is probable that the victorious pilot was Sgt E W Wright of 605 Sq. The aircraft crashed at Lidham Marshes, Doleham Farm, Guestling,. East Sussex at around 1115 hrs. The aircraft was as described, fairly intact and was subsequently salvaged.

Moggy C

RE: Need info on Victor Moelders

This is the only bit of info I can dig up:

Oblt. Victor Moelders took over command of I/ZG 1 on 5th September 1939 after Maj. Karl Hammes the CO of I/ZG was killed flying the Bf110 over Poland.

Moggy C