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SONDERAUSWEIS
Adriano,
I happen to have a Sonderausweis for a Reichsluftverteidigung pilot. It belonged to Unteroffizier Heinz Papenberg of the 6.(Sturm)/J.G. 4, who is credited with ramming a bomber on 27 September 1944. The Ausweis has seven pages in it. The pages are actually on photo paper. The first page is signed by Major Gerhard Schroeder, the Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Sturm)/J.G. 4. The Sonderausweis gave downed pilots permission to use the German telephone system, which was operated by the postal service, to make contact with his unit and also allowed the pilot to use the German rail system to get back to his base.
I am quite surprised that I have never seen another example of the Sonderausweis in more than thirty years of collecting. I am sure they are out there, but for some reason, I have not seen any offered.
Regards,
Barry
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