Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz, Stkp. 12/JG51 when?

[Andy F-P]

Hello,
I have recently acquired some paperwork to a groundcrewman/technical officer in 12/JG51. One item is a citation for the Eastern Front medal signed by Wilhelm Moritz on 20th August 1942 as Staffelkapitaen of 12/JG51. Please see the scan.

Every reference to Moritz becoming Staffelkapitaen of 12/JG51, including Aders and Held has him leading the Staffel from October 1942. I am sure this is Moritz's signature as it is strikingly similiar to a copy of his post war signature that I have.

Does this mean that Moritz was appointment Staffelkapitaen in August 1942 rather than October 1942 or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Any thoughts gratefully received.
Regards,
Andy

[WEISNER]

The signature on the document matches well to the signed photo I have, And also the signed plate given to me some time back by FRIEND Erich.
Interesting, as perhaps the appointment was in August, As this great document may prove?
Thanks for sharing Andy!
Kevin

[Andy F-P]

Hello Kevin,
Thanks for the reply.

This is a from a collection of five paper items I recently acquired to the same man. I needed a winter research project!

The post-war Moritz signature that I have, does look very similar to the one on this citation. If this is the case, Moritz arrived at JG51 at least a couple of months earlier than previously thought and mentioned for example, Aders and Held book on JG51.

This shows the importance of wartime documents and not always taking at face value what you read in print.
Thanks again,
Andy

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello,

I do not to create any confusion, but the footnote in JFV 9/II by Prien et al., p. 350, states that the kills of Hptm. Moritz were counted with the Gruppenstab of IV./JG 51 till the beginning of December 1942, so Moritz´s appointment as Staffelkapitän of 12./JG 51 occurred evidently only in December 1942.
So maybe Moritz was serving as acting Staffelkapitän of 12./JG 51 during the absence of his predecessor, Oblt. Egon Falkensammer (whose last recorded claim with 12. Staffel seems to be on 5 August 1942)?

Ota

[Andy F-P]

Hello Ota,
Thanks for this information. I agree that Moritz probably signed this award citation very soon after his predecessor left. He was not officially Staffelkapitaen until December 1942 but this citation has, I believe, Moritz's signature on it. Moritz signed it as Staffelkapitaen on 20th August 1942, so he must have been leading 12/JG51 from at least 20th August 1942. I attach a copy of Moritz's post-war signature which is very similar to the one on the citation.
Regards,
Andy